Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
57 words
A method of precoating a device having a surface likely to contact a corneal endothelium during ophthalmic surgery, comprising the steps of: (a) coating such surface with a liquid media containing a water-soluble adherent film forming biocompatible material; and (b) removing the liquid media from the surface to provide a substantially dry water-soluble film on the surface.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
57 words
A method of precoating a device having a surface likely to contact a corneal endothelium during ophthalmic surgery, comprising the steps of: (a) coating such surface with a liquid media containing a water-soluble adherent film forming biocompatible material; and (b) removing the liquid media from the surface to provide a substantially dry water-soluble film on the surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the method includes the further steps of: (c) enclosing the precoated device in a microbial barrier package; and (d) sterilizing such device and package.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the water-soluble coating is also water swellable, and the method includes the further steps of: (c) rehydrating the substantially dry water-soluble coating to a swollen state.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as set forth in claim 3, wherein the coating is at least twice as thick in its swollen state as it is in its substantially dry state.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as set forth in claim 4, wherein the film has a thickness in the range of 5 to 300 microns in its substantially dry state; and a thickness in the range of 10 to 1000 microns in its rehydrated swollen state.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as set forth in claim 3, wherein the rehydrating step is accomplished by submersion of the substantially dry swellable film in an aqueous bath.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as set forth in claim 6, wherein the submersion is for a period of 1 to 10 minutes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the liquid media is water and the water is removed by evaporative drying to provide a dehydrated coating on the surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as set forth in claim 8, wherein the coating is also water swellable and is subsequently rehydrated by submersion in a sterile aqueous bath.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as set forth in claim 9, wherein the sterile aqueous bath is selected from the group consisting of a saline solution and a salt solution substantially balanced to the aqueous humor of the eye.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the precoating is performed on an intraocular lens for implantation in an anterior or posterior chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein the intraocular lens has an optical section and one or more iris retention loops, and a major portion of the iris retention loops are free of said water-soluble coating.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the coating is applied by dipping the surface to be coated into the liquid media containing the water-soluble material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the precoating is performed on an ophthalmic surgery tool.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the liquid media is water and the water-soluble material is a water swellable polymer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein the water swellable polymer is polyvinyl alcohol.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the surface is dipped coated a plurality of times.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the coating has a dissolution rate sufficiently slow so that at least 40% of the coating is maintained on the device when submerged 30 minutes in an aqueous media at room temperature that has a volume simulating an anterior chamber.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of preparing for ophthalmic surgery, a device having a substantially dry water swellable adherent film forming biocompatible coating on a surface of the device likely to contact a corneal endothelium, comprising the steps of: (a) subjecting the device to an aqueous environment immediately prior to surgery to swell the coating into a soft cushion firmly adhering to the device, which cushion is sluffable; and (b) removing the device from the aqueous environment for use in such surgery.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
79 words
A method of preparing for ophthalmic surgery, a device having a substantially dry water swellable adherent film forming biocompatible coating on a surface of the device likely to contact a corneal endothelium, comprising the steps of: (a) subjecting the device to an aqueous environment immediately prior to surgery to swell the coating into a soft cushion firmly adhering to the device, which cushion is sluffable; and (b) removing the device from the aqueous environment for use in such surgery.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein the device is submerged in a sterile aqueous bath for 1 to 10 minutes to swell the coating.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein the water swellable material is polyvinyl alcohol.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of making a device selected from the group consisting of an intraocular lens and an ophthalmic surgery tool, comprising the steps of: (a) forming the device; (b) precoating at least a portion of the device with a water-soluble and water swellable adherent film forming biocompatible coating material dissolved in an aqueous media; (c) dehydrating the precoated device to remove the aqueous media, and providing a substantially dry coating of the material on the device; (d) enclosing the precoated device in a microbial barrier package; (e) sterilizing the package and enclosed precoated device; (f) removing the sterile precoated device from the package; and (g) rehydrating the substantially dry film by subjecting the film to an aqueous environment immediately prior to surgery.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of making a device selected from the group consisting of an intraocular lens and an ophthalmic surgery tool, comprising the steps of: (a) forming the device; (b) precoating at least a portion of the device with a water-soluble and water swellable adherent film forming biocompatible coating material dissolved in an aqueous media; (c) dehydrating the precoated device to remove the aqueous media, and providing a substantially dry coating of the material on the device; (d) enclosing the precoated device in a microbial barrier package; (e) sterilizing the package and enclosed precoated device; (f) removing the sterile precoated device from the package; and (g) rehydrating the substantially dry film by subjecting the film to an aqueous environment immediately prior to surgery.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as set forth in claim 22, wherein the device is dip coated in an aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol, with the polyvinyl alcohol having a concentration of 1% to 60%.