Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
In a method for modifying a plastic surface of an article, said surface adapted for contact with living tissue of a human or non-human animal, by the gamma-irradiation induced polymerized chemically grafted coating thereon of: 1) a monomer comprising N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP), 2) a monomer comprising 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA), 3) a mixture of (NVP) and (HEMA), (NVP-HEMA), or 4) a mixture of 1), 2) or 3) with up to about 50 wt. %, based on the total monomer weight, of an ionic monomer, salt of an ionic monomer or mixture thereof; so as to form a hydrophilic graft polymer coating of: I. polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), II. poly-2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (PHEMA), III. a copolymer of (NVP) and (HEMA), or IV. a copolymer of (NVP), (HEMA) or (NVP-HEMA) and said ionic monomer, on said surface, the improvement comprising: conducting said gamma-irradiation induced graft polymerization in an aqueous solution under the following conditions: a) monomer concentration in the range of from about 0.1% to about 50%, by weight; b) total gamma dose in the range of from about 0.001 to less than about 0.50 Mrad; and c) gamma dose rate in the range of from about 10 to about 2500 rads/min.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
In a method for modifying a plastic surface of an article, said surface adapted for contact with living tissue of a human or non-human animal, by the gamma-irradiation induced polymerized chemically grafted coating thereon of: 1) a monomer comprising N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP), 2) a monomer comprising 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA), 3) a mixture of (NVP) and (HEMA), (NVP-HEMA), or 4) a mixture of 1), 2) or 3) with up to about 50 wt. %, based on the total monomer weight, of an ionic monomer, salt of an ionic monomer or mixture thereof; so as to form a hydrophilic graft polymer coating of: I. polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), II. poly-2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (PHEMA), III. a copolymer of (NVP) and (HEMA), or IV. a copolymer of (NVP), (HEMA) or (NVP-HEMA) and said ionic monomer, on said surface, the improvement comprising: conducting said gamma-irradiation induced graft polymerization in an aqueous solution under the following conditions: a) monomer concentration in the range of from about 0.1% to about 50%, by weight; b) total gamma dose in the range of from about 0.001 to less than about 0.50 Mrad; and c) gamma dose rate in the range of from about 10 to about 2500 rads/min.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 1 further including one or more of the following conditions: d) substantially excluding free oxygen from said graft polymerization solution; e) maintaining the thickness of said polymer coating in the range of from about 100 Å to about 100 microns; f) including a free radical scavenger in said aqueous graft polymerization solution; and g) including in said aqueous graft polymerization solution a swelling solvent for said plastic surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said article is a surgical instrument.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said article is a medical device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said article is a prosthetic implant.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said article is a soft or hard contact lens.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said ionic monomer is a vinylsulfonic acid, a vinylcarboxylic acid or a salt thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said vinyl-carboxylic acid is acrylic, methacrylic or crotonic acid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said vinylsulfonic acid is sulfoethylmethacrylate, sulfopropylmethacrylate, styrene sulfonic acid or vinylsulfonic acid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said ionic monomer is an amino-functional monomer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said amino-functional monomer is a vinylpyridine, an amino-styrene, an aminoacrylate or an aminomthacrylate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said plastic is selected from the group consisting of polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyolefins, ethylene-propylene copolymers, polybutadiene, styrene-butadiene copolymers, styrene-ethylene-butadiene copolymers, polycarbonates, fluorocarbon polymers, polysiloxanes, polyurethanes, polyvinylchloride, polyesters and mixtures thereof.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
198 words
A method for modifying a plastic surface of an article, said surface adapted for contact with living tissue of a human or non-human animal, by electron beam-irradiation induced polymerized chemically grafted coating thereon of: 1) a monomer comprising N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP), 2) a monomer comprising 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA), 3) a mixture of (NVP) and (HEMA), (NVP-HEMA), or 4) a mixture of 1), 2) or 3) with up to about 50 wt. %, based on the total monomer weight, of an ionic monomer, salt of an ionic monomer or mixture thereof; so as to form a hydrophilic graft polymer coating of: I. polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), II. poly-2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (PHEMA), III. a copolymer of (NVP) and (HEMA), or IV. a copolymer of (NVP), (HEMA) or (NVP-HEMA) and said ionic monomer, on said surface comprising: conducting said electron beam-irradiation induced graft polymerization in an aqueous solution under the following conditions: a) monomer concentration in the range of from about 0.1% to about 50%, by weight; b) total electron beam irradiation dose in the range of from about 0.001 to less than about 0.50 Mrad; and c) an electron beam irradiation dose rate in the a range of from about 10 to about 10 8 rads/min.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
198 words
A method for modifying a plastic surface of an article, said surface adapted for contact with living tissue of a human or non-human animal, by electron beam-irradiation induced polymerized chemically grafted coating thereon of: 1) a monomer comprising N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP), 2) a monomer comprising 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA), 3) a mixture of (NVP) and (HEMA), (NVP-HEMA), or 4) a mixture of 1), 2) or 3) with up to about 50 wt. %, based on the total monomer weight, of an ionic monomer, salt of an ionic monomer or mixture thereof; so as to form a hydrophilic graft polymer coating of: I. polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), II. poly-2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (PHEMA), III. a copolymer of (NVP) and (HEMA), or IV. a copolymer of (NVP), (HEMA) or (NVP-HEMA) and said ionic monomer, on said surface comprising: conducting said electron beam-irradiation induced graft polymerization in an aqueous solution under the following conditions: a) monomer concentration in the range of from about 0.1% to about 50%, by weight; b) total electron beam irradiation dose in the range of from about 0.001 to less than about 0.50 Mrad; and c) an electron beam irradiation dose rate in the a range of from about 10 to about 10 8 rads/min.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
An article prepared according to the method of claim 1 or 13.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
An article according to claim 14 comprising a surgical instrument, medical device, prosthetic implant or contact lens.