NANOSCALE SURFACE ACTIVATION OF SILICONE VIA LASER PROCESSING
First Claim
1. A method of activating a silicone surface to facilitate bonding to at least one compound, comprising:
- providing a silicone article having at least one surface; and
irradiating at least a portion of one of the surfaces with laser light at a wavelength and power sufficient to eject organic species from the silicone article, thereby forming an activated silicone surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a method of activating a silicone polymer surface using a laser, particularly an excimer laser, so that the silicone is more reactive. A silicone article containing an activated surface is also provided, and can be used to make silicone implants that can be securely fixed to tissue. One example is an implantable prosthesis to treat blindness caused by outer retinal degenerative diseases. The device bypasses damaged photoreceptors and electrically stimulates the undamaged neurons of the retina. Electrical stimulation is achieved using a silicone microelectrode array (MEA). A safe, protein adhesive is used in attaching the MEA to the retinal surface and assist in alleviating focal pressure effects.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of activating a silicone surface to facilitate bonding to at least one compound, comprising:
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providing a silicone article having at least one surface; and irradiating at least a portion of one of the surfaces with laser light at a wavelength and power sufficient to eject organic species from the silicone article, thereby forming an activated silicone surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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- 8. A silicone article having at least one activated surface formed by irradiation with laser light at a wavelength and power sufficient to eject organic species from the silicone article.
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14. A method for treating the surface of silicone polymers, comprising:
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providing a silicone polymer comprising a plurality of Si atoms, each coupled to two adjacent O atoms and to two organic radicals by Si—
O and Si—
C bonds, respectively, wherein the Si—
O bonds form a Si—
O backbone;applying an excimer laser to the polymer at a UV light wavelength that is selectively absorbed by the Si—
C bonds; andbreaking a portion of the Si—
C bonds thereby creating organic radicals and an Si—
O backbone with unpaired electrons on the surface of the silicone polymer.
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15. A surface-activated silicone polymer created by the method comprising:
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providing a silicone polymer comprising Si atoms coupled to two adjacent 0 atoms and to two organic radicals thereby forming Si—
C bonds, wherein the Si—
O bonds form a Si—
O backbone;applying an excimer laser to the polymer at a UV light wavelength that is selectively absorbed at the Si—
C bonds; andbreaking a portion of the Si—
C bonds thereby creating organic radicals and an Si—
O backbone with unpaired electrons on the surface of the silicone polymer.
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16. A method for treating the surface of silicone polymers, comprising:
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providing a silicone polymer; and irradiating the polymer with UV light from an excimer laser, at a wavelength that causes Si—
C bonds in the polymer to selectively break over S—
O bonds thereby creating organic radicals and an activated silicone polymer surface.
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Specification