Non-fouling surfaces for reflective spheres

• US 8,414,957 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2011
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nanosys Incorporated (Shoei Electronic Materials, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Nanosys Incorporated (Shoei Electronic Materials, Inc.)
• Inventors: Enzerink, Robert, Daniels, R. Hugh
• Primary Examiner(s): BURKHART, ELIZABETH A
• Application Number:
  US13/301,553
• Publication Number:
  US 20120064235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 427/162, 427/163.4, 427/2.1, 427/2.28
• US Class Current: 427/2.1
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/00 Coating on the layer surface
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/416 Reflective
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/73 Hydrophobic
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/754 Self-cleaning
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2535/00 Medical equipment, e.g. bandage, prostheses, catheter medical patches B32B2556/00
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 3/26 characterised by a particular shape of the outline of the cross-section of a continuous layer; characterised by a layer with cavities or internal voids foam layer B32B5/18; layer of synthetic resin characterised by fillers that create voids or cavities B32B27/205; characterised by an apertured layer
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 5/1681 Antifouling coatings characterised by surface structure, e.g. for roughness effect giving superhydrophobic coatings or Lotus effect
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/18 Coatings for keeping optical surfaces clean, e.g. hydrophobic or photo-catalytic films G02B1/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0006 with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation G02B1/18 takes precedence; cleaning in general B08B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/126 including curved refracting surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24355 Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or component [e.g., roofing, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24421 Silicon containing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/29 Coated or structually defined flake, particle, cell, strand, strand portion, rod, filament, macroscopic fiber or mass thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2991 Coated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2993 Silicic or refractory material containing [e.g., tungsten oxide, glass, cement, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2995 Silane, siloxane or silicone coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2996 Glass particles or spheres
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2998 including synthetic resin or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31663 As siloxane, silicone or silane

Abstract

The present invention relates to treating of reflective surfaces to prevent fouling. The present invention also relates to reflective materials treated to prevent fouling, as well as methods of using such reflective materials.

Claims

1. A method of substantially maintaining the reflective properties of a reflective sphere which is configured to be placed on a surgical instrument for use in surgical robotic and navigation systems, comprising disposing a liquidphobic structure comprising a perfluorinated organic coating on a sub-micron structured surface of the sphere, the sub-micron textured surface comprising fumed silica nanoparticles adhered to the sphere, wherein the reflective properties are substantially maintained after the sphere is contacted with a liquid.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the disposing comprises disposing a super-hydrophobic coating on the sphere.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the disposing a liquidphobic coating comprises disposing a perfluorinated silane coating on the silica nanoparticles.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least 70% of the reflective properties of the reflective sphere are maintained.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the reflective properties are substantially maintained after the sphere is contacted with a biological fluid.

6. A method of disposing a liquidphobic structure on a reflective sphere which is configured to be placed on a surgical instrument for use in surgical robotic and navigation systems, comprising generating a sub-micron-structured surface by adhering fumed silica nanoparticles on the reflective sphere and disposing a liquidphobic structure comprising a perfluorinated organic coating on the sub-micron-structured surface.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the disposing a liquidphobic structure comprises disposing a perfluorinated silane coating on the layer of silica nanoparticles.