Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
48 words
A porous structure comprising a macroporous substrate defining an interconnected network of macropores and a microporous matrix defining a network of interconnected micropores filling and contained entirely within said network of macropores so that outside edge of said microporous matrix is at the outside surface of said substrate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
48 words
A porous structure comprising a macroporous substrate defining an interconnected network of macropores and a microporous matrix defining a network of interconnected micropores filling and contained entirely within said network of macropores so that outside edge of said microporous matrix is at the outside surface of said substrate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A porous structure as recited in claim 1, wherein the material of said substrate and the material of said microporous matrix consists essentially of synthetic resin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A porous structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said macroporous sustrate consists of a first synthetic resin and said microporous matrix consists of a second synthetic resin different than said first synthetic resin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A porous structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said macroporous substrate consists essentially of polyethylene and said microporous matrix consists essentially of polyvinyl chloride.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A porous structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said microporous matrix is formed within said network of macropores.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
A porous structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said microporous matrix is formed within said network of macropores by impregnating said network of macropores with a solution of the material of said microporous matrix and a solvent for said material of said microporous matrix and by forming said microporous matrix from said solution.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of making a porous structure comprising providing a macroporous substrate defining a network of interconnected macropores, filling said network of macropores with a solution including a material capable of being formed into a microporous matrix from said solution while leaving none of said solution on the surface of said substrate, and forming a microporous matrix of said material from said solution entirely within said network of macropores.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of making a porous structure comprising providing a macroporous substrate defining a network of interconnected macropores, filling said network of macropores with a solution including a material capable of being formed into a microporous matrix from said solution while leaving none of said solution on the surface of said substrate, and forming a microporous matrix of said material from said solution entirely within said network of macropores.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as recited in claim 7, wherein said solution further comprises a pore former and a solvent for said pore former and for said material, and said step of forming said microporous matrix includes coagulating said material in said solution into a matrix and extracting said pore former and said solvent from said matrix.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as recited in claim 7, wherein said step of impregnating said macroporous substrate with said solution includes immersing said substrate in said solution in a vacuum chamber and oscillating the pressure in said chamber up and down below atmospheric pressure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as recited in claim 7, wherein said step of forming a macroporous matrix includes the step of causing said solution while contained in network of micropores to imbibe moisture from the surrounding atmosphere.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as recited in claim 10, wherein the imbibing of water by said solution causes said solution to separate into two phases, a first phase being rich in said material and a second phase being rich in water, and wherein said first phase is coagulated into said microporous matrix.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as recited in claim 7, wherein said solution further comprises a solvent for said material and a diluent homogenously miscible with said solvent and in which said material is not soluble.