Copolymer and Medical Device with the Copolymer

1 . A copolymer comprising a monomeric unit of one or more polymerizable polyols selected from the group consisting of polymerizable erythritol, xylitol and sorbitol; and a monomeric unit of one or more polymerizable carboxylic acids.

2 . The copolymer of claim 1 , wherein the polymerizable polyols are selected from the group consisting of erythritol(meth)acrylate, xylitol(meth)acrylate, sorbitol(meth)acrylate and derivatives thereof.

3 . The copolymer of claim 1 , wherein the polymerizable carboxylic acids are selected from the group consisting of (meth)acrylic acid, alkenoic acids and derivatives thereof.

4 . A medical device having a surface comprising a polymer coating, wherein the polymer coating comprises monomeric units of one or more polymerizable polyols selected from the group consisting of polymerizable erythritol, xylitol and sorbitol; and monomeric units of one or more polymerizable carboxylic acids.

5 . The medical device of claim 4 , wherein the polymerizable carboxylic acids are selected from the group consisting of (meth)acrylic acid, alkenoic acids and derivatives thereof.

6 . The medical device of claim 4 , wherein the polymerizable polyols are selected from the group consisting of erythritol(meth)acrylate, xylitol(meth)acrylate, sorbitol(meth)acrylate and derivatives thereof.

7 . The medical device of claim 4 , wherein the polymer coating is attached to the surface of the medical device through a linking compound, wherein the linking compound comprises; (a) a first functional group that interacts with a surface functional group of the medical device, and (b) a second functional group that interacts with a functional group of the polymer coating.

8 . The medical device of claim 4 , wherein the medical device has a dehydration rate of less than about 0.6 mg/minute.

9 . The medical device of claim 4 , wherein the medical device has a dehydration rate of less than about 0.58 mg/minute.

10 . The medical device of claim 4 , wherein the medical device has a contact angle of less than about 90 degrees.

11 . The medical device of claim 8 , wherein the medical device has a contact angle of less than about 70 degrees.

12 . The medical device of claim 9 , wherein the medical device has a contact angle of less than about 50 degrees.

13 . The medical device of claim 7 , wherein the medical device has a contact angle of less than about 50 degrees.

14 . The medical device of claim 4 , wherein the coating polymer provides an overall negative charge in a physiological environment.

15 . The medical device of claim 4 , wherein the polymer coating further comprises one or more hydrophilic monomeric units selected from the group consisting of neutral monomers, cationic monomers and ampholytic monomers.

16 . The medical device of claim 15 , wherein the neutral monomers are selected from the group consisting of N,N-dimethylacrylamide, N-vinylpyrrolidone, (meth)acrylamide, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate and glyceryl methacrylate.

17 . The medical device of claim 4 , wherein the medical device comprises a polysiloxane.

18 . The medical device of claim 17 , wherein the medical device is a contact lens.

19 . A medical device with a surface comprising a polymer coating that is attached to the surface, the polymer coating comprising monomeric units of one or more polymerizable polyols selected from the group consisting of erythritol(meth)acrylate, xylitol(meth)acrylate, sorbitol(meth)acrylate and derivatives thereof, and monomeric units of one or more polymerizable carboxylic acids, wherein the medical device has a dehydration rate of less than 0.58 mg/minute and a contact angle less than 50 degrees.

20 . The medical device of claim 19 , wherein the polymer coating is covalently attached to surface functional groups that are formed by plasma discharge or a corona discharge.

21 . The medical device of claim 19 , wherein the polymer coating is attached to the surface of the medical device through a linking compound, wherein the linking compound comprises; (a) a first functional group that interacts with a surface functional group of the medical device, and (b) a second functional group that interacts with a functional group of the polymer coating.

22 . A method for making a contact lens, the method comprising:

providing a surface of a contact lens with a plurality of surface functional groups;

contacting the surface with a coating composition, the coating composition comprising a copolymer with monomeric units of a polymerizable polyalcohol selected from one or more group consisting of polymerizable erythritol, xylitol, sorbitol and mixtures thereof; and monomeric units of a polymerizable carboxylic acid.

23 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising subjecting the surface of the contact lens in a plasma discharge or corona discharge to increase concentration of surface functional groups prior to the step of contacting the surface with the coating composition.