Pharmacia Ab

Pharmacia & Upjohn Ab

Hanover Catalog Holdings, Inc.

Hanover Direct, Inc.

Pharmacia Iovision, Inc.

Advanced Medical Optics Uppsala Ab

Amo Uppsala Ab

Yading Wang

Stephen Q Zhou

Robert Van Boxtel

Peter D Rimback

James F Vidmar

Robert S Rheinish

Xiugao Liao

A process for forming a surface modification on a polymer substrate and polymer substrates having such surface modifications. The process comprises the steps of absorbing a swelling monomer into the polymer substrate for a period of time in order to swell the polymer substrate; removing the swollen polymer from the swelling monomer; transferring the swollen polymer to a reaction mixture containing at least one functional monomer; polymerizing the functional monomer in the reaction mixture containing the swollen polymer substrate for a period of time; and removing the polymer from the reaction mixture. Because the surface modification produced by the process is a surface interpenetrating polymer network, the process is not sensitive to the reactive groups located on the surface of the polymer substrate. Further, the surface interpenetrating network bonds to the polymer substrate through caternary connections or other forms of chain entanglement and this is quite stable. Polymer substrates having the surface modification of the present invention are capable of having a surface modification agent, such as heparin, adhere to the surface of the polymer substrate.

Process for the modification of elastomers with surface interpenetrating polymer networks and elastomers formed therefrom

A serving utensil, which in a preferred embodiment is in the form of an ice cream scoop that can be heated in a conventional or home microwave oven to facilitate scooping a frozen confection from a container. The serving utensil includes bowl portion formed from a substantially rigid material that becomes heated when subjected to microwave radiation in a conventional microwave oven and handle portion, attached to the bowl portion, formed from a substantially rigid material that substantially restricts the absorption of microwave energy. The handle portion includes a recess in its upper side approximate the bowl portion adapted to receive a user's thumb therein and a transverse groove in its underside, longitudinally aligned with the recess and adapted to receive a user's index finger therein. The handle portion also preferably includes a substantially longitudinally-extending bore extending its forward end, and the bowl portion includes a plug received within and bonded to the longitudinally-extending bore of the handle portion, thereby improving the durability of the attachment between the handle portion and the bowl portion. The plug extending from handle portion preferably includes a plurality of radially extending ribs which increase the surface area of the plug, thereby facilitating a better bond between the bowl portion and the handle portion and also improving heat dissipation from the bowl portion into the handle portion. In use, the utensil is placed within a microwave oven and subjected to microwave energy for a predetermined period of time. Because only the bowl portion includes microwave absorbing material, only the bowl portion will become heated. Once the heating process is finished, the utensil can be removed from the oven by its relatively cool handle portion and used to serve ice cream easily and efficiently because the heated portion softens the ice cream it contacts, thus facilitating the scooping action with enhanced lubrication and reduced force.

Microwave heated serving utensil

A process for forming a surface modification on a polymer substrate and polymer substrates having such surface modifications. The process comprises the steps of absorbing a swelling monomer into the polymer substrate for a period of time in order to swell the polymer substrate; removing the swollen polymer from the swelling monomer; transferring the swollen polymer to a reaction mixture containing at least one functional monomer; polymerizing the functional monomer in the reaction mixture containing the swollen polymer substrate for a period of time; and removing the polymer from the reaction mixture. Because the surface modification produced by the process is a surface interpenetrating polymer network, the process is not sensitive to the reactive groups located on the surface of the polymer substrate. Further, the surface interpenetrating network bonds to the polymer substrate through caternary connections or other forms of chain entanglement and thus is quite stable. Polymer substrates having the surface modification of the present invention are capable of having a surface modification agent, such as heparin, adhere to the surface of the polymer substrate.

A method for serving a frozen confection includes the steps of: (a) providing a utensil including a bowl portion formed from a substantially rigid material that becomes heated when subjected to microwave radiation in a conventional microwave oven and including a handle portion attached to the bowl portion, formed from a substantially rigid material that substantially restricts the absorption of microwave energy; (b) subjecting the utensil to microwave energy for a predetermined period of time, so that the bowl portion becomes heated; and (c) manually gripping the handle portion of the utensil to scoop the frozen confection with the heated bowl portion.

Process for the modification of elastomers with surface interpreting

Novel biocompatible, high strength hydrogels useful in intraocular lenses are provided which are optically transparent, have high refractive indices and possess long term stability. The hydrogels are prepared from cross-linked copolymers of N-benzyl-N-methylacrylamide.

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Mission Viejo, CA, United States of America

Yading Wang