Keywords
Citation
Rigelsford, J. (2004), "Haptic Materials", Sensor Review, Vol. 24 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/sr.2004.08724aad.014
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2004, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Haptic Materials
Haptic Materials
Applicant: Biogeneral, Inc., USAPatent number: US6,610,398Publication date: 26 August 2003Title: Haptic materials and process for preparation
Keywords: Patents, Haptics, Fibre
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for making fibres and for providing fibres useful as haptics for intraocular lenses (IOL). The patent describes a process to form a fibre comprising a polymer from the class of amorphous thermoplastics with a glass transition temperature sufficiently above temperatures used in standard sterilization techniques. Such a high glass transition temperature provides adequate thermomechanical stability during standard steam sterilization and dry heat sterilization. Therefore, the haptics made of the thermoplastics described do not relax and lose their critical form during heat sterilization. Suitable thermoplastics include polymers such as polyether sulfone (PES), polysulfone (PSU), polyetherimide (PEI), polyphenylene sulfone (PPSU) or related materials. These fibres offer improved durability and toughness for use as haptics in IOL. Stresses imposed during implantation of an IOL impose significant breakage risks on haptics and so high strength and flexibility are also major considerations in the preparation of haptic materials.