Ethicon, Gmbh

Other

Brian M Kelly

Dennis D Jamiolkowski

Sasa Andjelic

Christopher DeFelice

Daniel Steiger

Marc Wisnudel

Rao S Bezwada

Gaoyuan Gavin Chen

Hugh D Newman, Jr

Modesto Erneta

Christopher Defelice

Hugh D Newman

Novel surgical sutures and novel medical devices made from novel semi-crystalline, glycolide-rich A-B-A triblock copolymers of glycolide and lactide, wherein said B-segment is a fully amorphous random copolymer of glycolide and lactide, for long term medical applications are disclosed. The novel polymer compositions are useful for long term absorbable surgical sutures, meshes and other medical devices, especially for patients with compromised healing. The novel sutures have improved properties and improved breaking strength retention, while still substantially absorbing within about a 120-day period post-implantation.

Readily absorbable copolymer compositions for high strength sutures having enhanced strength retention post-implantation

The present invention is directed methods of making absorbable poly(p-dioxanone) pellets by melt polymerization of p-dioxanone conducted in a single reactor with a temperature regulator by charging a melt reactor with a mixture of p-dioxanone (PDO) monomer, initiator, catalyst, and optionally a dye; melt polymerizing the mixture in the melt reactor with sufficient agitation of the mixture to allow complete mixing of the monomer and for sufficient time to form a PDO polymer product having an unreacted PDO monomer content of at least 65 mole percent; placing the PDO polymer product under a vacuum to remove at least portion of unreacted PDO; discharging the PDO polymer product from the melt reactor directly into an in-line, underwater pelletizer to produce undried PDO pellets, collecting the undried PDO pellets, and storing the collected PDO pellets in the freezer or a vacuum chamber prior to drying.

Advanced processing of absorbable poly(p-dioxanone) containing high level of p-dioxanone monomer

Novel absorbable polymeric blends are disclosed. The blends have a first absorbable polymer type that is a polylactide polymer or a copolymer of lactide and glycolide and a second absorbable polymer type that is poly(p-dioxanone), wherein the first absorbable polymer type or the second absorbable polymer type or the first absorbable polymer type and the second absorbable polymer type additionally comprise a first polymeric component and a second polymeric component. The first polymeric component has a higher weight average molecular weight than the second polymeric component and at least one of said components is at least partially end-capped by a carboxylic acid. The novel polymeric blends are useful for manufacturing medical devices having dimensional stability, having engineered degradation and breaking strength retention in vivo. Also disclosed are novel absorbable medical devices made from these novel polymer blends, as well as novel methods of manufacture.

Absorbable polymeric blend compositions with precisely controllable absorption rates, processing methods, and dimensionally stable medical devices therefrom

Novel bioabsorbable polymeric blends are disclosed. The blends have a first component that is a polylactide polymer or a copolymer of lactide and glycolide and a second component that is poly(p-dioxanone) polymer. The novel polymeric blends provide medical devices having dimensional stability. Also disclosed are novel bioabsorbable medical devices made from these novel polymer blends, as well as novel methods of manufacture.

Bioabsorbable polymeric compositions, processing methods, and medical devices therefrom

Novel absorbable polymeric blends made from components wherein at least one of the components is synthesized using mixtures of mono- and di-functional initiators are disclosed. The blends have a first component that is a polylactide polymer or a copolymer of lactide and glycolide and a second component that is either poly(p-dioxanone) homopolymer, or a poly(p-dioxanone-co-glycolide) copolymer. The novel polymeric blends provide medical devices having dimensional stability. Also disclosed are novel absorbable medical devices made from these novel polymer blends, as well as novel methods of manufacture.

Absorbable polymeric blend compositions based on copolymers prepared from mono- and di-functional polymerization initiators, processing methods, and medical devices therefrom

Novel absorbable polymeric blends having bimodal molecular weight distribution are disclosed. The bimodal blends have a first component that is a polylactide polymer or a copolymer of lactide and glycolide having a bimodal molecular weight distribution, and a second component that is a poly(p-dioxanone) polymer of unimodal or bimodal molecular weight distribution. Alternately, the bimodal blends have a first component that is a polylactide polymer or a copolymer of lactide and glycolide having a unimodal molecular weight distribution, and a second component that is a poly(p-dioxanone) polymer of bimodal molecular weight distribution. The novel polymeric bimodal molecular weight blends provide medical devices having improved dimensional stability. Also disclosed are novel absorbable medical devices made from these novel bimodal polymer blends, as well as novel methods of manufacture.

Absorbable bimodal polymeric blend compositions, processing methods, and medical devices

The present invention is directed to a process for making an absorbable polylactone copolymer prepared in part from about 2 to about 80 mole percent glycolide, which process utilizes a combination of a monofunctional polymerization initiator and a di-functional polymerization initiator, to achieve rates of crystallization of the copolymer of at least about 2 times faster than the rate of crystallization of a copolymer made by a similar process utilizing either the mono-functional or the di-functional polymerization initiator alone. Absorbable polylactone copolymers prepared by such processes and medical devices containing such copolymers are also disclosed.

Polymerization process using mono-and di-functional initiators to prepare fast crystallizing polylactone copolymers

The present invention is directed to absorbable polylactone copolymers prepared in part from about 2 to about 80 mole percent glycolide, utilizing a combination of a monofunctional polymerization initiator and a di-functional polymerization initiator, to achieve rates of crystallization of the copolymer of at least about 2 times faster than the rate of crystallization of a copolymer made by a similar process utilizing either the mono-functional or the di-functional polymerization initiator alone. Medical devices containing such copolymers are also disclosed.

Crystallizable polylactone copolymers prepared from mono- and di-functional polymerization initiators

An apparatus for dispersing substances into one another by subjecting them to shear forces between a rotating platen and a stationary or counter-rotating platen which have opposed work surfaces interfaced and forced toward engagement with one another. An oriface leads through one platen to the other platen. A pump forces an agglomerate of substances through the channel and radially outwardly between the platens during relative rotation of the platens. The agglomerate is subjected to shear forces as it moves radially outwardly between the platens to disperse the substances to one another. The mutually dispersed substances emit at the periphery of the platens and are collected in a trough. The pressure developed by the pump and the force directing the platens toward engagement with one another are opposed and coordinated to control the thickness of the agglomerate between the platens in conjunction with control of the speed of relative rotation between the platens -- to achieve desired shear forces in agglomerates of various types.

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Ringoes, NJ, United States of America

Brian M Kelly