| abstract |
A method for pretreating the surface of a medical device, and of applying a polymer coating, in order to apply a biological coating in a further step, uses the plasma polymerization technique or the plasma grafting technique. A functional monomer, i.e. a monomer with a functional group, or a mixture of a pure monomer and a substance able to provide the required functional groups under spark discharge or under the influence of charge carriers, results in a polymer coating with free functional groups, which may react with the biological coating, thus providing optimum adhesion of the biological coating. The process is carried out in a pressure-tight chamber (39) with an inlet (48) for the functional monomer under low pressure and electromagnetic radiation provided by a radiation source (45). |