Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
29 words
An intraocular lens comprising a lens formed from polymethyl methacrylate and having an outer surface layer defined by a relatively inert fluorocarbon chemically bonded with respect to the lens.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
29 words
An intraocular lens comprising a lens formed from polymethyl methacrylate and having an outer surface layer defined by a relatively inert fluorocarbon chemically bonded with respect to the lens.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The intraocular lens of claim 1 wherein said fluorocarbon comprises a perfluorinated hydrocarbon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The intraocular lens of claim 1 wherein said fluorocarbon comprises a perfluoro (CF 2 ) x wherein (x) is from about 6 to about 12.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
10 words
The intraocular lens of claim 3 wherein (x) is 10.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The intraocular lens of claim 1 wherein said lens includes means formed from a polymeric material for supporting said lens within the eye.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The intraocular lens of claim 5 wherein said support means is formed from polypropylene.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The intraocular lens of claim 5 wherein said support means also includes an outer surface layer defined by said relatively inert fluorocarbon bonded thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
An intraocular lens comprising a lens body formed from a polymeric material, said lens body including a substantially uninterrupted outer surface layer defined by a relatively inert fluorocarbon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
An intraocular lens comprising a lens body formed from a polymeric material, said lens body including a substantially uninterrupted outer surface layer defined by a relatively inert fluorocarbon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The intraocular lens of claim 8 further including means formed from a polymeric material for supporting said lens body within the eye, said outer surface layer also covering said support means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The intraocular lens of claim 9 wherein said polymeric material forming said lens body comprises polymethyl methacrylate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The intraocular lens of claim 9 wherein said polymeric material forming said lens body comprises polymethyl methacrylate having a substantially oxidized outer surface region.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The intraocular lens of claim 11 wherein said outer surface region includes a relatively high concentration of hydroxyl groups.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The intraocular lens of claim 9 wherein said polymeric material forming said support means is polypropylene.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The intraocular lens of claim 8 wherein said fluorocarbon comprises a perfluorinated hydrocarbon (CF 2 ) x wherein (x) is from about 6 to about 12.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The intraocular lens of claim 8 wherein said outer surface layer is chemically bonded to said lens body.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
A biological implant comprising an implant device formed from a polymeric material, and an outer surface layer chemically bonded to said implant device to substantially cover the entire outer surface area thereof to be exposed to tissue when implanted, said outer surface layer including a relatively inert fluorocarbon.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
A biological implant comprising an implant device formed from a polymeric material, and an outer surface layer chemically bonded to said implant device to substantially cover the entire outer surface area thereof to be exposed to tissue when implanted, said outer surface layer including a relatively inert fluorocarbon.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
The implant of claim 16 wherein said fluorocarbon comprises a perfluorinated hydrocarbon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The implant of claim 16 wherein said fluorocarbon comprises a perfluoro (CF 2 ) x wherein (x) is from about 6 to about 12.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
9 words
The implant of claim 18 wherein (x) is 10.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The implant of claim 16 wherein said polymeric material has a substantially oxidized outer surface.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The implant of claim 20 wherein said polymeric material comprises polymethyl methacrylate having its outer surface substantially oxidized.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The implant of claim 22 wherein said implant device comprises an intraocular lens.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of producing an intraocular lens comprising the steps of: forming a transparent lens body from a polymeric material selected to have a predetermined set of optical properties; and forming an outer surface layer substantially completely covering the lens body, the outer surface layer including a relatively inert fluorocarbon to substantially reduce the toxicity of the lens when implanted into the eye.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of producing an intraocular lens comprising the steps of: forming a transparent lens body from a polymeric material selected to have a predetermined set of optical properties; and forming an outer surface layer substantially completely covering the lens body, the outer surface layer including a relatively inert fluorocarbon to substantially reduce the toxicity of the lens when implanted into the eye.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said lens body forming step includes the step of substantially oxidizing the outer surface of said lens body, and wherein said outer surface layer forming step comprises chemically bonding the fluorocarbon to the outer surface of said lens body.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the lens body is formed from polymethyl methacrylate, and wherein said oxidizing step comprises exposing the lens body to an ozone atmosphere for a period of time and at a concentration sufficient to substantially oxidize the lens body outer surface, and then exposing the lens body to a hydrated atmosphere to form a relatively high concentration of hydroxyl groups at the lens body outer surface.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 25 wherein the hydrated atmosphere is air.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the fluorocarbon comprises a perfluorinated hydrocarbon.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 23 wherein the fluorocarbon comprises a perfluoro (CF 2 ) x wherein (x) is from about 6 to about 12.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
9 words
The method of claim 28 wherein (x) is 10.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 23 further including the steps of forming support means on the lens body for supporting the lens body when implanted into the eye, and forming said outer surface layer to substantially completely cover the support means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
10 words
An intraocular lens formed by the process of claim 23.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of producing an intraocular lens for implantation into the eye, comprising the steps of: forming a generally transparent lens body from a polymeric material selected to have a predetermined set of optical properties and to have a substantially oxidized outer surface over substantially the entire outer surface area thereof; preparing a treatment solution including relatively inert fluorocarbon bonding groups carried in solution with a primer including bonding agents for chemically bonding the fluorocarbon bonding groups with respect to the oxidized outer surface of the lens body; and covering the lens body with the treatment solution for a period of time sufficient to permit bonding of said fluorocarbon bonding groups with respect to the lens body.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of producing an intraocular lens for implantation into the eye, comprising the steps of: forming a generally transparent lens body from a polymeric material selected to have a predetermined set of optical properties and to have a substantially oxidized outer surface over substantially the entire outer surface area thereof; preparing a treatment solution including relatively inert fluorocarbon bonding groups carried in solution with a primer including bonding agents for chemically bonding the fluorocarbon bonding groups with respect to the oxidized outer surface of the lens body; and covering the lens body with the treatment solution for a period of time sufficient to permit bonding of said fluorocarbon bonding groups with respect to the lens body.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the polymeric material comprises polymethyl methacrylate, and wherein said lens body forming step comprises substantially oxidizing the outer surface thereof in an ozone atmosphere and then exposing the outer surface to a hydrated atmosphere to form a relatively high concentration of hydroxyl groups at the lens body outer surface.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the treatment solution includes perfluoro (CF 2 ) x bonding groups wherein (x) is from about 6 to about 12, and wherein said primer bonding agents molecularly bond said perfluoro bonding groups onto the outer surface of the lens body to form a relatively inert outer surface layer having a thickness within the range of from about 10 Angstroms to about 1 micron.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
9 words
The method of claim 34 wherein (x) is 10.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 34 wherein the solution concentration of the perfluoro bonding groups is from about 8×10 -6 to about 8×10 -3 moles/liter.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 36 wherein the solution concentration is about 8×10 -5 moles/liter.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 34 wherein said treatment solution preparing step comprises dissolving a perfluoro alkane derivative in alcohol with an aminosilane.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 34 wherein said treatment solution preparing step comprises dissolving a perfluoro alkyl amine in alcohol with silane carboxylic acid.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 34 wherein said treatment solution preparing step comprises dissolving an aminoethyl N-aminopropyl trimethoxysilane and perfluorodecanoic acid in a ratio of about 1:3 by weight in alcohol, and refluxing the resultant solution for about 4 to about 16 hours.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 40 wherein said refluxing step is continued at a temperature slightly below the boiling point of the alcohol for about 8-10 hours.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the refluxed solution is diluted in additional alcohol to achieve a perfluoro concentration of about 8×10 -5 moles/liter.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 40 further including the step of removing the lens body from the treatment solution and rinsing unreacted material therefrom.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
10 words
An intraocular lens formed by the process of claim 43.
Claim 50
Independent Claim
57 words
A method of producing a biological implant, comprising the steps of: forming an implant device from a selected polymeric material having a desired set of physical properties; and forming an outer surface layer substantially completely covering the implant device, the outer surface layer including a relatively inert fluorocarbon to substantially reduce toxicity of the device when implanted.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
57 words
A method of producing a biological implant, comprising the steps of: forming an implant device from a selected polymeric material having a desired set of physical properties; and forming an outer surface layer substantially completely covering the implant device, the outer surface layer including a relatively inert fluorocarbon to substantially reduce toxicity of the device when implanted.