US5437900A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surface modified porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene and process for making
Assignee: W.L. Gore and Associates Inc
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Filing: 1993-12-01
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Granted: 1995-08-01
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Expires: 2013-12-01
Abstract
Abstract Porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene material having a microstructure of nodes interconnected by fibrils wherein a surface of the material has been modified to have increased hydrophobicity as indicated by having a water droplet roll-off angle of less than about 10 degrees in comparison to a typical roll-off angle of greater than about 12 degrees for the unmodified material. Under magnification, the surface morphology may be indistinguishable from that of the unmodified precursor material. The modification is preferably done by exposing the surface to radio frequency gas plasma discharge with a reactive etching gas for a lengthy amount of time such as about ten minutes. If surface etching is continued beyond a time adequate to produce the highly hydrophobic behavior, then the surface morphology includes the appearance of broken fibrils. Still further treatment results in complete removal of fibrils from the surface so that under magnification the surface has the appearance of freestanding node portions not interconnected by fibrils but rather having open valleys disposed between the freestanding node portions.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanislaw L. Kuzowski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 18:46
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08J; C08J5/00; C08J5/18; A; A01; A01K; A01K91/00; A01K91/12; A61; A61L; A61L27/00; A61L27/14; A61L27/16; B; B01; B01D; B01D39/00; B01D39/14; B01D39/16; B01D39/1692; B29; B29C; B29C59/00; B29C59/14; A61L2400/00; A61L2400/18; B29K; B29K2027/00; B29K2027/12; B29K2027/18; B29K2105/00; B29K2105/04; C08J2327/00; C08J2327/02; C08J2327/12; C08J2327/18; F; F23; F23G; F23G2202/00; F23G2202/20; F23L; F23L2900/00; F23L2900/07005; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E20/00; Y02E20/34; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/14; Y10S55/00; Y10S55/05; Y10S623/00; Y10S623/901; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/13; Y10T428/1352; Y10T428/1362; Y10T428/1372; Y10T428/139; Y10T428/1397; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/249953; Y10T428/249955; Y10T428/249958; Y10T428/249962; Y10T428/249964; Y10T428/29; Y10T428/2913; Y10T428/2933; Y10T428/2935; Y10T428/2973; Y10T428/2975; Y10T428/31; Y10T428/31504; Y10T428/3154; Y10T428/31544; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
53 words
Porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene having a microstructure comprised of nodes interconnected by fibrils, said porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene comprising a three dimensional material having at least one surface wherein at least a substantial portion of the at least one surface is comprised of freestanding node portions with open valleys disposed between the freestanding node portions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
53 words
Porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene having a microstructure comprised of nodes interconnected by fibrils, said porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene comprising a three dimensional material having at least one surface wherein at least a substantial portion of the at least one surface is comprised of freestanding node portions with open valleys disposed between the freestanding node portions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
Porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene according to claim 1 wherein the porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene has a water droplet roll-off angle of less than about 10 degrees.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
Porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene according to claim 1 wherein the porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene has a water droplet roll-off angle of less than about 8 degrees.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
Porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene according to claim 1 wherein the porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene has a water droplet roll-off angle of less than about 6 degrees.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
Porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene according to claim 1 wherein the porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene has a water droplet roll-off angle of less than about 4 degrees.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
Porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene according to claim 1 wherein the three dimensional material is in the form of a tubular shape having an inner surface and an outer surface and the at least one surface comprises the inner surface of the tubular shape.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
Porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene according to claim 6 wherein the tubular shape is a vascular graft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
Porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene according to claim 6 wherein the tubular shape is a filter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
Porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene according to claim 6 wherein the tubular shape is a wire insulation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
Porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene according to claim 1 wherein the three dimensional material is in the form of a tubular shape having an inner surface and an outer surface and the at least one surface comprises the outer surface of the tubular shape.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
Porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene according to claim 10 wherein the tubular shape is a vascular graft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
Porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene according to claim 10 wherein the tubular shape is a filter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
Porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene according to claim 10 wherein the tubular shape is a wire insulation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
Porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene according to claim 10 wherein the tubular shape is a fly line outer surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
Porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene according to claim 1 wherein the three dimensional material is in the form of a flat sheet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
Porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene according to claim 15 wherein the flat sheet is a filter.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
Porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene according to claim 15 wherein the flat sheet is a layer of a garment material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
Porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene according to claim 15 wherein the flat sheet is an implantable patch.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
Porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene according to claim 15 wherein the flat sheet is an implantable membrane.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
Porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene according to claim 11 wherein the three dimensional material is in the form of a cylindrical shape having a curved outer surface and the at least one surface comprises the curved outer surface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
Porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene according to claim 20 wherein the cylindrical shape is a suture.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of modifying a surface of a porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene material said porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene material having a microstructure of nodes interconnected by fibrils, said method comprising exposing the surface to a reactive gas plasma discharge until the fibrils are removed from at least a substantial portion of the surface and the surface is comprised of freestanding node portions with open valleys disposed between the freestanding node portions.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of modifying a surface of a porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene material said porous expanded polytetrafluoroethylene material having a microstructure of nodes interconnected by fibrils, said method comprising exposing the surface to a reactive gas plasma discharge until the fibrils are removed from at least a substantial portion of the surface and the surface is comprised of freestanding node portions with open valleys disposed between the freestanding node portions.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-07-31 | 1999-01-30 | 1999-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-31 | 2003-01-30 | 2003-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-31 | 2007-01-30 | 2007-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |