Patent US5318806A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5318806A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Tube having regions of different surface chemistry and method therefor
Assignee: Becton Dickinson and Co
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Filing: 1992-10-02
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Granted: 1994-06-07
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Expires: 2012-10-02
Abstract
Abstract In a method to modify the chemistry of a portion of the surface of an article, the surface is placed adjacent an electrode in a plasma chamber, the distance to the wall of the chamber being at least five times the size of the electrode. A plasma of very high power density is generated in a discharge volume surrounding the electrode so that the surface area closest to the electrode receives a very intense plasma which diminishes with increasing distance from the discharge volume thus forming a chemical gradient on the article surface. The preferred article is a tube having one closed end, and the gradient may be formed from either the closed end or the open end. The gradient may be of decreasing glass-like character or decreasing plastic like character.
Inventors
- 👤 David B. Montgomery
- 👤 Erwin A. Vogler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 17:16
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11C; G11C5/00; G11C5/14; G11C5/145; C; C08; C08J; C08J7/00; C08J7/12; C08J7/123; B; B05; B05D; B05D1/00; B05D1/62; B29; B29C; B29C59/00; B29C59/14; B29C59/142; C03; C03C; C03C23/00; C03C23/0005; C03C23/006; H; H02; H02M; H02M3/00; H02M3/02; H02M3/04; H02M3/06; H02M3/07; H02M3/073
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for modifying a portion of an article surface comprising: a) positioning an article having a surface adjacent an electrode in a plasma chamber having a chamber wall, said chamber containing a process gas, the ratio of the largest electrode dimension to the shortest distance from the electrode to the chamber wall being no more than 1.5; and b) delivering radio frequency power to said electrode whereby said process gas in a discharge volume surrounding said electrode is ionized to give a plasma, said discharge volume being smaller than the volume of said plasma chamber, said article being positioned from said electrode a distance about 0.1 to 2.0 times the radius of said discharge volume, said plasma modifying a portion of said article surface.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for modifying a portion of an article surface comprising: a) positioning an article having a surface adjacent an electrode in a plasma chamber having a chamber wall, said chamber containing a process gas, the ratio of the largest electrode dimension to the shortest distance from the electrode to the chamber wall being no more than 1.5; and b) delivering radio frequency power to said electrode whereby said process gas in a discharge volume surrounding said electrode is ionized to give a plasma, said discharge volume being smaller than the volume of said plasma chamber, said article being positioned from said electrode a distance about 0.1 to 2.0 times the radius of said discharge volume, said plasma modifying a portion of said article surface.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for modifying an article surface comprising: a) positioning an article having a surface adjacent an electrode in a plasma chamber having a chamber wall, the ratio of the largest electrode dimension to the shortest distance from the electrode to the chamber wall being no more than 1:5; b) evacuating said chamber; c) bleeding a process gas into the evacuated chamber; and d) delivering radio frequency power to said electrode whereby said process gas in a discharge volume surrounding said electrode is ionized to give a plasma, said discharge volume being smaller than the volume of said plasma chamber, said article being positioned from said electrode a distance about 0.1 to 2.0 times the radius of said discharge volume, said plasma modifying said surface to include a gradient between a glass-like first area and a plastic-like second area.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for modifying an article surface comprising: a) positioning an article having a surface adjacent an electrode in a plasma chamber having a chamber wall, the ratio of the largest electrode dimension to the shortest distance from the electrode to the chamber wall being no more than 1:5; b) evacuating said chamber; c) bleeding a process gas into the evacuated chamber; and d) delivering radio frequency power to said electrode whereby said process gas in a discharge volume surrounding said electrode is ionized to give a plasma, said discharge volume being smaller than the volume of said plasma chamber, said article being positioned from said electrode a distance about 0.1 to 2.0 times the radius of said discharge volume, said plasma modifying said surface to include a gradient between a glass-like first area and a plastic-like second area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said article is plastic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said plastic is selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyurethane, acrylic, polyvinyl chloride and polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said process as is a hydrophilic gas.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said hydrophilic gas is selected from the group consisting of air, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said plastic-like second area is the plastic surface unmodified by said plasma.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said article is glass.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said process gas is a hydrophobic gas.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said hydrophobic gas is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, fluorine, methane, hexane and hexafluoroethane.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said glass-like first area is the glass surface unmodified by said plasma.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
150 words
A method for modifying the inside wall surface of a plastic tube comprising: a) positioning a plastic tube having an open end, a closed end and an inside wall surface so that said open end is adjacent an electrode in a plasma chamber having a chamber wall, the ratio of the largest electrode dimension to the shortest distance from the electrode to the chamber wall being no more than 1:5; and b) evacuating said chamber; c) bleeding oxygen into the evacuated chamber; and d) delivering radio frequency power to said electrode whereby a plasma is generated in a discharge volume surrounding said electrode, said discharge volume being smaller than the volume of said plasma chamber, said plasma modifying said inside wall surface to be glass-like at said open end and to include a gradient of decreasing glass-like character with increasing distance down said inside wall surface from said open end.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
150 words
A method for modifying the inside wall surface of a plastic tube comprising: a) positioning a plastic tube having an open end, a closed end and an inside wall surface so that said open end is adjacent an electrode in a plasma chamber having a chamber wall, the ratio of the largest electrode dimension to the shortest distance from the electrode to the chamber wall being no more than 1:5; and b) evacuating said chamber; c) bleeding oxygen into the evacuated chamber; and d) delivering radio frequency power to said electrode whereby a plasma is generated in a discharge volume surrounding said electrode, said discharge volume being smaller than the volume of said plasma chamber, said plasma modifying said inside wall surface to be glass-like at said open end and to include a gradient of decreasing glass-like character with increasing distance down said inside wall surface from said open end.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
163 words
A method for modifying the inside wall surface of a glass tube comprising: a) positioning a glass tube having a closed end, an open end and an inside wall surface so that said closed end is adjacent an electrode in a plasma chamber having a chamber wall, the ratio of the largest electrode dimension to the shortest distance from the electrode to the chamber wall being no more than 1:5, said tube and electrode being encased in a dielectric; b) inserting a discharge limiting element into said open end; c) evacuating said chamber; d) bleeding hexane into the evacuated chamber; and e) delivering radio frequency power to said electrode whereby a plasma is generated in a discharge volume surrounding said electrode, said discharge volume being smaller than the volume of said plasma chamber, said plasma modifying said inside wall surface to be plastic-like at said closed end and to include a gradient of decreasing plastic-like character with increasing distance from said closed end.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
163 words
A method for modifying the inside wall surface of a glass tube comprising: a) positioning a glass tube having a closed end, an open end and an inside wall surface so that said closed end is adjacent an electrode in a plasma chamber having a chamber wall, the ratio of the largest electrode dimension to the shortest distance from the electrode to the chamber wall being no more than 1:5, said tube and electrode being encased in a dielectric; b) inserting a discharge limiting element into said open end; c) evacuating said chamber; d) bleeding hexane into the evacuated chamber; and e) delivering radio frequency power to said electrode whereby a plasma is generated in a discharge volume surrounding said electrode, said discharge volume being smaller than the volume of said plasma chamber, said plasma modifying said inside wall surface to be plastic-like at said closed end and to include a gradient of decreasing plastic-like character with increasing distance from said closed end.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-06-06 | 1997-12-06 | 1998-06-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-06-06 | 2001-12-06 | 2002-06-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-06-06 | 2005-12-06 | 2006-06-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |