Abstract: An insertion device for an intra-ocular lens (IOL) has a bilaminar, lubricious coating on the surface which contacts the IOL as it is being inserted into the eye. The bilaminar coating includes a highly lubricious top coat, and a polymeric base coat which is both highly adherent to the surface of the insertion device, and which has functional groups capable of grafting the base coat to the top coat. In its completed form, the bilaminar coating is essentially permanent, and exceedingly lubricious when wet, allowing the IOL to be advanced smoothly and without damage through the insertion device. The top coat may include hyaluronan, or another material capable of providing the required lubricity.

Abstract: Biocompatible, lubricious, highly durable coatings for medical devices are formed from a highly adherent base coat and a hydrophilic top-coat which is chemically grafted to the base coat. The base coat includes an aqueous acrylic emulsion polymer, having one or more monomers having alkyl groups of varying number. The monomers are combined such that the “Equivalent Alkyl Number”, essentially a weighted average number of carbon atoms, for the resulting polymer or copolymer, is in a range of about 3.5-4.5. The coating is prepared without using any organic solvents, and thus the final product contains no residue of such solvents. The coated products display an unmatched combination of adhesion, abrasion resistance, water resistance, biocompatibility, and lubricity.

Abstract: Biocompatible, lubricious, highly durable coatings for medical devices are formed from a highly adherent base coat and a hydrophilic top-coat which is chemically grafted to the base coat. The base coat includes an aqueous acrylic emulsion polymer, having one or more monomers having alkyl groups of varying number. The monomers are combined such that the “Equivalent Alkyl Number”, essentially a weighted average number of carbon atoms, for the resulting polymer or copolymer, is in a range of about 3.5-4.5. The coating is prepared without using any organic solvents, and thus the final product contains no residue of such solvents. The coated products display an unmatched combination of adhesion, abrasion resistance, water resistance, biocompatibility, and lubricity.

Abstract: A substrate is rendered highly lubricious and wettable, by treating the substrate so that it becomes amine-functionalized, and chemically joining an aldonic acid to amine groups on the substrate. In the preferred embodiment, the chemical joining is performed with the aid of a coupling agent, such as a water-soluble carbodiimide, the coupling agent participating in the reaction which joins the aldonic acid to the amine groups, and which forms a residue that can be discarded. The coupling agent makes it possible to perform the process at room temperature. The method can be used to coat articles such as contact lenses, intra-ocular lenses, or other devices which are intended to be temporarily or permanently implanted in the body. The method can also be used in other fields, such as in coating of goggles, windshields, and other objects.

Abstract: Articles such as medical devices are selectively coated with a lubricious coating. A temporary coating, formed from an aqueous solution of a water-soluble polymer of low to moderate molecular weight, is painted onto those portions of the article which are to remain free of any coating in the final product. Then, the entire article is coated with a material which forms a lubricious coating. The article is then soaked in water to loosen the coatings at the locations at which the temporary coating was applied. The coatings are cleanly removed from those locations, leaving an article with a lubricious coating in some portions, and which is uncoated in the remaining portions. The process can be used in coating portions of catheters, surgical gloves, contact lenses, and any other articles which require a lubricious coating only on a portion of the surface of the article.

Abstract: A free acid form of a polysaccharide is produced from its alkali-metal salt. In one example, free-form hyaluronic acid is produced by preparing a solution of an alkali-metal salt of hyaluronic acid, dispersing into the solution a strong acid, enclosing the dispersion within a semi-permeable membrane, dialyzing the dispersion in water, and harvesting the product from within the membrane. The strong acid can be hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, orthophosphoric acid, or oxalic acid, for example. The semi-permeable membrane has a molecular weight cut-off large enough to pass the strong acid, and preferably much larger. The invention provides a simple and economical way to produce a product which is not commercially available.

Abstract: A transparent, hydrophilic, non-fogging coating is applied to the surface of an object. The coating includes a bilaminar graft formed of two films. The first film, denoted the matrix, adheres to the surface of the object, and contains functional groups capable of chemically reacting with a mucopolysaccharide. The second film, denoted the hydrophil, contains the mucopolysaccharide. A quantity of ethylenedinitrilo-tetrakis-(2-hydroxypropane) is added to the matrix and to the hydrophil. Also added to the hydrophil are dimethyl sulfoxide (1%) and desulfated heparin (0.5%). The result is a permanent, transparent, hydrophilic, non-fogging coating. The coating can be formed on an intra-ocular lens or a contact lens, or on other objects. Also, the coating can be formed on a substrate to which the coating does not adhere permanently. The coating can then be separated from the substrate, stored, and later adhered to another surface.

Abstract: Interlaminar grafting of coatings, particularly grafting of a lubricious outer coating upon an anchor coating supported upon glass or plastic, for example, to provide anti-fogging or lubricating characteristics. The method is characterized by its ability to anchor permanently the highly lubricious coating to the glass or plastic.

Abstract: Plastics, particularly a method of hydrophilic coating of plastics, for example, a contact lens, with a lubricating and visually acute mucopolysaccharide film which is immobilized upon the surface of the plastic for the lifetime of the plastic. A preferred method includes first coating the plastic with an aqueous solution of a mucopolysaccharide, drying by applying a water-miscible solvent, then crosslinking and permanently immobilizing the first coating upon the plastic by applying a solution of catalyzed organic soluble aliphatic polyisocyanate.

Abstract: Plastics, particularly a method of hydrophilic coating of plastics, for example, a contact lens, with a lubricating and visually acute mucopolysaccharide film which is immobilized upon the surface of the plastic for the lifetime of the plastic. A preferred method includes first coating the plastic with an aqueous solution of a mucopolysaccharide, drying by applying a water-miscible solvent, then crosslinking and permanently immobilizing the first coating upon the plastic by applying a solution of catalyzed organic solution aliphatic polyisocyanates.

Abstract: Plastics, particularly a method hydrophilic coating of plastics, for example, a contact lens, with a lubricating and visually acute mucopolysaccharide film which is immobilized upon the surface of the plastic for the lifetime of the plastic. A preferred method includes first coating the plastic with an aqueous solution of a mucopolysaccharide, drying by applying a water-miscible solvent, then crosslinking and permanently immobilizing the first coating upon the plastic by applying a solution of catalyzed organic soluble aliphatic polyisocyanate.

Abstract: Optical lenses, particularly spectacle, contact and intra-ocular lenses manufactured from glass or plastic. The lenses are provided with a hydrophilic coating which is immobilized upon the lens to provide permanent lubricity and uniform wetting characteristics.