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US 5,234,538 AGranted
Process for producing polymer film filters
AssigneeOxyphen AG
InventorHans B. Luck
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Polymer filter film for which pores are etched along beam tracks only in a first, porous region (P1), and which has a second, impermeable region (R1), in particular in the form of a peripheral region. The peripheral region (R1) is made etch-resistant by a heat treatment of the beam tracks. Advantageous embodiments of the method are used to produce microchambers in the film for holding a cell culture. They can advantageously be used for enzymatic sensors and microbiological reactors.
Claims14
A process for producing a polymer film filter comprising;
- exposing a polymer film to penetrating irradiation in a first region which penetrates the polymer film and thereby generates continuous beam tracks in it,
- selectively heating a second region of the polymer film to a temperature above the glass transition temperature and below the melting temperature of the polymer film for a time sufficient to make the second region etch-resistant, and
- etching the beam tracks to widen them and obtain filter pores.
An apparatus for heat treating a previously irradiated polymer film comprising;
- a polymer film unwinder and a polymer film winder in between which are disposed a driven roller and two contact rollers spaced apart circumferentially from the driven roller,
- the rollers being so disposed that the polymer film is wrapped partway around the driven roller,
- wherein a circumferential surface of the driven roller contains a raised mask structure and a heating means for heating the driver roller to a temperature which is above the glass transition temperature and below the melting temperature of the polymer film.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.