Abstract: An apparatus, method and products thereof provide an accelerated neutral beam derived from an accelerated gas cluster ion beam for processing materials.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and products thereof provide an accelerated neutral beam derived from an accelerated gas cluster ion beam for processing materials.

Abstract: Methods and systems for sterilization of objects by gas-cluster ion-beam (GCIB) irradiation are disclosed. The sterilization may be in conjunction with other beneficial GCIB surface processing of the objects. The objects may be medical devices or surgically implantable medical prostheses.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for employing an accelerated neutral beam derived from an accelerated gas cluster ion beam as a physical etching beam for providing reduced material mixing at the etched surface, compared to previous techniques. This results in the ability to achieve improved depth profile resolution in measurements by analytical instruments such as SIMS and XPS (or ESCA) analytical instruments.

Abstract: A method of modifying the surface of a medical device to release a drug in a controlled way by providing a barrier layer on the surface of one or more drug coatings. The barrier layer consists of modified drug material converted to a barrier layer by irradiation by an accelerated neutral beam derived from an accelerated gas cluster ion beam. Also medical devices formed thereby.

Abstract: A method of modifying a surface of implantable medical device provides coating at least a first portion of the surface of the medical device with a therapeutic agent to form a coated surface region; and irradiating at least a portion of the coated surface region with a gas cluster ion beam infusing the therapeutic agent into the at least a portion of the coated surface region.

Abstract: A bone implantable medical device made from a biocompatible material, preferably comprising titanic or zirconia, has at least a portion of its surface modified to facilitate improved integration with bone. The implantable device may incorporate a surface infused with osteoinductive agent and/or may incorporate holes loaded with a therapeutic agent. The infused surface and/or the holes may be patterned to determine the distribution of and amount of osteoinductive agent and/or therapeutic agent incorporated. The rate of release or elution profile of the therapeutic agent may be controlled. Methods for producing such a bone implantable medical device are also disclosed and employ the use of ion beam irradiation, preferably gas cluster ion beam irradiation for improving bone integration.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for characterizing a particle beam provides receiving a particle beam in a central region of a reduced pressure enclosure; impacting the received beam against a beam strike that is thermally isolated from the enclosure; measuring a temperature change of the beam strike due to the impacting beam; measuring a pressure change in the enclosure due to receiving the beam; and processing the measured temperature change and the measured pressure change to determine beam characteristics.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for preparing a biological material for implanting. The invention also provides a biological material for surgical implantation. The invention further provides a biological composition for surgical implantation.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for surgical grafting of a tissue. The method comprises the steps of explanting a graft tissue from a donor, irradiating at least a first portion of the graft tissue with an ion beam, and surgically grafting the graft tissue into a recipient.

Abstract: Methods and systems for sterilization of objects by gas-cluster ion-beam (GCIB) irradiation or by accelerated Neutral Beam are disclosed. The sterilization may be in conjunction with other beneficial GCIB surface processing of the objects. The objects may be medical devices or surgically implantable medical prostheses. The accelerated Neutral Beam is derived from an accelerated GCIB.

Abstract: A method of disinfecting a biological material provides disposing at least a portion of the biological material in the path of the gas cluster ion beam or in the path of the accelerated neutral beam so as to irradiate at least a portion of the biological material to disinfect the irradiated portion.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a drug delivery system and method provide a member including a combination of a drug substance and a polymer or other material, and an encapsulating layer formed in an outer surface of the member by gas cluster ion beam irradiation of the outer surface of the member, which encapsulating layer is adapted to determine one or more characteristics of the drug delivery system.

Abstract: A multi-layer drug coated medical device such as for example an expandable vascular drug eluting stent is formed by vacuum pulse spray techniques wherein each layer is irradiated to improve adhesion and/or drug elution properties prior to formation of subsequent layers. Layers may be homogeneous or of diverse drugs. Layers may incorporate a non-polymer elution-retarding material. Layers may alternate with one or more layers of non-polymer elution-retarding materials. Polymer binders and/or matrices are not used in the formation of the coatings, yet the pure drug coatings have good mechanical and elution rate properties. Systems, methods and medical device articles are disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a drug delivery system and method provide a member including a combination of a drug substance and a polymer or other material, and an encapsulating layer formed in an outer surface of the member by gas cluster ion beam irradiation of the outer surface of the member, which encapsulating layer is adapted to determine one or more characteristics of the drug delivery system.

Abstract: A gas-cluster-jet generator with improved vacuum management techniques and apparatus is disclosed. The gas-cluster-jet generator comprises a substantially conically shaped vacuum chamber for housing the nozzle and jet exit portions of the gas-cluster-jet generator. A skimmer may be located at the narrow end of the conical chamber and a close-coupled vacuum pump is located at the wide end of the conical chamber. Support members for the nozzle are high conductivity “spider” supports that provide support rigidity while minimizing gas flow obstruction for high pumping speed. The conically shaped vacuum chamber redirects un-clustered gas in a direction opposite the direction of the gas-cluster-jet for efficient evacuation of the un-clustered gas. The nozzle and a skimmer may have fixed precision relative alignment, or may optionally have a nozzle aiming adjustment feature for aligning the gas-cluster-jet with the skimmer and downstream beamline components.

Abstract: A method of controlling the drug release rate of a drug coated endovascular stent by depositing a drug material layer on the stent and then modifying the drug material using gas cluster ion beam irradiation to create a carbon matrix with interstices containing the original drug. The rate at which the drug elutes through the interstices can be controlled by processing parameters. Multiple layers may be employed to create time varying release rates.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and products thereof provide an accelerated neutral beam derived from an accelerated gas cluster ion beam for processing materials.

Abstract: The invention provides for a method of improving bioactivity of a surface of an implantable object. The invention also provides for a method of improving bioactivity of a surface of biological laboratory ware. The invention further provides a method of attaching cells to an object. The invention even further provides for a method of preparing an object for medical implantation. The invention also provides for an article with attached cell, and for an article for medical implantation. Improvements result from the application of gas-cluster ion beam technology and from the application of neutral beam technology, wherein neutral beams are derived from accelerated gas-cluster ion beams.

Abstract: A gas-cluster-jet generator with improved vacuum management techniques and apparatus is disclosed. The gas-cluster-jet generator comprises a substantially conically shaped vacuum chamber for housing the nozzle and jet exit portions of the gas-cluster-jet generator. A skimmer may be located at the narrow end of the conical chamber and a close-coupled vacuum pump is located at the wide end of the conical chamber. Support members for the nozzle are high conductivity “spider” supports that provide support rigidity while minimizing gas flow obstruction for high pumping speed. The conically shaped vacuum chamber redirects un-clustered gas in a direction opposite the direction of the gas-cluster-jet for efficient evacuation of the un-clustered gas. The nozzle and a skimmer may have fixed precision relative alignment, or may optionally have a nozzle aiming adjustment feature for aligning the gas-cluster-jet with the skimmer and downstream beamline components.