Abstract: A method of increasing the hydrophilicity of a polymer surface, such as a contact lens surface, includes exposing the polymer substrate to a first plasma under conditions selected to generate free radicals on the surface of the polymer substrate. The method also includes reacting an organic compound with the free radicals on the surface of the polymer substrate to thereby form an organic coating. The method further includes exposing the organic coating to a second plasma under conditions selected to oxidize the organic coating to thereby form a hydrophilic layer at the substrate surface. The hydrophilic layer can have a contact angle with respect to water that is less than about 50°.

Abstract: A hybrid contact lens includes a substantially rigid center portion and a substantially flexible skirt portion connected to the center portion. The skirt portion is formed using xerogels compatible with diluents comprising at least one selected from polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, lactide, glycolide, a polyacetal, a cyclic acetal, a polyketal, a cyclic ketal, a polyorthoester, a cyclic orthoester, di-t-butyl-dicarbonate, tris(trimethylsilyl)amine, and 2,2,2-trifluoroacetamide. These diluents are formulated to function as a stand-in for water in the xerogel polymer, allowing the xerogel to form and bond to the rigid center portion in its fully expanded state. Upon hydration of the hybrid lens, substantially little dimensional change, and thus substantially little distortion, is obtained in the skirt portion.

Abstract: Contact lenses which exhibit improved wetability are provided. In one aspect, the surface of the contact lenses may be modified using a hydrophilic layer which imparts improved wetability to the contact lens. The contact lens may be exposed to a first plasma so as to generate free radicals on the contact lens surface. An organic compound may be further reacted with the free radicals on the surface to form an organic coating. The contact lens may be exposed to a under conditions selected to oxidize the organic coating and form the hydrophilic layer. Surface modified contact lenses may exhibit contact angles with respect to water less than about 50° using a broad range of organic compounds, including alcohols, ethers, aldehydes, ketones, esters, organosilicon, organophosphorous, organotitanium, organotin, organogermanium, and organoboron compounds. The improved wetability is also substantially maintained when the lens is subject to wear.

Abstract: A hybrid contact lens includes a substantially rigid center portion and a substantially flexible skirt portion connected to the center portion. The skirt portion is formed using xerogels compatible with diluents comprising at least one selected from polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, lactide, glycolide, a polyacetal, a cyclic acetal, a polyketal, a cyclic ketal, a polyorthoester, a cyclic orthoester, di-t-butyl-dicarbonate, tris(trimethylsilyl)amine, and 2,2,2-trifluoroacetamide. These diluents are formulated to function as a stand-in for water in the xerogel polymer, allowing the xerogel to form and bond to the rigid center portion in its fully expanded state. Upon hydration of the hybrid lens, substantially little dimensional change, and thus substantially little distortion, is obtained in the skirt portion.

Abstract: Hybrid sol-gel materials are provided, which may be produced by the reaction of an alkyl or dialkyl substituted trialkoxysilane or dialkoxysilane reacting with a silane diol, wherein said alkyl group has from 1 to 8 carbon atoms. A process is also provided for patterning the sol-gel spin-on glass material by: a) coating a substrate with the spin-on glass material; b) exposing the coated substrate of step a) to UV illumination in a desired pattern; c) post-exposure baking the coated substrate of step b) at a temperature from 100° C. to 120° C. for 30 to 60 minutes; d) cooling the coated substrate of step c) to room temperature; e) removing the non-exposed areas of the coating on the coated substrate of step d); f) drying the coated substrate of step e); g) hard baking the coated substrate of step f) at a temperature from 120° C. and 150° C. for 1 to 3 hours.

Abstract: The present invention relates to contact lenses manufactured using a gas permeable material with improved hydrophilicity. A method for improving the hydrophilicity of the contact lens includes providing a contact lens comprising a gas permeable contact lens material and exposing the material to a treatment solution comprising a chemical agent under conditions that are effective to significantly reduce the contact angle of the contact lens for a period of at least about two months. In another embodiment, the method includes irradiating the contact lens to sterilize the contact lens material. A contact lens manufactured using this method includes a substantially rigid portion comprising a polymeric material, the polymeric material comprising a hydrophilic surface having a contact angle of about 65 degrees or less.

Abstract: The present invention relates to contact lenses manufactured using a gas permeable material with improved hydrophilicity. A method for improving the hydrophilicity of the contact lens includes providing a contact lens comprising a gas permeable contact lens material and exposing the material to a treatment solution comprising a chemical agent under conditions that are effective to significantly reduce the contact angle of the contact lens for a period of at least about two months. In another embodiment, the method includes irradiating the contact lens to sterilize the contact lens material. A contact lens manufactured using this method includes a substantially rigid portion comprising a polymeric material, the polymeric material comprising a hydrophilic surface having a contact angle of about 65 degrees or less.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to the fabrication of micro-optical structures in a glass-like transparent material using conventional photolithography processing steps. The glass-like material is a spin-on glass (SOG) material, which behaves like a negative-tone photoresist, and has high quality optical properties similar to those of glass. The present invention can take advantage of gray scale photomasks to illuminate the uncured spin-on material with various illumination intensities, thus resulting in variations in resultant film thickness of the SOG material after the chemical development step. This results in micro-optical structures that can be fabricated with the desired shapes, depending on the transmission characteristics of each region of the gray scale photomask.

Abstract: The present invention claims a unique way to pattern an optical microstructure immediately on top of a mass produced light-emitting device, such as a light emitting diode (LED), a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) or a photo detector, for the purpose of efficient coupling of light to or from the active region of the light-emitting device. The invention addresses the need to effectively and efficiently extract light from the light-emitting optoelectronic device. Finally, the invention allows for the optical microstructure to be deposited and patterned directly over the light-emitting device contained on a suitable substrate, such as a wafer.

Abstract: Hybrid sol-gel materials are provided, which may be produced by the reaction of an alkyl or dialkyl substituted trialkoxysilane or dialkoxysilane reacting with a silane diol, wherein said alkyl group has from 1 to 8 carbon atoms. A process is also provided for patterning the sol-gel spin-on glass material by: a) coating a substrate with the spin-on glass material; b) exposing the coated substrate of step a) to UV illumination in a desired pattern; c) post-exposure baking the coated substrate of step b) at a temperature from 100° C. to 120° C. for 30 to 60 minutes; d) cooling the coated substrate of step c) to room temperature; e) removing the non-exposed areas of the coating on the coated substrate of step d); f) drying the coated substrate of step e); g) hard baking the coated substrate of step f) at a temperature from 120° C. and 150° C. for 1 to 3 hours.

Abstract: The subject invention relates to the fabrication of micro-optical structures in a glass-like transparent material using conventional photolithography processing steps. The glass-like material is a spin-on glass (SOG) material, which behaves like a negative-tone photoresist, and has high quality optical properties similar to those of glass. The present invention can take advantage of gray scale photomasks to illuminate the uncured spin-on material with various illumination intensities, thus resulting in variations in resultant film thickness of the SOG material after the chemical development step. This results in micro-optical structures that can be fabricated with the desired shapes, depending on the transmission characteristics of each region of the gray scale photomask.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for controlling and/or enhancing the light emission and/or amplitude of a light-emitting device comprising depositing on the surface of such light-emitting device a spin-on glass material at a process temperature of less than 225° C., wherein the spin-on glass material is directly patternable as a negative photoresist. The spin-on glass material is directly patternable using standard photolithography methods and may be used for the purpose of patterning mechanical stand-offs for light emitting device-packaging purposes.

Abstract: The present invention claims a unique way to pattern an optical microstructure immediately on top of a mass produced light-emitting device, such as a light emitting diode (LED), a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) or a photo detector, for the purpose of efficient coupling of light to or from the active region of the light-emitting device. The invention addresses the need to effectively and efficiently extract light from the light-emitting optoelectronic device. Finally, the invention allows for the optical microstructure to be deposited and patterned directly over the light-emitting device contained on a suitable substrate, such as a wafer.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an improved paperboard for use in food or non-food products. The disclosed board utilizes a novel method of applying adsorptive material to packaging paperboard to overcome emissions (by adsorption thereof) of odiferous manufacturing components from the board, as well as any offensive odors emitted by contents of packages made from the board. The disclosed approach utilizes known adsorptive materials, which are applied to the pulp stock in such a manner that it does not negatively impact either the appearance or physical attributes of the finished board.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improvement in the art of making saturating kraft paper. In particular, the invention relates to a method for enhancing the fire-retardancy of saturating kraft paper containing alumina trihydrate and phenolic resin by including sodium borate into the paper. The improved saturating kraft is particularly useful in the production of fire-retardant high-pressure laminated materials.