Abstract: Iris fixated intraocular lenses include an optic and at least one fixation member or haptic. The fixation member is joined to the optic and has a distal segment including a through-iris portion adapted to extend through an iris hole, and an anchor portion. The anchor portion has or is adapted to have an anchor structure positioned to be disposed proximate to a side of the iris so as to be a effective in fixating the intraocular lens to the iris. The anchor structure may be formed prior to inserting the intraocular lens in the eye or may be formed after the intraocular lens is inserted in the eye. Methods for inserting such intraocular lenses in the eye are also provided.

Abstract: A battery element of a lead acid battery including a negative plate and a positive plate having a macroporous porosity enhancing additive that improves the utilization efficiency of the battery.

Abstract: Substrates suitable for being marked by light energy from a laser are disclosed. Such substrates include a base substrate component and a filler pigment component coupled to the base substrate component and including a combined metal component and a glass forming component other than the combined metal component. The filler pigment component is present in an amount effective to, as a result of exposing the substrate to light energy from a laser, produce a colored glass-like pigment component coupled to the base substrate component having a contrasting color relative to the filler pigment component. Markings, for example, on electrical wire insulation, having higher contrast and greater durability are advantageously provided.

Abstract: Coated substrates are disclosed comprising a three-dimensional inorganic substrate having a coating of electrically conductive tin oxide on at least a portion of all three dimensions thereof and catalyst material produced by a unique process having particular applicability to the manufacture of tin oxide coated three-dimensional substrates. Certain novel catalysts, such as manufactured from various catalyst supports including monoliths are disclosed.

Abstract: A process for recovering at least one of copper or zinc metal from an ore containing metal sulfide material is disclosed. The process involves the use of promoting amounts of certain plant derived ortho-quinone and/or catechol iron complexes containing components, particularly, certain lignin and/or tannin derived components containing ortho-quinone functionality.Preferred compositions comprise at least one ligno-sulfonate component containing ortho-quinone and/or catechol functionality. In the process, the use of at least one additional oxidant capable of maintaining the ortho-quinone and/or catechol iron complex containing functionality in the desired oxidation state provides for integrated process synergy.

Abstract: Processes for coating substrates, in particular substrates including shielded surfaces, with tin oxide-containing coatings are disclosed. Such processes comprise contacting a substrate with a tin oxide precursor; preferably maintaining the precursor coated substrate at conditions to distribute and equilibrate the coating; oxidizing the precursor containing material to form a substrate containing tin oxide and contacting the substrate with at least one catalyst material at conditions effective to form a catalyst material containing coating on at least a portion of the substrate. Also disclosed are substrates coated with tin oxide-containing coatings for use in various catalyst applications.

Abstract: A process for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir comprising:contacting the reservoir with at least one plant derived aromatic containing component having ortho-quinone functionality in an amount effective to promote the chemical modification of at least one component of the hydrocarbons in the reservoir and optimally at least one additional oxidant in an amount effective to do at least one of the following: maintain at least partially the promoting activity of the plant derived aromatic component; produce at least a portion of plant derived aromatic component; and oxidize at least a portion of a component of the hydrocarbons, the contacting occurring at conditions effective to chemically modify the component of the hydrocarbons in the reservoir; andrecovering hydrocarbons from the reservoir.

Abstract: New corneal implants and methods for producing such implants are disclosed. The present corneal implants comprise a lens body which is optically clear and is structured to be surgically attached in or on the cornea of a mammalian eye, the lens body including a core having an outer surface and made of a hydrogel composition containing water and a hydrophilic polymeric material, and a coating comprising a synthetic polymeric component located on the outer surface, covalently bonded to the hydrogel composition and having enhanced ability to support epithelial cell growth and/or adhesion relative to the hydrogel composition.

Abstract: New intraocular lenses (IOLs) and methods for producing IOLs are disclosed. The present methods include a combination of steps which increase the pull strength between the fixation member of the IOL and the optic of the IOL without requiring sophisticated high frequency corona discharge activation or plasma activation of the fixation member. The fixation members are doubly coated with primer components and silicone polymeric material precursor compositions before being secured to the optics. In addition, the optic members employed in the present invention can be formed, for example, molded, without recesses to accommodate the fixation members. Thus, such recesses can be formed and provided with a quantity of the above-noted precursor composition after the optic members are produced. The doubly coated fixation members are then placed in the recesses and secured to the optic members. The present methods are straight forward, easy to practice and are cost effective in producing high quality IOLs.

Abstract: A new class of polysiloxanes is disclosed. Such polysiloxanes have the formula ##STR1## wherein each R and R.sup.4 is independently selected from alkyl radicals, substituted alkyl radicals, aryl radicals and substituted aryl radicals; each R.sup.1 is independently selected from divalent radicals; each R.sup.2 is independently selected from aryl radicals and substituted aryl radicals; each R.sup.3 is independently selected from monovalent hydrocarbon radicals having a multiple bond and monovalent substituted hydrocarbon radicals having a multiple bond; n is an integer in the range of about 6 to about 500; and m is an integer in the range of 0 to about 500. Methods for making such polysiloxanes are also disclosed. In addition, high refractive index, that is having a refractive index of at least about 1.46, silicone compositions useful in the fabrication of lens bodies are disclosed.

Abstract: Polymeric materials which are optically clear and resistant to discoloration are disclosed. In one embodiment, such compositions comprise optically clear, cross-linked polymers derived from a mixture comprising (A) a vinyl-containing polyorganosiloxane component, and (B) an organosilicon component including silicon-bonded hydride groups which react with vinyl groups included in (A) during the polymerization and (C) an effective platinum group metal-containing catalyst component, provided that the mole ratio of vinyl groups to silicon-bonded hydride groups in the mixture is greater than 1.2, preferably greater than about 4 or about 5, and is such that the polymers has a reduced discoloration susceptibility relative to a substantially identical polymer having a mole ratio of vinyl groups to silicon-bonded hydride groups in the precursor mixture equal to 1.2.

Abstract: Processes for coating substrates, in particular substrates including shielded surfaces, with zinc oxide-containing coatings are disclosed. Such processes comprise contacting a substrate with a zinc oxide precursor, preferably maintaining the precursor coated substrate at conditions to equilibrate the coating, and then oxidizing the precursor to form a substrate containing zinc oxide. Also disclosed are substrates coated with zinc oxide-containing coatings for use in various applications.

Abstract: A hydrogel composition is disclosed which comprises water and a copolymer. In one embodiment, the copolymer is formed by reacting about 85% to about 99% by weight of at least one member selected from the group consisting of N,N-dimethylacrylamide, N,N-diethylacrylamide, N-methyl, N-ethylacrylamide and mixtures thereof; about 1% to about 15% by weight of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of alkyl acrylates, alkyl methacrylates and mixtures thereof wherein the alkyl group contains 1 to about 4 carbon atoms; and a minor, effective amount of at least one cross-linking agent. Such hydrogel compositions are effective as corneal inlays and onlays.

Abstract: An electrostatic dissipation/electromagnetic interference shielding element comprising a three dimensional substrate having shielded surfaces which are at least partially shielded by other portions of said substrate and having an electronically conductive tin oxide-containing coating on at least a portion of all three dimensions thereof and said shielded surface, said coated substrate being adapted and structured to provide at least one of the following: electrostatic dissipation and electromagnetic interference shielding.

Abstract: Methods for incorporating hydrophilic constituents into silicone polymer materials are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises introducing a hydrophilic component into a cross-linked and/or solid silicone polymeric material, and subjecting the hydrophilic component to conditions effective to immobilize the hydrophilic component or a hydrophilic derivative thereof and form a silicone polymer material including an effective hydrophilic constituent.

Abstract: Tubing circuits systems for delivering humidified respiratory gas to a human or an animal are disclosed. The circuit systems include an inspiratory tubing segment and an expiratory tubing segment joined by a manifold assembly. The inspiratory tubing segment is coupled to a humidifier while the expiratory system is coupled to a conventional ventilator. A single heating element is positioned in both the inspiratory and expiratory tubing segment elements. Temperature sensing elements are located at or near the outlet of the inspiratory tubing segment and at or near the inlet of the inspiratory tubing segment. Preferably, portions of all of the single heating element, and the temperature sensors are held by a single connector. The system is very effective in use, safe and easy to use, and provides a convenient, straight forward and reliable system useful in monitoring and controlling the temperature of respiratory gases being delivered to a patient.

Abstract: New compositions useful as the optics of intraocular lenses, in particular injectable intraocular lenses, are disclosed. In one embodiment, such compositions comprise polymer mixtures derived from the polymerization, for example, cross-linking, of curable components in precursor mixtures. These precursor mixtures comprise curable component comprising: (A) an unsaturation functional (vinyl group-containing) polyorganosiloxane component, (B) an organosilicon component including silicon-bonded hydride groups which react with the unsaturation functional groups included in (A) during the polymerization, and (C) an effective amount of a platinum group metal-containing catalyst component; and a polymer component which is substantially non-functional. The viscosity of the polymer component is greater than the viscosity of the curable component.

Abstract: Methods for incorporating beneficial components into polymeric materials are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises introducing a reactable UV light absorbing component into a cross-linked and/or solid polymeric material containing reactable groups, and subjecting the reactable UV light absorbing component to conditions effective to chemically react the reactable UV light absorbing component with the reactable groups of the solid polymeric material.

Abstract: Optically clear, reinforced cross-linked silicone elastomers of the invention contain 12 to 18 mol percent of aryl substituted siloxane units of the formula R.sub.4 R.sub.5 --SiO end blockers containing silioxane units of the formula R.sub.1 R.sub.2 R.sub.3 --SiO.5, and dialkyl siloxane units of the formula R.sub.6 R.sub.7 --SiO. R.sub.1 and .sub.2 are alkyl, aryl or substituted alkyl or substituted aryl groups, and R.sub.3 is an alkenyl group. R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are phenyl or mono lower alkyl substituted phenyl groups. R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 are methyl or ethyl groups. The polymer has a degree of polymerization between 100 to 2000, and preferably approximately 250. The polymer also contains trimethyl silyl treated silica as a reinforcer in the weight ratio of approximately 15 to 45 parts of reinforcer to 100 parts of the polymer. After cross-linking, the polymer has properties of an optical refractive index which is at least 1.