US5616369A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for barrier coating of plastic objects
Assignee: Becton Dickinson and Co
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Filing: 1994-06-24
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Granted: 1997-04-01
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Expires: 2014-06-24
Abstract
Abstract A method for sequentially depositing a silicon oxide based film as a barrier on a substrate. The film is useful for providing an effective barrier against gas permeability in containers and for extending shelf-life of containers, especially plastic evacuated blood collection devices.
Inventors
- 👤 Joel L. Williams
- 👤 Susan L. Burkett
- 👤 Shel McGuire
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 06:48
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61L; A61L31/00; A61L31/08; A61L31/082; A61L31/088; A61L31/084; C; C23; C23C; C23C14/00; C23C14/02; C23C14/021; C23C14/022; C23C14/22; C23C14/34; C23C14/46; C23C16/00; C23C16/02; C23C16/0254; C23C16/0272; C23C16/22; C23C16/30; C23C16/40; C23C16/401; C23C16/44; C23C16/4401; C23C16/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of sequentially depositing a silicon oxide based film on a plastic substrate in a previously evacuated chamber by glow discharge comprising: (a) placing a plastic substrate into a chamber; (b) evacuating said chamber; (c) controllably flowing oxygen into said chamber; (d) establishing a glow discharge plasma in the chamber from said oxygen component; (e) depositing a plasma of oxygen onto said plastic substrate; (f) shutting down said chamber and evacuating; (g) vaporizing an organosilicon component and admixing the volatilized organosilicon component with an oxidizer component and an inert gas component to form a gas stream exterior the chamber; (h) controllably flowing the gas stream into the plasma; (i) establishing a glow discharge plasma in the chamber from said gas stream; (j) depositing a coating of silicon oxide on said plastic substrate; (k) removing and/or redistributing foreign surface particles from said plastic substrate; and (l) repeating steps g through j above, thereby depositing another coating of silicon oxide on said plastic substrate.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of sequentially depositing a silicon oxide based film on a plastic substrate in a previously evacuated chamber by glow discharge comprising: (a) placing a plastic substrate into a chamber; (b) evacuating said chamber; (c) controllably flowing oxygen into said chamber; (d) establishing a glow discharge plasma in the chamber from said oxygen component; (e) depositing a plasma of oxygen onto said plastic substrate; (f) shutting down said chamber and evacuating; (g) vaporizing an organosilicon component and admixing the volatilized organosilicon component with an oxidizer component and an inert gas component to form a gas stream exterior the chamber; (h) controllably flowing the gas stream into the plasma; (i) establishing a glow discharge plasma in the chamber from said gas stream; (j) depositing a coating of silicon oxide on said plastic substrate; (k) removing and/or redistributing foreign surface particles from said plastic substrate; and (l) repeating steps g through j above, thereby depositing another coating of silicon oxide on said plastic substrate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said oxidizer component is oxygen.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the plastic substrate is electrically isolated from the chamber except for contact with the confined plasma.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 3, further comprising magnetically confining at least a portion of the plasma adjacent to the substrate during the depositing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 4, wherein the organosilicon compound and oxygen of the gas stream being flowed into the plasma are in a flow rate ratio between about 1.2:1 to about 1:1.8 and the inert gas of the gas stream being flowed into the plasma is helium or argon in an amount effective to increase the deposition rate and the hardness of the deposited silicon oxide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the inert gas is helium in a ratio in the range from about 1:1.5 to 1:2.3.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the organosilicon compound is 1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane, hexamethyldiallane, vinyltrimethylsilane, methyltri methoxyallane, vinyltrimethoxyallane or hexamethyldiallane or trimethylsilane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said plastic substrate is conveyed into and out of the plasma during the depositing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the inert gas is helium, the gas stream includes a minor amount of propylene, and the deposited silicon oxide based film includes carbon moieties.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the gas stream includes a minor amount of nitrogen or nitrous oxide and the deposited silicon oxide based film includes nitrogen moieties.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said foreign surface particles are removed and/or redistributed with a pressurized gas stream.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 11, wherein said pressurized gas stream of step (g) is nitrogen or argon at about 25 psi.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said foreign surface particles are removed and/or redistributed with ultrasonic vibrations.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said foreign surface particles are removed and/or redistributed by wiping said substrate.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
196 words
A method of depositing a film on a plastic substrate by a plasma process in an evacuated chamber, comprising the steps of: (a) placing a plastic substrate into a chamber; (b) evacuating said chamber; (c) controllably flowing oxygen stream into said chamber; (d) establishing a glow discharge plasma in the chamber from said oxygen stream; (e) depositing a plasma of oxygen onto said plastic substrate; (f) shutting down said chamber and evacuating; (g) providing said evacuated chamber with a gas stream that includes a source of a material desired to be deposited on said plastic substrate; (h) establishing within said chamber a glow discharge plasma derived from the gas of said stream in a region of high electric field; (i) removably positioning the plastic substrate in said plasma without any electrical connection therewith; (j) generating within said plasma a magnetic field having a substantial magnetic flux directed against said plastic substrate, thereby depositing a first coating of a silicon oxide based film on said plastic substrate; (k) removing and/or redistributing foreign surface particles from said plastic substrate; and (l) repeating steps (f) through (j) above, thereby depositing another coating of silicon oxide on said plastic substrate.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
196 words
A method of depositing a film on a plastic substrate by a plasma process in an evacuated chamber, comprising the steps of: (a) placing a plastic substrate into a chamber; (b) evacuating said chamber; (c) controllably flowing oxygen stream into said chamber; (d) establishing a glow discharge plasma in the chamber from said oxygen stream; (e) depositing a plasma of oxygen onto said plastic substrate; (f) shutting down said chamber and evacuating; (g) providing said evacuated chamber with a gas stream that includes a source of a material desired to be deposited on said plastic substrate; (h) establishing within said chamber a glow discharge plasma derived from the gas of said stream in a region of high electric field; (i) removably positioning the plastic substrate in said plasma without any electrical connection therewith; (j) generating within said plasma a magnetic field having a substantial magnetic flux directed against said plastic substrate, thereby depositing a first coating of a silicon oxide based film on said plastic substrate; (k) removing and/or redistributing foreign surface particles from said plastic substrate; and (l) repeating steps (f) through (j) above, thereby depositing another coating of silicon oxide on said plastic substrate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the step of generating a magnetic flux includes positioning within said chamber a first magnetic pole oriented to face said plasma and a second magnetic pole oriented to face away from said plasma.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the step of generating a magnetic flux includes positioning within said chamber a magnetic structure having a surface adjacent said plasma that is characterized by a magnetic flux distribution function in substantially any direction there across which varies from one magnetic strength of one polarity separated by a lesser magnetic strength of another polarity.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 15, wherein the plasma is confined by means of an unbalanced magnetron.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said foreign surface particles are removed and/or redistributed with a pressurized gas stream.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said pressurized gas stream is nitrogen or argon at about 25 psi.
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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) | 2000-03-31 | 2000-09-30 | 2001-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-03-31 | 2004-09-30 | 2005-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-03-31 | 2008-09-30 | 2009-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |