1. A lens for primarily forward distribution of light from a light emitter having an emitter axis, comprising:
a base surface adjacent the emitter and forming a light-entrance opening;
an inner surface defining a light-receiving cavity and including front and back regions extending from the light-entrance opening to an innermost region of the cavity; and
an outer surface including front and back regions adjoined by a middle region, the back region of the outer surface comprising a back portion which extends in a direction away from the base surface to a distal end from positions which are closer to the base surface than the innermost cavity region, the back portion of the outer surface being configured for forward total internal reflection (TIR) of rearward light received from the inner surface.
2. The lens of claim 1 wherein the distal end of the back surface portion is at positions closer to the base surface than outermost positions of the front region of the outer surface.
3. The lens of claim 1 wherein the back region comprises a minor forward portion extending from the distal end toward the emitter to adjoining the middle region, the minor forward portion positioned for receiving light reflected from the back portion.
4. The lens of claim 3 wherein the minor forward portion is configured for refraction of the received light in a desired direction.
5. The lens of claim 3 wherein the distal end of the back surface portion is at positions closer to the base surface than outermost positions of the front region of the outer surface.
6. The lens of claim 1 wherein the back portion of the back region is disposed in a recess defined by the middle region.
7. The lens of claim 1 wherein the emitter axis is no farther from the back portion of the outer surface than from rearmost positions of the light-entrance opening along the back region of the inner surface.
8. The lens of claim 7 wherein the back region of the inner surface has a substantially smooth concave configuration.
9. The lens of claim 7 wherein the distal end of the back surface portion is at positions closer to the base surface than outermost positions of the front region of the outer surface.
10. The lens of claim 1 wherein the light emitter comprises at least one LED enclosed by a primary lens which has an outer surface shaped for primarily forward refraction of light from the at least one LED.
11. A lens for primarily forward distribution of light from a light emitter which has an emitter axis in a front-to-back centerplane, comprising:
a base surface adjacent the emitter and forming a light-entrance opening;
an inner surface defining a light-receiving cavity and including front and back regions extending from the light-entrance opening;
an outer surface including front and back regions adjoined by a middle region, the back region of the outer surface comprising a back portion which extends transverse the front-to-back centerplane in a direction away from the base surface and terminates laterally at positions which are closer to the front-to-back centerplane than lateral edges of the light-entrance opening, the back portion being configured for forward total internal reflection (TIR) of rearward light received from the inner surface.
12. The lens of claim 11 wherein lateral positions of the outer-surface front region are farther from the front-to-back centerplane than lateral positions of the outer-surface middle and back regions.
13. The lens of claim 11 wherein, in the front-to-back centerplane, the emitter axis is no farther from the back portion of the outer surface than from a back edge of the light-entrance opening.
14. The lens of claim 13 wherein the light-entrance opening is substantially circular.
15. The lens of claim 13 wherein the light emitter comprises at least one LED enclosed by a primary lens which has an outer surface shaped for primarily forward refraction of light from the at least one LED.
16. The lens of claim 15 wherein the outer surface of the primary lens is asymmetric in planes substantially parallel to the front-to-back centerplane.
17. A lens for primarily forward distribution of light from a light emitter which has an emitter axis in a front-to-back centerplane, comprising:
a base surface adjacent the emitter and forming a light-entrance opening;
an inner surface defining a light-receiving cavity and including front and back regions extending from the light-entrance opening;
an outer surface including front and back regions adjoined by a middle region, the back region of the outer surface comprising a back portion which extends transverse the front-to-back centerplane away from the base surface such that, in the front-to-back centerplane, the emitter axis is no farther from the back portion of the outer surface than from a back edge of the light-entrance opening, the back portion being configured for forward total internal reflection (TIR) of rearward light received from the inner surface.
18. The lens of claim 17 wherein the light emitter comprises at least one LED enclosed by a primary lens which has an outer surface shaped for primarily forward refraction of light from the at least one LED.
19. The lens of claim 18 wherein the outer surface of the primary lens is asymmetric in planes substantially parallel to the front-to-back centerplane.
20. The lens of claim 19 wherein the back region of the inner surface has a substantially smooth cross-sectionally concave configuration.
21. The lens of claim 20 wherein:
the front region of the inner surface is substantially cross-sectionally convex along the light-entrance opening into the light-receiving cavity; and
the light-entrance opening is substantially circular.
22. The lens of claim 21 wherein the inner surface is substantially smooth.
23. The lens of claim 17 wherein lateral positions of the front region are farther from the front-to-back centerplane than lateral positions of the middle and back regions.
24. The lens of claim 23 wherein the back region comprises a distal end with the back portion extending rearwardly therefrom toward the base surface, the distal end being closer to the base surface than outermost positions of the front region.
25. The lens of claim 24 wherein the back region comprises a minor forward portion extending forwardly from the distal end to adjoining the middle region, the minor forward portion being positioned for receiving light reflected from the back portion and refracting the received light in a desired direction.
26. The lens of claim 25 wherein the front and middle regions of the outer surface have a substantially smooth configuration.
27. The lens of claim 17 further comprising a peripheral region extending radially outwardly from the light-entrance opening and including the base surface.
28. The lens of claim 27 wherein the peripheral region comprises a flange extending radially away from the outer surface.
29. A lens for primarily forward distribution of light from a light emitter which has an emitter axis in a front-to-back centerplane, comprising:
a base surface adjacent the emitter and forming a light-entrance opening;
an inner surface defining a light-receiving cavity and including front and back regions extending from the light-entrance opening to an innermost region of the cavity; and
an outer surface including front and back regions adjoined by a middle region, the back region of the outer surface comprising a back portion extending in a direction away from the base surface and terminates with a distal end which is closer to the base surface than outermost positions of the outer-surface front region, the back portion being configured for forward total internal reflection (TIR) of rearward light received from the inner surface.
30. The lens of claim 29 wherein:
the back region of the outer surface comprises a minor forward portion positioned for receiving and refracting light reflected from the back portion, the minor forward portion extending from the distal end to adjoin the middle region; and
the front and middle regions of the outer surface are smoothly adjoined and each have a substantially smooth configuration.
31. The lens of claim 29 wherein the back portion of the outer surface terminates laterally at positions closer to the front-to-back centerplane than lateral edges of the light-entrance opening.
32. The lens of claim 31 wherein lateral positions of the front region are farther from the front-to-back centerplane than lateral positions of the middle and back regions.
33. The lens of claim 32 wherein, in the front-to-back centerplane, the emitter axis is no farther from the back portion of the outer surface than from a back edge of the light-entrance opening.
34. The lens of claim 33 wherein the light emitter comprises at least one LED enclosed by a primary lens which has an outer surface shaped for primarily forward refraction of light from the at least one LED.
35. The lens of claim 34 wherein:
the back region of the inner surface has a substantially smooth cross-sectionally concave configuration;
the front region of the inner surface is a substantially cross-sectionally convex along the light-entrance opening into the light-receiving cavity.
36. The lens of claim 35 wherein:
the light-entrance opening is substantially circular; and
the inner surface is substantially smooth.
37. A lens for primarily forward distribution of light from a light emitter which has an emitter axis in a front-to-back centerplane, comprising:
a base surface adjacent the emitter and forming a light-entrance opening;
an inner surface defining a light-receiving cavity and including front and back inner-surface regions extending from the light-entrance opening;
an outer surface including front and back regions adjoined by a middle region, the back region of the outer surface comprising a back portion extending transverse the front-to-back centerplane and terminates laterally at positions which are closer to the front-to-back centerplane than lateral positions of the front region of the outer surface, the back portion being configured for forward total internal reflection (TIR) of rearward light received from the inner surface.
38. The lens of claim 37 wherein lateral positions of the outer-surface front region are farther from the front-to-back centerplane than lateral positions of the outer-surface middle and back regions.
39. The lens of claim 37 wherein, in the front-to-back centerplane, the emitter axis is no farther from the back portion of the outer surface than from a back edge of the light-entrance opening.
40. The lens of claim 39 wherein the light-entrance opening is substantially circular.
41. The lens of claim 39 wherein the light emitter comprises at least one LED enclosed by a primary lens which has an outer surface shaped for primarily forward refraction of light from the at least one LED.
42. The lens of claim 41 wherein the outer surface of the primary lens is asymmetric in planes substantially parallel to the front-to-back centerplane.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. A method for preventing the formation of fibrin and the activation and adhesion of platelets on the surface of a medical device, comprising the steps of:
coating at least a portion of the medical device with a substrate comprised of one of titanium or titanium alloy; and
immersing the coated portion of the medical device in an alkaline solution to form a porous layer of alkaline titanate on the surface of said substrate, said porous layer having an irregular pore structure.
2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said porous layer comprises a gelatinous layer.
3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said medical device has a complex shape.
4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said alkaline solution comprises an aqueous solution containing at least one of sodium ions, potassium ions, and calcium ions.
5. A method in accordance with claim 4, wherein said molar concentration of said alkaline solution is between 0.1 to 15.0 mol.
6. A method in accordance with claim 4, wherein said alkaline solution is heated to a temperature of between 10 and 95 C.
7. A method in accordance with claim 4, wherein said coated portion is immersed in said alkaline solution for a period of time between one hour to one week.
8. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:
heating the substrate to a temperature not higher than 882 C. after said immersing step.
9. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein said substrate is heated for a period of time between one to twenty-four hours at a temperature between 300 C. to 800 C.
10. A method in accordance with claim 8, further comprising:
precipitating calcium phosphate on said porous layer by immersing the coated portion of the medical device in a pseudo body fluid.
11. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:
precipitating calcium phosphate on said porous layer by immersing the coated portion of the medical device in a pseudo body fluid.
12. A method in accordance with claim 11, wherein said pseudo body fluid has a pH of between 7.0 and 7.5.
13. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said medical device comprises a medical instrument.
14. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said medical device is an implantable device.
15. A method in accordance with claim 14, wherin said implantable device comprises one of a stent, a prosthetic valve, a blood pump, an artificial heart, or a pacemaker.
16. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein a contact area of the porous layer is smaller than a surface area of the substrate.
17. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said layer of alkaline titanate exists in at least one of a gelatinous state, an amorphous state, or a crystalline state on the surface of said substrate.
18. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein an average pore size of said porous layer is less than 1 m.