Ethicon, Gmbh

David Wasserman

Yuzi Okuzumi

A Darline Mellon

Charles C Versfelt

Shalaby Wahba Shalaby

Dennis D Jamiolkowski

Michael P Wachter

Kevin L Cooper

Angelo G Scopelianos

Namassivaya Doddi

Dowon Hahn

Otis J Bouwsma

An improved process for preparing an aromatic polyanhydride is disclosed. The aromatic polyanhydride is prepared by reacting an aromatic dicarboxylic acid with an anhydride to form an anhydride prepolymer, isolating and purifying the prepolymer, and subjecting the prepolymer to melt polycondensation conditions. The improvement specifically relates to the purification of the acid so it is essentially free of impurities before it is reacted with the anhydride. The polymers prepared from the improved process have higher molecular weights than the molecular weights achieved from the prior art processes, and exhibit outstanding thermal stability and mechanical properties. This combination of properties allows the aromatic polyanhydrides to be melt processed to prepare numerous devices. In addition, these aromatic polyanhydrides are bioabsorbable, and this attribute in combination with its ability for melt processing makes the polyanhydrides particularly well-suited for the preparation of implantable surgical devices such as wound closure devices which are designed to absorb in the body when exposed to moist bodily tissue.

Aromatic polyanhydrides

An absorbable mesh material useful as a dental implant. The mesh is cut by lasers to afford smooth edges which will not unravel. The implant may be attached by a ligature or suture material, generally formed from the same material as the implant, and attached to the implant by, among other things, laser or ultrasonic welding or interweaving.

Dental inserts for treatment of periodontal disease

Drugs with active hydrogen containing groups are reacted with .alpha.-polyester homopolymers and copolymers to form compounds which slowly absorb and release the drug when implanted in animal tissue.

Absorbable polymer-drug compounds and method for making same

Relatively high molecular weight, fiber-forming, crystalline copolymers of lactide and glycolide are prepared in a two-stage polymerization process. In the first stage there is prepared a random copolymer of a major proportion of an optically active lactide with a minor proportion of glycolide or d,l-lactide. In the second stage, a major amount of glycolide and a minor amount of lactide monomers are admixed with the copolymer of the first stage and the polymerization resumed until there is obtained a high molecular weight addition copolymer of lactide and glycolide containing from about 50 to 75 wt percent of units derived from glycolide. The polymer is fiber-forming and useful in the preparation of absorbable surgical sutures.

Addition copolymers of lactide and glycolide and method of preparation

Synthetic absorbable sutures and other surgical devices are prepared from polymers of p-dioxanone and 1,4-dioxepan-2-one, and alkyl substituted derivatives thereof. Monofilament sutures of oriented fibers are characterized by good tensile and knot strength and a high level of flexibility and softness. The sutures have good in vivo strength retention and are slowly absorbed without significant tissue reaction.

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Springfield, NJ, United States of America

David Wasserman