Abstract: Methods for preparing functionalized polyvinylpyrrolidones with polymerizable functions. Also, amphipathic polydimethylsiloxane-PVP block copolymers, such as and (meth)acrylated and (meth)acrylamide-functionalized polyvinylpyrrolidone compounds, such as The block copolymers are useful as biomaterial components in biomedical devices. They provide improved wettability, lubricity, and material compatibility to the biomedical device, e.g., ophthalmic lenses.

Abstract: Methods for preparing functionalized polyvinylpyrrolidones with polymerizable functions. Also, amphipathic polydimethylsiloxane-PVP block copolymers, such as and (meth)acrylated and (meth)acrylamide-functionalized polyvinylpyrrolidone compounds, such as The block copolymers are useful as biomaterial components in biomedical devices. They provide improved wettability, lubricity, and material compatibility to the biomedical device, e.g., ophthalmic lenses.

Abstract: Polymer surface modification method comprising the steps of first forming a surface of primary reactive end groups tethered to the polymer chain ends during fabrication of an article, and then modifying the reactive surface with bio-active molecules, hydrophilic and hydrophobic monomers, oligomers, or polymers to attain specific surface properties. Alternatively, a multifunctional coupling agent can be used to couple the primary reactive group to a second reactive group capable of reacting with a functional group associated with bio-active molecules, hydrophilic and hydrophobic monomers, oligomers, and polymers to attain specific surface properties. The invention involves bringing reactive endgroups to the surface with surface active spacer attached to the polymer chain end. The surface active spacer allows the migration and enrichment of reactive end groups to the surface during fabrication.

Abstract: Block copolymer having improved compression set comprising 40-98 wt-% soft segment, 1.9-20 wt-% hard segment, and 0.05-3 wt-% monofunctional ionic endgroups. The incorporation of ionomers into diisocyanate-based thermoplastic polyurethane materials greatly improves compression set with little impact on the overall TPU formulation. A typical formulation for making the block copolymer contains 84.2% polydimethylsiloxane, 12.9% diisocyanate, 2.9% diamine chain extender, 0.15% sodium 2-[bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]ethylsulfonate, and 0.05% isethionic acid. The polymeric material may be configured, for instance, as a contact lens, prosthetic spinal nucleus, orthopedic bearing surface, gasket, or sealant.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for removing cytokines and/or pathogens from blood or blood serum (blood) by contacting the blood with a solid, essentially non micro-porous substrate which has been surface treated with heparin, heparan sulfate and/or other molecules or chemical groups (the adsorbent media or media) having a binding affinity for the cytokine or pathogen(s) to be removed (the adsorbates), and wherein the size of the interstitial channels within said media is balanced with the amount of media surface area and the surface concentration of binding sites on the media in order to provide adequate adsorptive capacity while also allowing relatively high flow rates of blood through the adsorbent media.

Abstract: Polymers with non-leaching antimicrobial activity and their use as surface coatings or bulk resins for medical devices. The antimicrobial polymers are prepared with antimicrobial moieties covalently bonded to a polymer chain end or to a polymer backbone at a side chain end. The antimicrobial moiety-containing endgroups include surface active (or surface assembling) moieties which promote enrichment of antimicrobial endgroups at the polymer surface and thus formation of an antimicrobially active surface. Polymers with built-in antimicrobial endgroups can be used as bulk resins, as antimicrobial additives, or as infection preventative coatings in the manufacture of medical devices (e.g., catheters, vascular access devices, peripheral lines, IV sites, drains, gastric feeding and tubes, and other implantable devices).

Abstract: A silicone hydrogel formulation may contains random and/or block copolymers or oligomers or macromers. The silicone copolymer is copolymerized or blended with other polymers or monomers or macromers to obtain final formulation. The silicone hydrogel may contain crosslinking groups to provide a complete or partially crosslinked final structure. The silicone hydrogel formulation may be pre-formed as a film or other structure, or it may be polymerized during application as in the case of an adhesive formulation. A wound dressing comprising a silicone hydrogel formed as a film, either prior to application to a wound or in situ on a wound, which film has gas permeability, moisture permeability, and high water content, wherein said silicone hydrogel is formed from a polymerizable silicone such as a difunctional polydimethylsiloxane methacrylate and crosslinking agents such as N,N-dimethyllacrylamide (DMA), 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), and trimethylsiloxy silane (TRIS).

Abstract: Polymers whose surfaces are modified by endgroups that include amphipathic surface-modifying moieties. An amphipathic endgroup of a polymer molecule is an endgroup that contains at least two moieties of significantly differing composition, such that the amphipathic endgroup spontaneously rearranges its positioning in a polymer body to position the moiety on the surface of the body, depending upon the composition of the medium with which the body is in contact, when that re-positioning causes a reduction in interfacial energy. An example of an amphipathic surface-modifying endgroup is one that has both a hydrophobic moiety and a hydrophilic moiety in a single endgroup. For instance, a hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) terminated with a hydrophilic hydroxyl group is not surface active in air when the surface-modifying endgroup is bonded to a more hydrophobic base polymer.

Abstract: Block copolymers are formulated with multifunctional chain extenders. The block copolymers include a soft segment and a hard segment made from a diisocyanate, an alkylene diamine chain extender, and a multifunctional chain extender which provides delayed crosslinking. The multifunctional chain extenders have a functionality and typically have at least one OH group. The multifunctional chain extenders may be aliphatic or aromatic triols or polyols, or may have other configurations, as described. The resulting block copolymers have improved mechanical properties such as compression set. They may be used in medical applications, or in industrial applications such as seal and gasket applications, including O-rings, window seals, and automotive gaskets. The initially-formed polyurethane resin behaves as a thermoplastic processable material, while the configured end-use product is thermoset.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for extracorporeal removal of harmful agents from blood or blood components, comprising full length heparin immobilized on a solid substrate by covalent end point attachment. The present invention also relates to a method for extracorporeal removal of a harmful agent from mammalian blood or blood components. The present invention further relates to a process for covalent end point attachment of full length heparin to a solid substrate.

Abstract: Medical device, prosthesis, or packaging assembly made up of polymer body comprising at least one polymer having the formula R(LE)x wherein R is a polymeric core having a number average molecular weight of from 5000 to 7,000,000 daltons, and having x endgroups, x is an integer?1, E is an endgroup which is covalently linked to polymeric core R by linkage L, L is a divalent oligomeric chain which has at least 5 repeat units and which can self-assembly with L chains on adjacent molecules of the polymer, and moieties L and/or E in the polymer(s) may be the same as or different from one another in composition and/or molecular weight. The polymer body includes plural polymer molecules located internally within the body, at least some of which internal polymer molecules have endgroups that form a surface of the body. The surface endgroups include at least one self-assembling moiety.

Abstract: Polymers whose surfaces are modified by endgroups that include amphipathic surface-modifying moieties. An amphipathic endgroup of a polymer molecule is an endgroup that contains at least two moieties of significantly differing composition, such that the amphipathic endgroup spontaneously rearranges its positioning in a polymer body to position the moiety on the surface of the body, depending upon the composition of the medium with which the body is in contact, when that re-positioning causes a reduction in interfacial energy. An example of an amphipathic surface-modifying endgroup is one that has both a hydrophobic moiety and a hydrophilic moiety in a single endgroup. For instance, a hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) terminated with a hydrophilic hydroxyl group is not surface active in air when the surface-modifying endgroup is bonded to a more hydrophobic base polymer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide various multipolymers and permselective membranes for use with biosensors and other implantable medical devices and prostheses. Embodiments of the present invention may provide structural strength and integrity, and further may control the influx of glucose, oxygen and/or water. Embodiments of the present invention may, for example, minimize or reduce the influx of glucose by minimizing the percentage of hydrophilic segments, which in turn minimizes the percentage of water uptake and the degree of glucose transport.

Abstract: Polymers whose surfaces are modified by endgroups that include amphipathic surface-modifying moieties. An amphipathic endgroup of a polymer molecule is an endgroup that contains at least two moieties of significantly differing composition, such that the amphipathic endgroup spontaneously rearranges its positioning in a polymer body to position the moiety on the surface of the body, depending upon the composition of the medium with which the body is in contact, when that re-positioning causes a reduction in interfacial energy. An example of an amphipathic surface-modifying endgroup is one that has both a hydrophobic moiety and a hydrophilic moiety in a single endgroup. For instance, a hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) terminated with a hydrophilic hydroxyl group is not surface active in air when the surface-modifying endgroup is bonded to a more hydrophobic base polymer.

Abstract: Polymers having the formula R(LE)x wherein R is a polymeric core having a number average molecular weight of from 5000 to 7,000,000 daltons and having x endgroups, E is an endgroup covalently linked to polymeric core R by linkage L, L is a divalent oligomeric chain, having at least 5 identical repeat units, capable of self-assembly with L chains on adjacent molecules of the polymer, and the moieties (LE)x in the polymer may be the same as or different from one another. Design of monomers, oligomers, or other reactive structures otherwise analogous to known Self Assembled Monolayers but with at least one reactive chemical group capable of binding them to the terminus of a polymer, so that the thiol-free SAM analogue becomes the self-assembling surface modifying endgroup of that polymer. Use of the polymer to fabricate a configured article from the surface-modified polymer or a coating or topical treatment on an article made from another material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the purification of silicone containing compounds via supercritical fluid extraction. Specifically, the present invention relates to a process comprising the steps of contacting at least one silicone containing compound with a supercritical fluid having a density of between about 0.2 and about 0.8 g/ml, decreasing said density so that two phases are formed a first phase comprising said at least one silicone containing compound and a second phase comprising at least one impurity and separating said second phase from said first phase.

Abstract: Water-desalination and/or water purification devices. Alternatively, devices that are implantable in animal bodies, possibly configured as self-inflating spinal disc prostheses. The devices include specified types of water-absorbing solute encapsulated by non-porous, water-permeable polymer membranes having specified properties. Also, methods of using the devices in biomedical applications or water treatment.

Abstract: A biocompatible multipolymer, having a backbone comprising about 10 to 45 wt % of at least one hard segment and about 55 to 90 wt % of soft segments. The soft segments are divided into three groups, 5 to 25 wt %, of total soft segment weight, of an oxygen permeable soft segment; 5 to 25 wt %, of total soft segment weight, of a hydrophilic soft segment; and 50 to 90 wt %, of total soft segment weight, of a biostable, relatively hydrophobic soft segment.

Abstract: Water-desalination and/or water purification devices. Alternatively, devices that are implantable in animal bodies, possibly configured as self-inflating spinal disc prostheses. The devices include specified types of water-absorbing solute encapsulated by non-porous, water-permeable polymer membranes having specified properties. Also, methods of using the devices in biomedical applications or water treatment.

Abstract: Devices implantable in animal bodies, possibly configured as self-inflating spinal disc prostheses. Alternatively, non-implantable water-desalination and/or purification devices. The devices include specified types of water-absorbing solute encapsulated by non-porous, water-permeable polymer membranes having specified properties. Also, methods of using the devices in biomedical applications or water treatment.