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US 5,705,780 AGranted
Dehydration of hydrogels
AssigneeHowmedica, Inc.
InventorQi-Bin Bao
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AssigneeHowmedica, Inc.
InventorQi-Bin Bao
Estimating the term…
A method of dehydration of bulky hydrogel samples of polyvinyl alcohol (i.e., PVA) and a method of preparation of prosthetic nuclei for vertebral discs are given. A method of gamma irradiation sterilization of PVA gel samples which does not incur the side effects of discoloration and of increased crystallinity (i.e., further reduction of water content) is also given. A method of dehydrating bulky hydrogel samples of polyvinyl alcohol (i.e., PVA) so that no significant distortion in the samples results, comprises: (a) subjecting the sample to a solvent system comprising at least one organic solvent which (1) has a solubility for PVA which is less than the solubility of water for PVA and (2) is miscible with water for a length of time generally from about 2 to about 10 days so that the dehydration rate of the hydrogel samples is sufficiently slow so as not to cause any distortions on the dehydrated samples.
A method of dehydrating a bulky hydrogel sample of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) so that no significant distortion in the sample results, said method comprising subjecting said bulky hydrogel sample which has already been formed to a solvent system comprising at least one organic solvent
A method of dehydrating a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel sample so as to preserve the original shape of said sample and so as to preserve the rehydration capability of said sample, that is, the ability of the sample to return to its original water content and thus not to have its crystallinity affected, said method comprising
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.