# US 12,036,340 B2 · Medical devices and instruments with non-coated superhydrophobic or superoleophobic surfaces > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,036,340 B2 - Document ID: US12036340B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/194,270 - Filed: 2021-03-07 - Published: 2021-07-15 - Granted: 2024-07-16 - Earliest claimed: 2013-08-07 - Applicants: Tarek Hassan; Tushar M. Ranchod - Inventors: Tarek Hassan; Tushar M. Ranchod - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12036340B2 ## CPC - A61L 31/14: Materials characterised by their function or physical properties {, e.g. injectable or lubricating compositions, shape-memory materials, surface modified materials} - A61L 27/50: Materials characterised by their function or physical properties {, e.g. injectable or lubricating compositions, shape-memory materials, surface modified materials} - B23K 15/0006: {specially adapted for particular articles or work} - B23K 15/08: Removing material, e.g. by cutting, by hole drilling - B23K 26/0006: {taking account of the properties of the material involved (B23K26/32, B23K26/40 take precedence)} - B23K 26/355: {Texturing} - B29C 59/14: by plasma treatment {(plasma tubes per se H01J)} - B29C 59/16: by wave energy or particle radiation {, e.g. infrared heating (B29C59/007 takes precedence)} - C04B 41/91: involving the removal of part of the materials of the treated articles, e.g. etching - A61L 2400/18: Modification of implant surfaces in order to improve biocompatibility, cell growth, fixation of biomolecules, e.g. plasma treatment - B23K 2103/05: {Stainless steel} - B23K 2103/08: Non-ferrous metals or alloys - B23K 2103/26: {Alloys of Nickel and Cobalt and Chromium} - B23K 2103/50: {Inorganic materials other than metals or composite materials} - B29C 2791/009: Using laser - B29K 2995/0092: hydrophilic - B29K 2995/0093: hydrophobic - B29L 2031/753: {Medical equipment; Accessories therefor (bloodbags, medical bags B29L2031/7148; artificial eyes B29L2011/0008)} - C04B 2111/00025: {Aspects relating to the protection of the health, e.g. materials containing special additives to afford skin protection} - Y10T 428/24: Structurally defined web or sheet [e.g., overall dimension, etc.] - Y10T 428/24355: Continuous and nonuniform or irregular surface on layer or component [e.g., roofing, etc.] - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - C04B: LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE {(roofing granules E04D7/005)}; CERAMICS (devitrified glass-ceramics C03C10/00); REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Device surfaces are rendered superhydrophobic and/or superoleophobic through microstructures and/or nanostructures that utilize the same base material(s) as the device itself without the need for coatings made from different materials or substances. A medical device includes a portion made from a base material having a surface adapted for contact with biological material, and wherein the surface is modified to become superhydrophobic, superoleophobic, or both, using only the base material, excluding non-material coatings. The surface may be modified using a subtractive process, an additive process, or a combination thereof. The product of the process may form part of an implantable device or a medical instrument, including a medical device or instrument associated with an intraocular procedure. The surface may be modified to include micrometer- or nanometer-sized pillars, posts, pits or cavitations; hierarchical structures having asperities; or posts/pillars with caps having dimensions greater than the diameters of the posts or pillars. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of producing a medical device, comprising: providing a body composed of a base material, the body having a distal end configured for insertion into a body cavity; and adapting a surface of the body disposed at the distal end to repel a biological material via modifying the surface to be at least one of superhydrophobic and superoleophobic using only the base material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the distal end of the body is adapted for intraocular insertion; the biological material is intraocular vitreous material; and the medical device is one of an intraocular scissors, a vitrectomy probe, and an intraocular forceps. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the base material includes at least one of a metal, a ceramic, and a plastic. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the surface is modified to be at least one of superhydrophobic and superoleophobic via at least one of e-beam lithography, laser etching, a subtractive process, and an additive process. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising sharpening at least one edge of the body disposed at the distal end after modifying the surface to be at least one of superhydrophobic and superoleophobic. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the surface includes providing the surface with a plurality of structures that are made only from the base material and that are at least one of micrometer-sized and nanometer-sized. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of structures include at least one of: one or more pillars; one or more posts; one or more pits; one or more cavitations; and one or more hierarchical structures having a plurality of asperities. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein: the plurality of structures include a plurality of posts or pillars having diameters; modifying the surface includes forming a plurality of upper caps on the plurality of posts or pillars; and each upper cap of the plurality of upper caps has a respective diameter that is greater than a diameter of an associated post or pillar of the plurality of posts or pillars. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein one of: at least a portion of the body is an elongated shaft; and the method further includes forming at least a portion of the body into an elongated shaft. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising securing the body to a handle configured for grasping by a user. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein one of: at least a portion of the body is an elongated shaft; and the method further includes forming at least a portion of the body into an elongated shaft. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the surface includes: providing the surface with a plurality of pillars that are made only from the base material and that are at least one of micrometer-sized and nanometer-sized; and after providing the surface with the plurality of pillars, producing a plurality of asperities on the plurality of pillars via chemical etching. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein a thickness of the plurality of asperities is 0.01 to 0.5 times a nominal thickness of the plurality of pillars. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: modifying the surface includes providing the surface with a plurality of pillars that are made only from the base material and that are at least one of micrometer-sized and nanometer-sized; and the plurality of pillars are disposed spaced apart from one another such that a distance between adjacent pillars of the plurality of pillars is 1 to 3 times greater than a diameter of the plurality of pillars. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: modifying the surface includes providing the surface with a plurality of pillars that are made only from the base material and that are at least one of micrometer-sized and nanometer-sized; the plurality of pillars each have a respective pillar diameter and a respective pillar height; and the respective pillar height is equal to or greater than the respective pillar diameter. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the respective pillar height is 2 to 4 times larger than the respective pillar diameter. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the respective pillar diameter is 10 microns or less. ### Claim 18 A method of producing a medical instrument for performing an intraocular procedure, comprising: providing an elongated shaft composed of a base material, the shaft having a distal end configured for intraocular insertion; adapting a surface of the shaft disposed at the distal end to repel a biological intraocular vitreous material via modifying the surface to be at least one of superhydrophobic and superoleophobic using only the base material; wherein modifying the surface includes providing the surface with at least one of a plurality of structures and a plurality of patterns made only from the base material and that are at least one of micrometer-sized and nanometer-sized. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the medical instrument includes: a proximal portion configured for grasping by a user; and a distal portion including the elongated shaft. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising: providing a handle configured for grasping by a user; and securing the elongated shaft and the handle together.