Abstract: A method for improving bioactivity of a surface of an implantable object comprising titania, titanium, an alloy of titanium, and/or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and implantable objects prepared thereby provides forming an accelerated neutral beam derived from an accelerated gas-cluster ion-beam (GCIB) in a reduced-pressure chamber, introducing an implantable object into the reduced-pressure chamber, and irradiating at least a first portion of the surface of said implantable object with a GCIB-derived neutral beam.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and products thereof provide an accelerated neutral beam derived from an accelerated gas cluster ion beam for processing materials.

Abstract: A medical device for surgical implantation adapted to serve as a drug delivery system has one or more drug loaded holes with barrier layers to control release or elution of the drug from the holes or to control inward diffusion of fluids into the holes. The barrier layers are non-polymers and are formed from the drug material itself by beam processing. The holes may be in patterns to spatially control drug delivery. Flexible options permit combinations of drugs, variable drug dose per hole, multiple drugs per hole, temporal control of drug release sequence and profile. Methods for forming such a drug delivery system are also disclosed. Gas cluster ion beam and/or accelerated Neutral Beam derived from an accelerated gas cluster ion beam may be employed.

Abstract: A method for preparing a biological material for implanting provides irradiating at least a portion of the surface of the material with an accelerated Neutral Beam.

Abstract: A method for improving bioactivity of a surface of a surgical suture and sutures prepared thereby provides forming a gas-cluster ion-beam (GCIB) in a reduced-pressure chamber, introducing a surgical suture into the reduced-pressure chamber, and irradiating at least a first portion of the surface of said surgical suture with a GLIB derived beam.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and products thereof provide an accelerated neutral beam derived from an accelerated gas cluster ion beam for processing materials.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and products thereof provide an accelerated neutral beam derived from an accelerated gas cluster ion beam for processing materials.

Abstract: A method of preparing a preformed bone shape for implantation provides irradiating at least a portion of a preformed bone shape by a Neutral Beam derived from a GCIB, and the preformed bone shape so irradiated.

Abstract: Methods and systems for sterilization of objects by gas-cluster ion-beam (GCIB) irradiation are disclosed. The sterilization may be in conjunction with other beneficial GCIB surface processing of the objects. The objects may be medical devices or surgically implantable medical prostheses.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for employing an accelerated neutral beam derived from an accelerated gas cluster ion beam as a physical etching beam for providing reduced material mixing at the etched surface, compared to previous techniques. This results in the ability to achieve improved depth profile resolution in measurements by analytical instruments such as SIMS and XPS (or ESCA) analytical instruments.

Abstract: A method of modifying the surface of a medical device to release a drug in a controlled way by providing a barrier layer on the surface of one or more drug coatings. The barrier layer consists of modified drug material converted to a barrier layer by irradiation by an accelerated neutral beam derived from an accelerated gas cluster ion beam. Also medical devices formed thereby.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for characterizing a particle beam provides receiving a particle beam in a central region of a reduced pressure enclosure; impacting the received beam against a beam strike that is thermally isolated from the enclosure; measuring a temperature change of the beam strike due to the impacting beam; measuring a pressure change in the enclosure due to receiving the beam; and processing the measured temperature change and the measured pressure change to determine beam characteristics.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for preparing a biological material for implanting. The invention also provides a biological material for surgical implantation. The invention further provides a biological composition for surgical implantation.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for surgical grafting of a tissue. The method comprises the steps of explanting a graft tissue from a donor, irradiating at least a first portion of the graft tissue with an ion beam, and surgically grafting the graft tissue into a recipient.

Abstract: A method of disinfecting a biological material provides disposing at least a portion of the biological material in the path of the gas cluster ion beam or in the path of the accelerated neutral beam so as to irradiate at least a portion of the biological material to disinfect the irradiated portion.

Abstract: Methods and systems for sterilization of objects by gas-cluster ion-beam (GCIB) irradiation or by accelerated Neutral Beam are disclosed. The sterilization may be in conjunction with other beneficial GCIB surface processing of the objects. The objects may be medical devices or surgically implantable medical prostheses. The accelerated Neutral Beam is derived from an accelerated GCIB.

Abstract: A multi-layer drug coated medical device such as for example an expandable vascular drug eluting stent is formed by vacuum pulse spray techniques wherein each layer is irradiated to improve adhesion and/or drug elution properties prior to formation of subsequent layers. Layers may be homogeneous or of diverse drugs. Layers may incorporate a non-polymer elution-retarding material. Layers may alternate with one or more layers of non-polymer elution-retarding materials. Polymer binders and/or matrices are not used in the formation of the coatings, yet the pure drug coatings have good mechanical and elution rate properties. Systems, methods and medical device articles are disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and products thereof provide an accelerated neutral beam derived from an accelerated gas cluster ion beam for processing materials.

Abstract: The invention provides for a method of improving bioactivity of a surface of an implantable object. The invention also provides for a method of improving bioactivity of a surface of biological laboratory ware. The invention further provides a method of attaching cells to an object. The invention even further provides for a method of preparing an object for medical implantation. The invention also provides for an article with attached cell, and for an article for medical implantation. Improvements result from the application of gas-cluster ion beam technology and from the application of neutral beam technology, wherein neutral beams are derived from accelerated gas-cluster ion beams.

Abstract: Irradiation of a surface of a material with a gas cluster ion beam modifies the wettability of the surface. The wettability may be increased or decreased dependent on the characteristics of the gas cluster ion beam. Improvements in wettability of a surface by the invention exceed those obtained by conventional plasma cleaning or etching. The improvements may be applied to surfaces of medical devices, such as vascular stents for example, and may be used to enable better wetting of medical device surfaces with liquid drugs in preparation for adhesion of the drug to the device surfaces. A mask may be used to limit processing to a portion of the surface. Medical devices formed by using the methods of the invention are disclosed.