Abstract: An ophthalmic lens suited for extended-wear periods of at least one day on the eye without a clinically significant amount of corneal swelling and without substantial wearer discomfort. The lens has a balance of oxygen permeability and ion or water permeability, with the ion or water permeability being sufficient to provide good on-eye movement, such that a good tear exchange occurs between the lens and the eye. A preferred lens is a copolymerization product of a oxyperm macromer and an ionoperm monomer. The invention encompasses extended wear contact lenses, which include a core having oxygen transmission and ion transmission pathways extending from the inner surface to the outer surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel composite materials comprising (a) an inorganic or organic bulk material having covalently bound to its surface initiator moieties for radical polymerization; and (b) a hydrophilic surface coating obtainable by applying one or more different ethylenically unsaturated hydrophilic macromonomers of formula (1) as outlined in the claims to the bulk material surface provided with the initiator radicals and polymerizing said macromonomers. The composite materials 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 invention relates to novel oligomers of formula wherein the variables are as defined in the claims. The oligomers of the invention are especially useful for the manufacture of biomedical moldings, for example ophthalmic moldings such as in particular contact lenses.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel crosslinkable copolymers of formula wherein the variables are as defined in the claims. The copolymers of the invention are especially useful for the manufacture of biomedical moldings, for example ophthalmic moldings such as in particular contact lenses.

Abstract: The invention relates to novel composite materials comprising (a) an inorganic or organic bulk material having covalently bound to its surface initiator moieties for radical polymerization; and (b) a hydrophilic surface coating obtainable by applying one or more different ethylenically unsaturated hydrophilic macromonomers of formula (1) as outlined in the claims to the bulk material surface provided with the initiator radicals and polymerizing said macromonomers. The composite materials 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 describes a polymer and a precursor thereof; a prepolymer made essentially from a macromer that is cross-linked, for example, via its free hydroxy groups with a polyisocyanate, the macromer being made essentially from a polysiloxane and a polyol component; processes for the production of such prepolymers and polymers; the use of such polymers, for example, as artificial corneas, as molded articles, especially as contact lens material; also the use of a prepolymer or polymer for coating surfaces, especially functionalized polymer surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention relates to coated particles wherein the polymer chains of the coating are obtainable by after-glow plasma induced polymerization of a monomer under special plasma conditions. The invention further relates to a method for the production of articles coated with a polymer having these features.