Method for treating polymer materials and products produced therefrom

A method comprising the steps of:

• blending a resin of a polymer with an extrusion aid to form a paste;
• and
• treating said paste with a plasma energy to a sufficient degree that said treatment alters at least one of a porosity characteristic and a chemistry characteristic in articles fabricated from said paste.

A surgical implant comprising:

• a resin of an polymer that has been shaped to form the surgical implant and that has been plasma treated to impart at least one of a porosity characteristic, a permeability characteristic and a chemistry characteristic to said surgical implant.

A method for producing an improved polymer resin comprising:

• introducing a polymer resin comprising a plurality of particles into a chamber;
• and
• treating said resin with a plasma treatment while said resin is in the chamber.

A method for producing an improved blended paste from a polymer, said method comprising:

• blending a resin of the polymer with an extrusion aid to form said blended paste, and
• treating said blended paste with plasma treatment.

A vascular graft comprising a polymer component having been treated with plasma prior to expansion, wherein said plasma treatment effects at least one of a porosity characteristic, permeability characteristic, and a chemistry characteristic of said graft.

A diagnostic test strip comprising a polymer component having been treated with plasma prior to fabrication, wherein said plasma treatment effects at least one of a porosity characteristic, a permeability characteristic and a chemistry characteristic of said test strip.

An article of filtration comprising a polymer component having been treated with plasma prior to fabrication, wherein said plasma treatment effects at least one of a porosity characteristic, a permeability characteristic and a chemistry characteristic of said filtration article.