Method of producing medical instrument
A method of producing a medical instrument whereby a highly hydrophilic and lubricant coating layer having a high durability can be formed by a simple technique and thus highly hydrophilic and lubricant properties can be imparted to a surface of a medical instrument. An intraocular lens insertion instrument having been subjected to a surface treatment as described above is also provided. The method includes preparing a coating solution by mixing at least a water-insoluble polymer having carboxyl group and a polyfunctional reactive compound with an organic solvent; applying this solution on the surface of the medical instrument; conducting crosslinking; and performing a chemical reaction process. The coating layer is made hydrophilic. The intraocular lens insertion instrument is made hydrophilic by forming the coating layer as described above on an inner surface of an insertion tube portion, crosslinking and then performing the chemical reaction process.
1. A method of producing a medical instrument adapted to impart hydrophilicity and lubricity to a surface of the medical instrument by forming a coating layer on the medical instrument surface, comprising:
a coating solution preparation step in which at least a water-insoluble polymer with a carboxyl group which is selected from the group consisting of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate, hydroxylpropyl methycellulose succinate acetate, cellulose phthalate acetate, and mixtures thereof, and a polyfunctional reactive compound are dissolved in an organic solvent to obtain a coating solution;
an application step in which the coating solution is applied to the surface of the medical instrument to form the coating layer;
a crosslinking step in which the coating layer undergoes crosslinking; and
a chemical reaction step in which a chemical reaction process that is an alkali treatment is carried out to bring about hydrophilization of the crosslinked coating layer.
2. The method of producing the medical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the coating solution includes 0.1-10 parts by weight of the water-insoluble polymer with a carboxyl group, 0.01-5 parts by weight of the polyfunctional reactive compound, and 1-100 parts by weight of the organic solvent.
3. The method of producing the medical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the polyfunctional reactive compound is selected from the group consisting of isocyanates, epoxies, acid chlorides, acid anhydrides, triazines, active esters, and mixtures of these.
4. The method of producing the medical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the coating solution includes a surfactant.
5. The method of producing the medical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the application step further comprises the steps of, after applying the coating solution onto the surface of the medical instrument, suctioning the coating solution in order to spread out the coating solution in a layer over the surface of the medical instrument and to eliminate excess coating solution from the medical instrument surface.
6. The method of producing the medical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the application step further comprises the steps of, after applying the coating solution onto the surface of the medical instrument, rotating the medical instrument to subject the coating solution to centrifugal force in order to spread out the coating solution in a layer over the surface of the medical instrument and to eliminate excess coating solution from the medical instrument surface.
7. The method of producing the medical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the chemical reaction process in the chemical reaction step comprises a neutralization process.
8. The method of producing the medical instrument according to claim 1 , wherein the medical instrument comprises an intraocular lens insertion instrument.
9. An intraocular lens insertion instrument comprising:
an instrument body of generally tubular shape accommodating an intraocular lens set therein, and including an insertion tube portion disposed at an axial distal end section of the instrument body; and
a plunging member inserted into the instrument body from an axial rear and adapted to move the intraocular lens axially forward while inducing deformation of the lens to smaller size and plunging the lens into an eye through the insertion tube portion, wherein:
a surface of an interior of the insertion tube portion is imparted with hydrophilicity and lubricity by a coating layer formed thereon; and
the coating layer is composed of a crosslinked, chemically processed film produced by a coating solution preparation step in which at least a water-insoluble polymer with a carboxyl group which is selected from the group consisting of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose phthalate, hydroxylpropyl methycellulose succinate acetate, cellulose phthalate acetate, and mixtures thereof, and a polyfunctional reactive compound are dissolved in an organic solvent to obtain a coating solution; an application step in which the coating solution is applied to the surface of the instrument to form the coating layer; a crosslinking step in which the coating layer undergoes crosslinking; and a chemical reaction step in which a chemical reaction process that is an alkali treatment is carried out to bring about hydrophilization of the crosslinked coating layer.