ELECTROSTATIC CHARGING OF PLASTIC BIOIMPLANTS

Abstract

The development of medical techniques and wide use of new materials for bioimplantation were induced by the industrial application of the results of organic chemistry. Nowadays these new materials showing good chemical stability and good biocompatibility are used in routine microsurgery operations. However, after frequent ophthalmologic operations, the implantation of intraocular lenses (I0Ls), mild or rarely serious cellular reactions were observed around the I0L. This postoperative reaction called the author's attention to the electrostatic attitudes of intraocular lenses and other instruments. In order to determine the procedure how non-toxic implants made of highly insulating materials carry harmful contamination to the eye on their surface the electrostatic properties of the implant materials and the charging level of the implants were examined. Mathematical and physical models were created in order to examine both the charging phenomena and the precipitation.