Abstract:
Irradiation of a surface of a material with a gas cluster ion beam modifies the wettability of the surface. The wettability may be increased or decreased dependent on the characteristics of the gas cluster ion beam. Improvements in wettability of a surface by the invention exceed those obtained by conventional plasma cleaning or etching. The improvements may be applied to surfaces of medical devices, such as vascular stents for example, and may be used to enable better wetting of medical device surfaces with liquid drugs in preparation for adhesion of the drug to the device surfaces. A mask may be used to limit processing to a portion of the surface. Medical devices formed by using the methods of the invention are disclosed.
Abstract:
A method of modifying the surface of a medical device to release a drug in a controlled way by providing a barrier layer on the surface of one or more drug coatings. The barrier layer consists of modified drug material converted to a barrier layer by irradiation by an accelerated neutral beam derived from an accelerated gas cluster ion beam. Also medical devices formed thereby.
Abstract:
A film and method of forming a film provides an unmodified starting layer of a starting material, the starting layer having opposed first and second surfaces and an initial thickness, T1, and a modified surface layer of thickness T2 which is less than T1, formed in at least a portion of the second surface, wherein a portion of the modified surface layer is not supported by unmodified starting material removed from the first surface opposite the modified surface layer.
Abstract:
A method for improving bioactivity and/or biodegradation time of a collagen surgical implant and collagen surgical implants having such improved properties. A gas-cluster ion-beam (GCIB) is formed in a reduced-pressure chamber, a collagen surgical implant is introduced into the reduced-pressure chamber, and at least a first portion of the surface of said collagen surgical implant is irradiated with a GCIB-derived beam.
Abstract:
A method for improving bioactivity of a surface of a surgical suture and sutures prepared thereby provides forming a gas-cluster ion-beam (GCIB) in a reduced-pressure chamber, introducing a surgical suture into the reduced-pressure chamber, and irradiating at least a first portion of the surface of said surgical suture with a GLIB derived beam.
Abstract:
A method of disinfecting a biological material provides disposing at least a portion of the biological material in the path of the gas cluster ion beam or in the path of the accelerated neutral beam so as to irradiate at least a portion of the biological material to disinfect the irradiated portion.
Abstract:
Irradiation of a surface of a material with a gas cluster ion beam modifies the wettability of the surface. The wettability may be increased or decreased dependent on the characteristics of the gas cluster ion beam. Improvements in wettability of a surface by the invention exceed those obtained by conventional plasma cleaning or etching. The improvements may be applied to surfaces of medical devices, such as vascular stents for example, and may be used to enable better wetting of medical device surfaces with liquid drugs in preparation for adhesion of the drug to the device surfaces. A mask may be used to limit processing to a portion of the surface. Medical devices formed by using the methods of the invention are disclosed.
Abstract:
The invention provide for a method of improving bioactivity of a surface of an object. The invention further provides for a method of preparing an object for medical implantation. The invention even further provide for an article made by a method comprising the steps of forming a gas-cluster ion-beam in a reduced-pressure chamber, introducing the article into the reduced-pressure chamber, and irradiating at least a portion of the surface of the object with the gas-cluster ion-beam. The invention still further provides for an article for medical or surgical implantation made by a method comprising selecting at least a portion of a surface of the object for increased bioactivity, forming a gas-cluster ion-beam in a reduced-pressure chamber, introducing the object into the reduced-pressure chamber, and irradiating the selected at least a portion with the gas-cluster ion-beam to increase the bioactivity of the at least a portion.
Abstract:
The invention provides methods for surgical grafting of a tissue. The method comprises the steps of explanting a graft tissue from a donor, irradiating at least a first portion of the graft tissue with an ion beam, and surgically grafting the graft tissue into a recipient.
Abstract:
A multi-layer drug coated medical device such as for example an expandable vascular drug eluting stent is formed by vacuum pulse spray techniques wherein each layer is irradiated to improve adhesion and/or drug elution properties prior to formation of subsequent layers. Layers may be homogeneous or of diverse drugs. Layers may incorporate a non-polymer elution-retarding material. Layers may alternate with one or more layers of non-polymer elution-retarding materials. Polymer binders and/or matrices are not used in the formation of the coatings, yet the pure drug coatings have good mechanical and elution rate properties. Systems, methods and medical device articles are disclosed.