Removal of vaporizable components from polymeric products
AssigneeUnited States Surgical Corporation
InventorsMatthew Hain, Michael P. Chesterfield
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for removing vaporizable components from polymeric products effects uniform distribution of heat over such products contained within a chamber. The apparatus includes a heated chamber having support means for supporting the products within the chamber. Omnidirectional multi-point gas dispersion means located within the chamber uniformly disperse heated gas over the product. The vaporizable components are evacuated from the chamber along with the gas. The product can be rotated during treatment to ensure uniform exposure of the product to heat and gas.
Claims39
An apparatus for removing vaporizable components of polymeric material by a gas carrier, said apparatus comprising:
- a chamber;
- support means for supporting polymeric materials within said chamber;
- multi-point gas dispersion means in communication with said chamber;
- a heating element for heating gas that flows through said multi-point gas dispersion means;
- means for establishing and maintaining pressure in said chamber below outside atmospheric pressure;
- and
- means for evacuating said chamber.
A method for removing impurities from polymeric materials comprising:
- (i) enclosing polymeric material in a chamber;
- (ii) reducing pressure in said chamber to below outside atmospheric pressure;
- (iii) heating a gas;
- (iv) delivering and dispersing the heated gas in the chamber via an omnidirectional multi-point source gas dispersion means while maintaining said pressure below outside atmospheric pressure;
- (v) contacting the polymeric material with the heated gas;
- (vi) vaporizing vaporizable components contained by the polymeric material;
- and
- (vii) creating a continuous flow of a gas by transporting the vaporized components out of the chamber while delivering and dispersing the heated gas in the chamber per step (iv) above.
A method for removing vaporizable impurities from bioabsorbable polymeric materials comprising:
- (i) providing a bioabsorbable polymeric material;
- (ii) enclosing said bioabsorbable polymeric material in a chamber;
- (iii) causing gas to flow into the chamber through multi-port source gas dispersion means;
- (iv) contacting said bioabsorbable polymeric material with said gas;
- (v) vaporizing vaporizable components contained by said bioabsorbable polymeric material;
- and
- (vi) transporting said vaporizable components out of the chamber.
A method for removing vaporizable impurities from bioabsorbable polymeric materials comprising:
- (i) providing at least one spool;
- (ii) disposing a bioabsorbable polymeric material on said at least one spool;
- (iii) providing a chamber having at least one rotatable support member and at least one multiport source gas dispersion means;
- (iv) placing said at least one spool having said bioabsorbable polymeric material disposed thereon on said at least one rotatable support member in said chamber;
- (v) causing gas to flow from said at least one multiport source gas dispersion means;
- (vi) contacting said bioabsorbable polymeric material with said gas;
- (vii) vaporizing vaporizable components contained by said bioabsorbable polymeric material;
- and
- (viii) transporting said vaporized components out of the chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.