Systems and methods for interior energy-activation from an exterior source

• US 9,278,331 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2015
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immunolight, LLC
• Original Assignee: Immunolight, LLC
• Inventors: Bourke, Frederic A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCCLENDON, SANZA L
• Application Number:
  US14/635,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20150182934A1
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 2/50 by irradiation or electric treatment without heating
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/26 by irradiation without heating
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/263 with corpuscular or ionising radiation, i.e. X, alpha, beta or omega radiation laser plasma radiation A23L3/26
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 3/28 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 5/32 using phonon wave energy, e.g. sound or ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 41/0057 Photodynamic therapy with a photosensitizer, i.e. agent able to produce reactive oxygen species upon exposure to light or radiation, e.g. UV or visible light; photocleavage of nucleic acids with an agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 41/0066 Psoralene-activated UV-A photochemotherapy (PUVA-therapy), e.g. for treatment of psoriasis or eczema, extracorporeal photopheresis with psoralens or fucocoumarins
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0011 using physical methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0047 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0076 using a photocatalyst or photosensitiser
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/082 X-rays
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/088 using a photocatalyst or photosensitiser
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/16 using chemical substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/21 Pharmaceuticals, e.g. medicaments, artificial body parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/22 Blood or products thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/3683 using photoactive agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0661 ultraviolet
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0662 Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1087 : Ions; Protons
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1089 : Electrons
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1098 : Enhancing the effect of the particle by an injected agent or implanted device
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 : Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0624 : for eliminating microbes, germs, bacteria on or in the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/10 : X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy A61N5/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/04 : Antibacterial agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 31/18 : for HIV
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 35/00 : Antineoplastic agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 7/08 : Plasma substitutes; Perfusion solutions; Dialytics or haemodialytics; Drugs for electrolytic or acid-base disorders, e.g. hypovolemic shock artificial tears A61P27/04
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/082 : Gamma-radiation only
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/085 : Electron beams only
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/12 : employing electromagnetic waves
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/123 : Ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/125 : X-rays
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/127 : Sunlight; Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 19/128 : Infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0877 : Liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0879 : Solid
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/0892 : involving catalytically active material
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2219/1203 : Incoherent waves
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2231/005 : General concepts, e.g. reviews, relating to methods of using catalyst systems, the concept being defined by a common method or theory, e.g. microwave heating or multiple stereoselectivity
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 23/50 : Silver
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 23/52 : Gold
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2531/005 : Catalytic metals
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2531/008 : Methods or theories
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 31/0275 : also containing elements or functional groups covered by B01J31/0201 - B01J31/0269
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 31/2295 : Cyclic compounds, e.g. cyclopentadienyls
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 35/19 : Catalysts containing parts with different compositions
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 35/23 : in a colloidal state
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 35/39 : Photocatalytic properties
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 37/0072 : Preparation of particles, e.g. dispersion of droplets in an oil bath
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 37/0221 : of particles
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 : Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 : Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 40/00 : Manufacture or treatment of nanostructures
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/30 : by irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/302 : with microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/305 : with electrons
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/307 : with X-rays or gamma radiation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 : with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/725 : by catalytic oxidation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2305/10 : Photocatalysts
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2300/00 : Characterised by the use of unspecified polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 3/24 : Crosslinking, e.g. vulcanising, of macromolecules mechanical aspects B29C35/00; crosslinking agents C08K
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 3/28 : Treatment by wave energy or particle radiation
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 7/18 : using wave energy or particle radiation
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 201/00 : Coating compositions based on unspecified macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 201/00 : Adhesives based on unspecified macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 2301/416 : use of irradiation
• CPC Class Codes: C09J 5/00 : Adhesive processes in general; Adhesive processes not provided for elsewhere, e.g. relating to primers
• CPC Class Codes: C12H 1/06 : Precipitation by physical means, e.g. by irradiation, vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/008 : Surface plasmon devices diffractive gratings with a pitch less than or comparable to the wavelength G02B5/1809; surface plasmons in integrated optics G02B6/1226; optical analysis of materials by means of surface plasmons G01N21/553
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 5/00 : Irradiation devices discharge tubes for irradiating H01J37/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 10/37 : using solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/774 : Exhibiting three-dimensional carrier confinement, e.g. quantum dots
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/777 : Metallic powder or flake
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/896 : Chemical synthesis, e.g. chemical bonding or breaking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/915 : Therapeutic or pharmaceutical composition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 : Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor

Abstract

A method and a system for producing a change in a medium. The method places in a vicinity of the medium at least one energy modulation agent. The method applies an initiation energy to the medium. The initiation energy interacts with the energy modulation agent to directly or indirectly produce the change in the medium. The system includes an initiation energy source configured to apply an initiation energy to the medium to activate the energy modulation agent.

Claims

1. A method for curing an adhesive, comprising:

disposing in contact with an object an adhesive composition comprising

     1) an uncured radiation-curable medium,

     2) an energy modulation agent, and

     3) a photo-activated photoinitiator, wherein the energy modulation agent is resistant to chemical interaction with the uncured radiation-curable medium;

applying energy from at least one of x-rays, gamma rays, or an electron beam into the composition, wherein the energy interacts with the energy modulation agent and internally generates light inside the uncured radiation-curable medium; and

activating the photoinitiator in the radiation-curable medium with the internally generated light and thereby curing the radiation-curable medium.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the adhesive composition in said disposing step comprises a chemically inert energy modulation agent.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the disposing comprises disposing a polymer coated energy modulation agent as the chemically inert energy modulation agent.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the disposing comprises disposing a silica coated energy modulation agent as the chemically inert energy modulation agent.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the disposing comprises disposing a zeolite-encased energy modulation agent as the chemically inert energy modulation agent.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the disposing comprises disposing at least one of a telluride, a selenide, and an oxide semiconductor as the chemically inert energy modulation agent.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the disposing comprises disposing at least one of Y₂O₃;

ZnSe;

Mn, Er ZnSe;

Mn;

Mn, Yb ZnSe;

Mn, Y₂O₃;

Tb<sup>3+;

Y</sup>₂O₃;

Tb³⁺, Er3⁺;

CdSe, Y₂O₃;

Eu³⁺, Y₂O₃;

Eu³⁺;

BaFBr;

Tb³⁺; and

YF₃;

Tb³⁺ as the chemically inert energy modulation agent.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the disposing comprises disposing an adhesive composition having a concentration of 10⁹ nanoparticles/cm³ of 200 nm diameter energy modulation agents.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the disposing comprises disposing an adhesive composition having a concentration greater than 10⁹ nanoparticles/cm³ of 200 diameter energy modulation agents.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the activating comprises:

activating the photoiniator with 200-280 nm wavelength ultraviolet light.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the activating comprises:

activating the photoiniator with 280-320 nm wavelength ultraviolet light.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the activating comprises:

activating the photoiniator with 320-400 nm wavelength ultraviolet light.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the activating comprises:

activating the photoiniator with 350-400 nm wavelength ultraviolet light.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the uncured radiation-curable medium comprises a UV-curable silicone.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the UV-curable silicone comprises an organopolysiloxane.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the UV-curable silicone includes a methacrylate group.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the UV-curable silicone includes an acryloxy group.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the UV-curable silicone includes at least one of carboxylate, maleate, and cinnamate.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the UV-curable silicone includes a free radical generator.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the free radical generator comprises a benzoin ether.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the UV-curable silicone includes at least one of trimethylsilyl, dimethylsilyl, phenyldimethylsilyl, vinyldimethylsilyl, trifluoropropyldimethylsilyl, (4-vinylphenyl)dimethylsilyl, (vinylbenzyl)dimethylsilyl, and (vinylphenethyl)dimethylsilyl.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the photoinitiator comprises at least one of at least one of benzoin, substituted benzoins, alkyl ester substituted benzoins, Michler'"'"'s ketone, dialkoxyacetophenones, diethoxyacetophenone, benzophenone, substituted benzophenones, acetophenone, substituted acetophenones, xanthone, substituted xanthones, benzoin methyl ether, benzoin ethyl ether, benzoin isopropyl ether, diethoxyxanthone, chloro-thio-xanthone, azo-bisisobutyronitrile, N-methyl diethanolaminebenzophenone, camphoquinone, peroxyester initiators, non-fluorene-carboxylic acid peroxyesters and mixtures thereof.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein the photoinitiator comprises a weight percentage of the uncured radiation-curable medium ranging from 0.1% to 10%.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the photoinitiator comprises a weight percentage of the uncured radiation-curable medium ranging from 2 to 6%.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the uncured radiation-curable medium includes a moisture cure catalyst.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the moisture cure catalyst comprises an organic compound of at least one of titanium, tin, zirconium, and combinations thereof.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the uncured radiation-curable medium includes an inorganic filler material.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the inorganic filler material comprises a silica.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the inorganic filler material comprises a color pigment.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the uncured radiation-curable medium includes a UV curable urethane acrylate.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying energy comprises:

applying said energy from an external energy source of the x-rays, gamma rays, or electron beam.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying energy comprises:

applying 10 to 150 keV x-rays to the uncured radiation-curable medium.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying energy comprises:

applying said energy from a directed or focused energy source.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein the energy modulation agent comprises luminescent particles distributed throughout the uncured medium whose emission cures the uncured medium throughout the medium.

35. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

filling a gap inside the object and curing the radiation-curable medium in the gap.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the gap is inside the object.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the object comprises at least one of a bottle cap, a prosthetic device, a concrete structure, and a storage tank.

38. The method of claim 1, wherein the disposing comprises pressure injecting said composition into said object to fill a gap inside the object.

39. The method of claim 1, wherein the curing the radiation-curable medium comprises closing a hole or a pathway in the object.

40. The method of claim 1, wherein the activating comprises adhering said first object to a second object.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the first object comprises a medical bottle cap and the second object comprises a seal material for the medical bottle cap.