Abstract: A method of applying a polymer coating uses a nebulized aerosol of solubilized polymer solution having high-viscosity droplets and low-viscosity droplets to form a textured antireflective surface. Air or other gas is used to direct the nebulized aerosol toward the surface of an object. In some embodiments, heated or dried air, such as from an air curtain, is used to promote the formation of high-viscosity droplets. In a particular embodiment, multiple ultrasonic nebulizers are used in combination with synchronized air jets to apply a uniform polymer coating onto a glass panel used in a large-format display system. Dye is optionally added to the solubilized polymer solution to provide a notch filter at 585 nm and/or infrared filter.

Abstract: A toilet training article in the form of a toilet training pad containing an effervescent agent is disclosed. The toilet training pad, which may be an insertable pad or integrated directly into an undergarment, contains an effervescent agent which releases gas upon being contacted by urine. The effervescent agent may be in the form of a compound containing a substantially inert gas, or may be a combination of compounds that, upon being contacted by urine, produce a gas.

Abstract: Medical devices, and in particular implantable medical devices, may be coated to minimize or substantially eliminate a biological organism's reaction to the introduction of the medical device to the organism or to treat a particular condition. A dip coating process is utilized to minimize waste. An aqueous latex polymeric emulsion is utilized to coat any medical device to a desired thickness by allowing for successive dipping and drying cycles. In addition, aqueous latex polymeric emulsions pose less of a chance of the bridging phenomenon associated with organic solvent based polymers.

Abstract: A method for selecting a formulation for one or more layers of a multi-layer coating for repair purposes, the multi-layer coating comprising a primer applied on a substrate, at least one base or top coat and, optionally, a clear coat, the method comprising the following steps: providing a database of colorimetric data relating to a set of formulations and/or relating to constituents for a primer and preferably for one or more base or top coat layers for a multi-layer coating; entering the colorimetric data of an object to be repaired into a computer having access to said database; determining the formulation of the primer and, optionally, of one or more base or top coat layers with the aid of the database, in such a way that the resulting color of the multi-layer coating to be applied matches the color of the object to be repaired using the lowest possible amount of coating material.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved LbL-coating process for modifying the surface of a medical device, preferably an ophthalmic device, more preferably a contact lens. An LbL coating on a contact lens, which is prepared according to the process of the invention, can have increased hydrophilicity characterized by an averaged contact angle of about 80 degree or less, preferably about 50 degrees or less, while maintaining the desired bulk properties such as oxygen permeability and ion permeability of lens material.

Abstract: It is a method of repairing a ceramic coating of an article after use of this article in a high temperature environment disclosed. The ceramic coating is removed locally at spalled areas, at the areas where the ceramic coating is removed locally a mixture including a powder of zirconia stabilized with one or a combination of yttria, calcia, scandia, magnesia, ceria and oxides of the rare earth group, and hydrated metallic halides as a binder is applied and the applied ceramic powder is dried.

Abstract: A stent mounting device and a method of coating a stent using the device are provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for efficiently and uniformly treating articles with two or more fluids without transferring the articles from one container to another container.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method of modifying the surface of substrates such as contact lenses and other biomedical articles by at least partially coating the surfaces of such substrates with a polymeric tie layer having reactive sites. Various other moieties may then be chemically attached to the article surface by reaction of the other moieties with the reactive sites through classical chemical attachment mechanisms.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for coating a material surface comprising the steps of: (a) providing an inorganic or organic bulk material having covalently bound to its surface initiator moieties for radical polymerization; (b) graft polymerizing a hydrophilic ethylenically unsaturated macromonomer from the bulk material surface in the presence of a biocompatible hydrophilic polymer being devoid of polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated groups and thereby entrapping said hydrophilic polymer within the polymer matrix formed by the polymerization of the macromonomer. Composite materials obtainable according to the process of the invention have desirable characteristics regarding adherence to the substrate, durability, hydrophilicity, wettability, biocompatibility and permeability and are thus useful for the manufacture of biomedical articles such as ophthalmic devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to coating a porous, hydrophobic polymer with a hemocompatible coating and to the materials produced thereby. One embodiment of the present invention relates to the coating of expanded poly(tetrafluoroethylene) with one or more complexes of heparin, typically containing heparin in combination with a hydrophobic counter ion. The hemocompatible coating is dissolved in a mixture of solvents in which a first solvent wets the polymer to be coated and the second solvent enhances the solubility of the hemocompatible coating material in the solvent mixture. Typical first solvents wetting hydrophobic polymers include non-polar such as hydrocholorofluorocarbons. Typical second solvents include polar solvents such as organic alcohols and ketones. Azeotropic mixtures of the second solvent in the first solvent are used in some embodiments of the present invention although second solvents may be employed in a range of concentration ranges from less than 0.1% up to saturation.

Abstract: A chemical composition and method for repairing a thermal barrier coating on a component designed for use in a hostile thermal environment, such as turbine, combustor and augmentor components of a gas turbine engine. The method repairs a thermal barrier coating on a component that has suffered localized damage to the thermal barrier coating. After cleaning the surface area of the component exposed by the localized spallation, a mixture of a ceramic composition comprising a ceramic powder in a binder is applied, preferably by spraying, to the surface area of the component. The binder is then allowed to dry to form a dried coating. Upon subsequent heating, the dried coating reacts to produce a ceramic-containing repair coating, wherein the coating comprises the ceramic powder in a matrix of a material formed when the binder was reacted. The binder is preferably a ceramic precursor material that can be converted immediately to a ceramic or allowed to thermally decompose over time to form a ceramic.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming on a medical device, preferably an ophthalmic lens, more preferably a contact lens, a diffusion-controllable coating capable of controlling the out-diffusion or release of guest materials from the medical device. The method of the invention comprises: (1) applying one layer of clay and optionally one or more layers of polyionic materials onto the medical device; or (2) applying alternatively a layer of a first polyionic material and a layer of a second polyionic material having charges opposite of the charges of the first polyionic material onto the medical device and releasing the coated medical device into a releasing medium having a composition capable of imparting a desired permeability to the diffusion-controllable coating on the medical device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of coating a surface of a stent by contacting the stent with a coating solution containing a coating material, inserting a thread through the lumen of the stent, and producing relative motion between the stent and the thread to substantially remove coating material located within the openings of the stent. Eliminating or minimizing coating material located within the openings preserves the functionality of the stent. The method can be used to apply a primer layer, a polymer, either with or without a therapeutic agent, and/or a top layer on the stent.

Abstract: A process for applying a coating having a therapeutic agent such as an antibiotic or a bone morphogenic protein to an implant uses the high surface area of a calcium phosphate coated metal implant as a repository for the therapeutic agent. The implant is coated with one or more layers of calcium phosphate minerals such as hydroxyapatite. After the crystalline layer is applied, which is usually done within an aqueous solution, the implant is dried and packaged. Immediately prior to implantation, the implant is removed from the package and the crystalline layer of calcium phosphate is wetted with an aqueous solution containing the therapeutic agent.

Abstract: Method of selectively removing volatile components from a composition, comprising coating the composition onto a first substrate surface of a substrate, wherein the composition comprises a nonresident volatile component and a resident volatile component. The method further includes positioning at least a portion of the coated substrate between a condensing surface having a condensing surface temperature and a heating surface having a heating surface temperature that is greater than the condensing surface temperature, wherein the condensing surface is in a spaced apart, confronting relationship to the coated surface of the substrate and wherein the heated surface is in thermal contact with a second substrate surface opposite the first substrate surface. In the method, the heated surface temperature and the condensing surface temperature are such that the positioning step causes the nonresident volatile component to be selectively removed from the portion of the coated substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed are implantable medical devices with enhanced patency. Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene small caliber vascular grafts coated with polymer bound bio-active agents that exhibit enhanced patency are disclosed. The polymer bound bio-active agents can include anti-thrombogenic agents, antibiotics, antibacterial agents and antiviral agents. Methods of preparing same are also provided.

Abstract: A process for impregnating a porous material with a cross-linkable composition is disclosed. The degree of impregnation and placement of the cross-linkable composition within the pores of the porous material can be controlled very precisely through the use of a pressure differential. The pressure differential is effected through a nonreactive gas, a vacuum, or a combination thereof. Medical devices produced using such a method are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for single-step surface modification, grafting and sterilization for bio-active coating on materials and biomaterials used in medical devices, such as catheters, tissue engineering scaffolds, or drug delivery carrier materials. This may include any medical device or implantable that could benefit from improved antithrombogenic and biocompatible surfaces. Other relevant device examples may include heparin or urokinase coated stents to reduce clotting and restenosis, dental or ophthamological implants. These materials may be comprised of a variety of polymeric compositions such as, polyurethane, polyester, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, polymethylmethacrylate, polyHEMA, polyvinyl alcohol, polysiloxanes, polylactic or glycolic acids, polycaprolactone, etc. The substrates can also be metal, ceramics or biologically derived materials.

Abstract: A method of determining whether a substrate has been subjected to an energy source. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of providing a polymeric surface, providing a light emitting material having a specified emission spectrum that changes upon exposure to an energy source on the surface or embedded in said substrate and applying said energy source to said surface with said light emitting material. This method can be particularly useful for detecting the bond quality in medical devices.