Methods of bonding or modifying hydrogels using irradiation
AssigneeZimmer, Inc.
InventorsBrian Thomas, Kai Zhang, Garryl Hudgins, Robert Hodorek
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This invention provides methods and processes to attach or bond hydrogels to suitable surfaces using irradiation techniques and also provides methods and processes to create crosslinked regions in hydrogel articles using these irradiation techniques. Specifically, lasers at wavelengths tuned to the irradiation absorption bands of hydroxyl groups, carboxylic acid groups or water may be used to attach or bond hydrogels to surfaces such as soft tissue and hydrogel surfaces or to crosslink regions in hydrogel articles.
Claims20
A method of bonding a hydrogel component to a surface, comprising:
- contacting the surface and the hydrogel component;
- and selectively irradiating a region at an interface of the hydrogel component and the surface using a laser emitting light at a wavelength in the range of 900 nm-1,600 nm, inclusive, to bond the hydrogel component to the surface.
A method of bonding, comprising shaping a hydrogel component to provide a hydrogel article configured for joint repair;
- contacting a surface and the hydrogel article;
- and selectively irradiating a region at an interface of the hydrogel article and the surface to bond the hydrogel article to the surface.
A method of making a cross-linked gradient in a hydrogel article using a layering process, the method comprising:
- selectively irradiating one or more predetermined reoions of a first hydrogel component in a first predetermined pattern to provide a first patterned layer;
- contacting the first patterned layer with a second layer of hydrogel component;
- and
- selectively irradiating one or more predetermined regions of the second layer of the hydrogel component in a second predetermined pattern that is the same or different than the first predetermined pattern;
- wherein the irradiated regions have a greater concentration of cross-linking than in one or more non-irradiated regions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.