Abstract: A method of producing micron sized sulphur granules involving the following described steps. Firstly, heating sulphur until the sulphur becomes molten. Secondly, tempering water and inducing movement of the water at velocity. Thirdly, injecting an unbroken stream of the molten sulphur under pressure into the heated water moving at velocity. An explosive dispersion of the molten sulphur into fine sulphur granules occurs, enhanced by shear forces exerted by the movement of the heated water at velocity. The described method is capable of producing spherical sulphur granules within a broad range of 70 microns to submicron sizes. In the preferred ranges, spherical sulphur granules of less than 10 microns are be obtained.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for drying polymeric powders and polymeric agglomerates, in particular thermoplastic aromatic polycarbonate or other thermoplastic polymers such as, for example, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, in the melt, whereby thermoplastic polymeric powders or polymeric agglomerates containing water or solvent or both are freed from adhering moisture and contained solvent, accompanied by melting, in an apparatus provided with rotating baffles for cleaning the walls of the apparatus and for distribution and transport of the material being dried, by heat input through the walls or through the rotating baffles or both as well as by heat input as a result of shearing action. The process of drying and that of melting for the subsequent granulation are thereby combined.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel presentation of a product exhibiting the phenomenon of supercooling. More precisely, the subject of the invention is cristallized pearls of a product exhibiting strong supercooling. The invention also relates to the preparation of the said pearls. The characteristic feature of the process of the invention is to melt, if necessary, the product to be shaped; to break up the molten mass into droplets; to cool the droplets to a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the product, so that these droplets harden by vitrification; to maintain the pearls thus vitrified at a temperature below the glass transition temperature and to place them in contact with crystallization seeds; to crystallize the pearls by raising the temperature above the glass transition temperature and then to recover the crystallized pearls.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for producing flexible fibers (30) of superconducting material includes a crucible (12) for containing a charge of the superconducting material. The material is melted in the crucible (12) and falls in a stream (18) through a bottom hole (16) in the crucible (12). The stream (18) falls through a protecting collar (22) which maintains the stream (18) at high temperatures. The stream (18) is then supplied through a downwardly directed nozzle (26) where it is subjected to a high velocity of a heated gas (36') which breaks the melted superconducting material into ligaments which solidify into the flexible fibers (30). The fibers (30) are collected by directing them against a collection filter (32).

Abstract: An apparatus for the large-scale and continuous production of gel beads containing a biocatalyst. The apparatus is a columnar system based on the chemical cross-linking of hydrocolloidal gels that contain and immobilize a biocatalyst, the biocatalyst being a microorganism or an enzyme. Hydrocolloidal gels, such as alginate, carrageenan, and a mixture of bone gelatin and modified alginate, provide immobilization matrices that can be used to entrap and retain the biocatalyst while allowing effective contact with substrates and release of products. Such immobilized biocatalysts are generally formulated into small spheres or beads that have high concentrations of the biocatalyst within the gel matrix.

Abstract: A collagen-hydrogel for promoting epithelial cell growth and regeneration of the stroma is shown. Also shown is an optical lens for the eye, fabricated from the collagen-hydrogel, which, when affixed to Bowman's membrane, promotes and supports epithelial cell growth, enables corneal epithelium of the cornea of an eye, during the healing process, to attach to and cover the anterior surface of the lens implanting the same and to regenerate the stroma which grows over the edge of and attaches to the optical lens. Laid down in the layers of the regenerated stroma are new keratocytes and collagen fibial produced from keratocytes. The collagen-hydrogel is a hydrogel polymer formed by the free radical polymerization of a hydrophilic monomer solution gelled and crosslinked in the presence of an aqueous stock solution of collagen to form a three dimensional polymeric meshwork for anchoring collagen. The collagen-hydrogel material has a ratio by weight of collagen-to-hydrogel in the range of about 0.

Abstract: Melt-blown microfiber webs are prepared from polyarylene sulfide polymers, particularly polyphenylene sulfide. A small amount of a phosphite or phosphonite compound is added to the extruder feedstock. The additive essentially eliminates spurious polymer particle formation at the extruder die openings, even over sustained production periods. The polyarylene sulfide microfiber webs so produced are thus essentially free of spurious particulates, and the web defects which may be caused by such particulates.

Abstract: A dropper assembly for feeding liquid composition to a freezing chamber comprises a tray having a plurality of feed elements that are designed to provide regulated discharge of the liquid composition from the tray and to feed the liquid composition into the freezing chamber in uniformly sized drops. The feed elements each comprise a projection that is downwardly disposed in relation to the tray. The tray has a bottom wall with a plurality of orifices, each orifice associated with a corresponding projection. The projection has an inlet opening associated with the corresponding orifice in the tray and an outlet opening where droplets are formed and released. The dimension of the inlet opening is greater than the dimension of the outlet opening. The narrowing taper of the flow channel that extends from the inlet opening to the outlet opening promotes regulated accumulation of liquid composition to facilitate regulated discharge and formation of uniformly sized droplets.

Abstract: A process is provided that permits the rapid quenching of molten ceramics by passing a flow of the molten ceramic into a turbulent fluid flow such that the flow is broken up into particles which then solidify as they pass into and through a cyclone and are finally separated from the fluid flow and collected as dry particulate ceramic materials.

Abstract: An anhydride-containing thermoplastic resin such as a styrene maleic anhydride copolymer is processed in a vented extruder in the present of a nitrogenous chemical blowing agent to both imidize at least a portion of the anhydride groups and remove volatile residues such as unreacted styrene monomer from the resin.

Abstract: A process for producing solid particles by drying a spray of liquid droplets. The droplets are formed by projecting a liquid formulation as a plurality of jets J (FIG. 6) in such a way that each jet breaks up into droplets of narrow size distribution. Prior to the onset of coalescence the droplets are contacted with a gas flow (G) which is arranged to reduce coalescence by disrupting slip streaming of the droplets and/or accelerating the droplets.

Abstract: Spherical particles having a diameter between 0.007" and 0.040" are formed from melt extruded thermoplastic material suitable for casting on a heated mold surface and melting thereon to form a thin layer of material having a nominal thickness of 0.040" that is cooled and removed from the mold surface as a part having a porosity less than a visually observable threshold. The process includes the steps of providing microspheres formed of blended and melt extruded thermoplastic, plasticizers (if necessary) and pigment additives that constitute less than 5% by weight of the blend and shaped as a smooth round spherical particle. The microspheres may then be distributed as predetermined charge of such microspheres against the heated casting surface to melt the microspheres as a layer of thermoplastic material having a porosity less than 0.003 inches and thereafter cooling and removing the non-porous layer from the casting surface.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in prilling whereby water is atomized into a prill tower to affect faster solidification of the prill, and in particular, the outside surface of the prill by providing an increased rate of surface cooling while reducing the required air flows in the tower. This results in a major reduction in air pollution potential in the form of both fume and particulate while at the same time allowing substantial production rate increases. Specifically, the invention relates to quick freezing the outside surface of the prill by flash evaporation of finely atomized water particles on the surface of the prill or in extremely close proximity to the prill to greatly lower the vapor pressure at the prill's surface and by continued flash evaporation to enhance cooling so as to allow upward flowing air to be reduced to a point where micro-prills which are formed in prilling can settle in the prill tower while obtaining the same or increased production rates.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of microparticles, and the product thereof, that includes dispersing a substantially water insoluble non-ionic or ionic polymer in an aqueous solution in which the substance to be delivered is also dissolved, dispersed or suspended, and then coagulating the polymer together with the substance by impact forces to form a microparticle. In an alternative embodiment, the microparticle is formed by coagulation of an aqueous polymeric dispersion through the use of electrolytes, pH changes, organic solvents in low concentrations (the minimal amount necessary to break up the dispersion), or temperature changes to form polymer matrices encapsulating biological materials.

Abstract: A process and device are disclosed for producing microspheres by vibration-provoked dripping of a liquid through a nozzle plate (12) provided with several openings (14). In order to be able to produce spheres having up to 5 mm size, the same amount of liquid per unit of time drips through each opening (14) of the nozzle plate (12). The falling drops (18) form an envelope surrounded from all sides by flowing reaction gas. The reaction gas is introduced inside or outside the envelope and sucked away inside or outside the envelope.

Abstract: Proposed is a process for the production of spherical alginate pellets from drops of alginate solution delivered by a nozzle, the drops being solidified by dropping them into an ionic solution and subsequently removing the pellets and rinsing them. The alginate solution is converted into drops by vibrational stimuli, and the drops subsequently allowed to remain substantially free in the ionic solution until the required degree of solidification has been reached.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the formation of droplets of uniform size on a laboratory scale are described. A syringe having a plunger and a needle with an orifice at the tip corresponding to a 12-30 gauge needle is inserted into a block member having a cavity such that the needle of the syringe extends through an opening in the bottom of the block member. The block member has a gas inlet into a side of the cavity for flowing of gas pass the orifice of the needle. The block member is mounted in a support housing such that the syringe is in a vertical position. To form droplets, pressure is applied to the plunger, preferably by a piston under gas pressure, to force liquid from the needle tip orifice to form droplets and flowing gas pass the tip to detach droplets of a desired size.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for generating seed particles. In one technique, a spray of water droplets is discharged to intersect a spray of liquid sulphur droplets to effect contact between some of the sulphur droplets and water droplets. The cooling sulphur droplets form seed particles. In another technique, water is sprayed into dispersed sulphur granules moving through a processing region. Subsequently, as the water is evaporating from the granules, liquid sulphur is sprayed onto the granules. Some of the liquid sulphur droplets impinge upon the water film-coated granules and solidify to form new seed particles which become detached from the granules. In another technique, a stream of liquid sulphur is discharged under pressure into a receiving region. A plurality of jets of atomizing fluid are injected into the stream to form a spreading spray of liquid sulphur droplets which solidify into seed particles.

Abstract: In a process for producing optical disks comprising the steps of subjecting the photoresist layer on a substrate formed of silicon, quartz, glass or a metal to light exposure, developing and etching treatments to obtain a stamper and then duplicating an information pattern for an optical disk from the stamper obtained above to a transparent substrate by using a UV curable resin to prepare a replicated substrate of an optical disk, a large number of stampers can be prepared in a short time by conducting the light exposure either by contacting the mask side surface of a substrate provided with a photomask having an information pattern for an optical disk to the photoresist side surface of said substrate having the photoresist layer or by noncontact projection, and a rapid replication of large quantities of replicated substrates becomes possible by using a large number of stampers thus prepared.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for directing accelerated electrons to at least part of one surface of one ophthalmic mold piece prior to filling with monomer and lens polymerization. In particular it has been found that generation of the ionized oxygen by means of a corona treatment electrode sufficiently increases the adherence of the polymer to the mold piece so treated. In the preferred embodiment, the flange around the convex, male piece of the lens mold is corona treated so that when the mold pieces are separated after lens polymerization, the flashing of excess polymerized material surrounding the lens cavity adheres to that male, convex piece flange while the lens is removed with the female, concave piece.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a shaped article from aqueous collagen-containing materials. A dispersion containing collagen and a surfactant is cast upon a mold of thermoplastic material and dried by a ramped drying profile under controlled conditions of relative humidity and temperature. The controlled drying allows for initial renaturation of the collagen dispersion then drying at high humidity to form a product with minimal residual stress.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing a substrate sheet for information recording mediums having a roll stamper consisting of a flexible stamper having a pattern corresponding to a preformat for an information recording medium, the flexible stamper being fixed along the corresponding periphery of a roll substrate. A roll is placed opposite the roll stamper. A molten-resin sheet wider than the flexible stamper member is formed. The apparatus has means for bringing the edges of a resin sheet into contact with the roll substrate before releasing the resin sheet from the roll stamper. The temperature is controlled, so that a temperature difference on the surfaces of edges of a resin sheet and a preformat pattern transfer area of the resin sheet is kept within 30.degree. C. when the resin sheet is separated from the roll stamper after the molten-resin sheet has been pressed between the roll stamper and roll.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing passive integrated optical devices from polymeric materials, the method comprising providing a step structure at each transition between a fiber alignment structure and the preform for the light waveguide structure, wherein both of these structures are produced simultaneously. Passive integrated optical devices having ridges or trenches with rectangular cross sections and manufactured to this method are also described.

Abstract: A method of making a microlens array and mold, and the articles made therefrom. The method involves forming a plurality of adjacent receptacles on a surface and partially filling the receptacles with a hardenable liquid, thereby forming a meniscus in each receptacle. A lens material can then be applied to the menisci, thereby forming an array of generally spherical microlenses. In one embodiment, the perimeters of the microlenses are modified rectangles in that each edge of the lens is a symmetrical elliptical arc, the ends of which terminate at the corners of the rectangle, and the middle of which curves toward the center of the rectangle.

Abstract: A method of producing a high-precision lens system, such as a stepper lens, involves the following steps: (a) attaching a metal frame to the radial periphery of each of a plurality of lens elements at a prescribed distance from the optical axis of the element; (b) positioning the periphery of each metal frame at a prescribed radial distance from a reference axis to align the optical axis of each lens element along the reference axis; and (c) securing the individual lens sections together. Adjustment of the eccentricity of the individual lenses is accomplished by measuring the displacement of the lens-frame periphery from the reference axis.

Abstract: A process for preparing subdenier fibers and structures thereof from isotropic polymer solutions is disclosed. The process comprises extruding a stream of the polymer solution into a chamber, introducing a pressurized gas into the chamber, directing the gas in the flow direction of and in surrounding contact with the stream within the chamber, passing both the gas and the stream into a zone of lower pressure at a velocity sufficient to attenuate the stream and fragment it into fibers, and contacting the fragmented stream in the zone with a coagulating fluid.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing a molded ophthalmic lens from between the mold portions in which it is produced. A source of intense electromagnetic radiation, preferably a carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) laser of about 80 Watts at a wavelength of 10.6 .mu.m, is applied to at least one of the mold portions. The exposure of the mold portion to the laser is between one half and one second. Differential expansion of the heated mold polymer relative to the cooler polymer shifts one surface with respect to the other, and the shear force breaks the polymerized lens polymer mold adhesion and assists in the separation of mold portions. The greater the temperature gradient between the surfaces of the mold portions, the greater the shearing force and the easier the mold portions separate. The heated back mold portion is promptly removed so that very little energy is transferred to the polymer lens, avoiding the possibility of thermal decomposition of the lens.

Abstract: A method for inducing cylinder power into an optical surface which comprises the steps of providing a corneal surface to an apparatus capable of indexing the position of said target to the beam path of a laser capable of photoablating the material of said target, passing said corneal surface through the domain of said laser along at least one axis and controlling the product of the intensity of said laser with time in order to control the amount of ablation of said corneal surface along at least one axis of said corneal surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for molding optical elements in which a resin layer is accurately formed on a surface of a desired shape without the occurrence of peeling between a glass member and a resin layer and between a mold member and the resin layer when the resin layer is molded. This is accomplished by a first step of placing the glass member upon a supporting member, a second step of holding the glass member in a state in which the surface thereof is spaced away from the molding surface of the mold member by a predetermined distance, and a third step of moving the mold member and the supporting member relative to each other, after the resin material, which has been charged into a space defined by the molding surface and the surface of the glass member, has cured to a predetermined ratio of polymerization, in such a manner that glass member is supported on the resin layer independently.

Abstract: This invention is a process for the production of a continuous running length of a thermosetting polymer by a continuously extruding a continuous running length of a sheath of a film forming fiber from a die to form a hollow object; b) continuously injecting the monomer of the thermosetting polymer into the hollow of the sheath at or immediately below the plane of the die opening; c) stretching the sheath containing the monomer; and d) polymerizing the monomer to make the continuous running length of fiber of thermosetting polymer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for molding optical elements in which peeling between a glass member and a resin layer and between a mold member and the resin layer will not occur while at the same time it is possible to accurately bring the central axis of the glass member and the central axis of the molding surface into alignment. This is accomplished by a first step of placing the glass member upon a support portion, a second step of positioning the glass member relative to the mold means when a resin material, which has been charged into a space defined by the molding surface and the surface of the glass member, exhibits a viscosity within a predetermined range, a third step of holding the glass member at a predetermined position until the resin material cures to a predetermined ratio of polymerization, and a fourth step of releasing the glass member from the held state after the resin material has cured to the predetermined ratio of polymerization.

Abstract: A method for modifying the plastic surface of an article adapted for contacting living tissue by the gamma or electron beam irradiation induced chemical graft coating thereon of:(1) a neutral or ionic water-soluble, hydrophilic vinylic monomer or salt thereof;(2) a mixture of at least two of said monomers, or(3) a mixture of (1) or (2) with up to about 50%, by weight, based on the total monomer weight, of a member selected from the group consisting of N-vinylpyrrolidone, 2-hydroxyethyl-methacrylate, and mixtures thereof; so as to form a hydrophilic graft polymer coating on the surface.

Abstract: A lenticule is bonded to the eye as part of its formation process by curing or final curing the lenticule on the eye. Such lenticules provide a smooth transition from the body of the lenticule to Bowman's layer on which the lenticule is disposed. The lenticule at the time its material or precursor is placed on the eye may vary from being essentially all viscous collagen which flows and must be molded to obtain a desired lenticule configuration to a substantially stable preform which holds its own shape. Such preformed lenticules may be formed using an appropriate mold and photopolymerization or other partial curing techniques to pre-cure the lenticule material to an appropriate stage for application to the eye.

Abstract: In an optical element, and a method and apparatus for forming the same, peeling does not occur while a resin layer is cured, and the completed optical element can be easily released after the resin layer has been completely cured. The optical-element forming apparatus includes a forming surface for transferring a predetermined surface shape onto a surface of the resin layer, and includes a mold member having a high molecular weight material satisfying physical values of a hardness: >D50 and/or >R70, a modulus of elasticity: 5000-35000 kgf/cm.sup.2, a coefficient of friction: <0.2, a coefficient of water absorption: <0.3%, and a light resistance: invariable or slightly variable.

Abstract: A method for producing a substrate sheet for optical recording media, including the steps of continuously forming an ultraviolet-curable resin layer on at least one of i) a roll stamper having thereon a preformat pattern corresponding with preformatting information and ii) a substrate sheet; bringing the substrate sheet into close contact with the roll stamper having the ultraviolet-curable resin layer; curing the ultraviolet-curable resin layer to fix it on the substrate sheet; peeling from the roll stamper the substrate sheet having the cured ultraviolet-curable resin layer; and removing any ultraviolet-curable resin remaining on the surface of the roll stamper, after peeling the substrate sheet.

Abstract: A process for producing a resin molding having a concave-convex pattern on the surface includes the steps of providing an original die having a concave-convex pattern on the surface and a substrate having a flat surface, thereby counterposing the concave-convex pattern surface and the flat surface to each other through a spacer and forming a cell with a cavity formed by the original die, the substrate and the spacer; making an internal pressure of the cell cavity lower than an external pressure thereof, thereby filling at least one of a liquid polymerizable component and a liquid resin into the cavity due to a pressure difference between the external pressure and the internal pressure; curing at least one of the polymerizable component and the liquid resin in the cavity, thereby making a replica; and peeling the original die from the replica, thereby obtaining a resin molding.

Abstract: A method for forming a substrate sheet for optical recording media having a preformat on the surface is disclosed. This method has the steps of extruding a melted resin to form a melted resin sheet, pressing the melted resin sheet between a mirror roll and a resin roll prior to the curing of the melted resin sheet, thereby forming a resin sheet, the resin roll being disposed in the face of the mirror roll and being covered on the peripheral surface thereof with a resin, and forming a photocurable resin composition layer on the surface of the resin sheet with which the resin roll has come in contact, and forming the preformat on the photocurable resin composition layer.

Abstract: The intensity of a beam of light used to etch concentric servo tracks on a magnetic medium is adjusted with an acousto-optical device to maintain a substantially constant energy density delivered by the beam while the optics which generate the beam move radially of the disk.

Abstract: A method for making an optical image element having a high aspect ratio relief hologram comprising the sequential steps of(a) applying a dry photohardenable film to a surface of a transparent dimensionally stable substrate;(b) embossing the exposed surface of the photohardenable film with the holographic image by applying thereto under pressure a stamper containing a reverse relief image of the hologram having an aspect ratio of at least 3:1;(c) passing actinic radiation through the transparent substrate and the photohardenable film to effect hardening of the photohardenable film while it is in contact with the stamper; and(d) separating the stamper die from the embossed photohardened film.

Abstract: Spliced end portions (30--30) of two optical fibers are recoated in a manner which results in the cross section of the spliced length of fiber transverse to a longitudinal axis thereof being substantially constant. This is accomplished without compromising the adhesion of a curable recoating material (51) to an adjacent original coating material (38). In order to provide such a recoated portion, original coating material which is removed to permit splicing is removed in such a manner as to leave a tapered portion (52) remaining on the end portion of each optical fiber. As a result, the interface between the recoating material and the original coating material is increased sufficiently to avoid having to overlap some of the recoating material with original coating material on adjacent portions of the fibers being spliced.

Abstract: An optical recording disc which includes a pair of recording disc substrates opposed to each other with a space there between with a hub situated at the central portion of the disc substrates so that there is formed the closed space between the disc substrates, thereby providing a dual sided recordable optical recording disc. The hub may be formed by a pair of hub halves. There is disposed an annular inner spacer and annular outer space around the hub so as to separate the pair of recording disc substrates.

Abstract: A plurality of mold members are disposed on an index table to be intermittently rotatably driven. Energy sources for curing the activation energy curable resin at positions to which the mold members are intermittently moved, a first robot for supplying a molding parent material to the mold member, a second robot for taking out an optical element after molding from the mold member, and a third robot for supplying the activation energy curable resin before supplying the molding parent material to the mold member are disposed proximate to the index table. The operations of each robot are performed together at each moved position of the mold member.

Abstract: An optical element such as a lens is produced in a manner that a resin is supplied to a mold member having a transfer face for forming an optically functional face, a glass blank is placed on the resin, and a curing energy is irradiated to the resin so as to be uniformly incident on the resin, thereby preventing stress being nonuniformly distributed or shrinkage on the resin surface upon curing.

Abstract: A process for producing a roll stamper which molds a substrate sheet for information recording mediums by continuously transferring preformat patterns on a resin sheet. The roll stamper has the feature that the preformat pattern on the roll stamper has a value b/a of greater than 1, where the length of the preformat pattern in the direction parallel to the direction in which the resin sheet is transported is defined as a and the length in the direction perpendicular thereto as b.

Abstract: A method of molding an optical element in which a required amount of a resin material can be accurately supplied without air bubbles becoming entrapped in the resin material when it is supplied. The method includes a first step of making a tip of resin material supply means approach a molding surface until the tip is a predetermined distance away from the molding surface, a second step of discharging a predetermined amount of the resin material from the tip of the supply means while the tip of the supply means is the predetermined distance away from the molding surface, and a third step of discharging the resin material from the tip at a predetermined discharge rate, until a required amount of the resin has been supplied, while the tip of the supply means is moved in a direction away from the molding surface as the lower end of the resin material discharged from the tip is maintained in contact with the molding surface.

Abstract: New intraocular lenses, fixation member assemblies for use in such lenses and methods for making the same. In one embodiment, the present invention involves a method for producing a fixation member assembly which includes exposing a fixation member component to a first plasma at conditions effective to enhance, relative to a substantially identical fixation member component which is not subjected to the exposing step, the bondability between the fixation member component and a polymeric coating to be located on the fixation member component; and exposing the fixation member to a second plasma in the presence of at least one material selected from polymeric components, polymerizable components and mixtures thereof at conditions effective to form the polymeric coating located on the fixation member component. Enhanced bondability between the polymeric coating-containing fixation member component and the optic of the intraocular lens and/or enhanced biocompatibility are preferably provided.

Abstract: A process for producing a resin molded article having a diminished residual stress, which includes heating an injection-molded article of a thermoplastic resin by means of a combination of far infrared radiation with far infrared ray having a frequency of from 10.sup.11 to 10.sup.14 Hz and hot-air flow, thereby to diminish a residual stress in the molded article in a short period of time.

Abstract: A method for making a biosoluble collagen or gelatin ophthalmic shield, which optionally contains a pharmaceutically active agent, by casting collagen or gelatin in a mold; chilling the mold with the collagen or gelatin shield until the shield is strong enough to allow the mold to be opened without deforming the shield in one half of the mold; drying the collagen or gelatin shield while it is still in the mold; and then cross-linking the collagen or gelatin shield to achieve the desired solubility. The resulting shield can be worn comfortably in the eye and leaves no observable material after complete dissolution and drug release.

Abstract: A flowable slurry comprising powder matrix particles and reinforcing particles is pumped, under pressure, through an atomizing nozzle to form discrete droplets containing reinforcing particles coated with the powder matrix particles The discrete droplets are suspended in an elevated temperature environment for a sufficient time to evaporate the water from the droplets and form nonreacted reinforced powder particles. The reinforced powder particles are nonagglomerated and are suitable for immediate use as powder for thermal spray coatings or for dry processed compacted structural components.

Abstract: A method for attaching a pair of colored haptics (20) to an optic (10) of an intraocular lens (1), containing the steps of providing the peripheral edge (17) of the optic (10) with a pair of holes (12), inserting the end portions (21) of the haptics (20) into the holes (12), aiming a laser emitting radiation within the visible spectrum at the end portion (21) of the haptic within the hole (12) in the optic (10) and firing the laser so that the radiation passes through the optic (10) essentially without absorption and is absorbed by the haptic (20), thereby causing the haptic (20) to fuse with the optic (10).