Abstract: The present invention is directed toward the renewable surface treatment of medical devices such as contact lenses and medical implants. In particular, the present invention is directed to a method of modifying the surface of a medical device to increase its biocompatibility or hydrophilicity by coating the device with a removable hydrophilic polymer by means of reaction between reactive functionalities on the hydrophilic polymer which functionalities are complementary to reactive functionalities on or near the surface of the medical device. The present invention is also directed to a contact lens or other medical device having such a surface coating.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward the surface treatment of silicone medical devices such as contact lenses and medical implants. In particular, the present invention is directed to a method of modifying the surface of a medical device to increase its biocompatibility or hydrophilicity by coating the device with a hydrophilic polymer by means of reaction between reactive functionalities on the hydrophilic polymer which functionalities are complementary to reactive functionalities on or near the surface of the medical device. The present invention is also directed to a contact lens or other medical device having such a surface coating.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the surface treatment of silicone hydrogel contact lenses. In particular, the present invention is directed to a method of modifying the surface of a contact lens to increase its hydrophilicity by coating the lens with a carbon-containing layer made from a diolefinic compound having 4 to 8 carbon atoms. In one embodiment, an optically clear, hydrophilic coating is provided upon the surface of a silicone hydrogel lens by sequentially subjecting the surface of the lens to: a plasma oxidation reaction, followed by a plasma polymerization reaction in a the presence of a diolefin in the absence of air. Finally, the resulting carbon layer is rendered hydrophilic by a further plasma oxidation reaction or by the attachment of a hydrophilic polymer chains.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optically clear, hydrophilic coating upon the surface of a silicone medical device by sequentially subjecting the surface of the lens to plasma polymerization reaction in a hydrocarbon atmosphere to form a carbon layer, and then graft polymerizinga mixture of monomers comprising hydrophilic monomers onto the carbon layer. The invention is especially useful for forming a biocompatible coating on silicone hydrogel contact lenses.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optically clear, hydrophilic coating upon the surface of a silicone hydrogel lens by subjecting the surface of the lens to a process comprising plasma treatment, hydration, and heat sterilization that is controlled to result in a silicate-containing film having a mosaic pattern of projecting plates surrounded by fissures when viewing a 50×50 micron square AFM image, wherein the peak-to-valley distances of the fissures are on average between about 100 and 500 angströms and the plate coverage is on average between about 40% to 99%.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to certain hydrophilic polymers. These polymers undergo negligible shrinkage when polymerized and are highly hydrophilic, rendering them useful in a variety of applications.

Abstract: Low water silicone-containing elastomers are based on a hydroxy- or amino-terminated prepolymer derived from an ethylenically unsaturated silicon-containing monomer, and at least one monomer reactive with hydroxyl- or amino-functional radicals of the prepolymer. The elastomers are especially useful as contact lens materials.

Abstract: Low water siloxane macromonomer are disclosed. This macromonomer can be copolymerized with unsaturated silicone containing monomers to prepare polymeric materials useful as biomedical devices. These macromonomers are particularly suited for soft contact lens applications.

Abstract: A method for increasing hydrophilicity of a contact lens, so as to improve surface wettability of the lens, comprises contacting a surface of the contact lens with an aqueous solution including a hydrophilic monomer, and heating the solution while in contact with the surface of the contact lens to effect polymerization.

Abstract: Surface characteristics of cast molded contact lenses are improved by removing substantially all the oxygen from the plastic mold pieces prior to casting the lenses.

Abstract: Novel siloxane macromonomers are disclosed which can be copolymerized with hydrophilic monomers or hydrophobic monomers to prepare polymeric materials useful as biomedical devices. The copolymers made from hydrophilic monomers exhibit good oxygen permeability and are particularly suitable for use in contact lenses.

Abstract: A class of polymerizable surfactants are described by the formulaDC(A.sub.x B.sub.y)wherein A is a monomer unit derived from at least one ethylenically unsaturated hydrophilic monomer, B is a monomer unit derived from at least one ethylenically unsaturated hydrophobic monomer, C is a functional chain transfer agent, D is an ethylenically unsaturated end group, y is within the range from about 0.1 to about 0.9, and x+y=1. The polymerizable surfactants are useful for modifying the surfaces of polymeric objects, especially contact lenses.

Abstract: Improved silicone-containing hydrogels are disclosed with enhanced wettability comprising a silicone-containing monomer, at least one acrylic-containing hydrophilic monomer, and at least one vinyl-containing hydrophilic monomer.

Abstract: A novel silicone-containing, hydrogel material is disclosed comprising an acrylic-capped polysiloxane prepolymer, polymerized with a bulky polysiloxanylalkyl (meth)acrylate monomer and at least one hydrophilic monomer.

Abstract: Novel siloxane macromonomers are disclosed which can be copolymerized with hydrophilic monomers or hydrophobic monomers to prepare polymeric materials useful as biomedical devices. The copolymers made from hydrophilic monomers exhibit good oxygen permeability and are particularly suitable for use in contact lenses.

Abstract: A method of modifying the surfaces of the polymeric objects by adding a polymerizable surfactant to the monomer mix used to form the object. Also disclosed are surface-modified objects prepared by this method, which is particularly suited for modifying the surfaces of contact lenses.

Abstract: A novel silicone-containing, hydrogel material is disclosed comprising an acrylic-capped polysiloxane prepolymer, polymerized with a bulky polysiloxanylalkyl (meth)acrylate monomer and at least one hydrophilic monomer.

Abstract: Improved silicone-containing hydrogels are disclosed with enhanced wettability comprising a silicone-containing monomer, hydrophilic monomers, and a relatively non-polar ring-containing monomer able to be converted to a highly polar amino acid upon hydration.

Abstract: Siloxane macromonomers are disclosed which can be copolymerized with hydrophilic monomers or hydrophobic monomers to prepare polymeric materials useful as biomedical devices. The copolymers made from hydrophilic monomers exhibit good oxygen permeability and are particularly suitable for use in contact lenses.

Abstract: A method of modifying the surfaces of polymeric objects by adding a polymerizable surfactant to the monomer mix used to form the object. Also disclosed are surface-modified objects prepared by this method, which is particularly suited for modifying the surfaces of contact lenses.