United States Surgical Corporation

Other

Donald S Kaplan

Ross R Muth

Matthew E Hermes

John J Kennedy

David L Brown

Henry A Holzwarth

Steven L Bennett

John Matthew Kennedy

Ilya S Koyfman

Cheng-Kung Liu

Michael P Chesterfield

Nagabhushanam Totakura

Corbett W Stone

Mark S Roby

Herbert W Korthoff

Thomas W Sander

Keith Raymond D'Alessio

Darren E Zinner

Elliot A Gruskin

Synthetic absorbable sutures are filled with a stabilizing agent, preferably a mixture of glycerol and calcium lactate, and inserted into a retainer having a narrow convoluted passageway. The retainer is inserted into an open foil pouch with a package stabilizing element such as a paper sheet filled with stabilizing agent. The package containing the suture, retainer and package stabilizing element is sterilized, aerated, equilibrated to a relatively high moisture level, and sealed. Long lengths of suture and doubled-over and tripled-over suture may be withdrawn from the retainer with low force without damaging the suture. Bends and kinks in the suture are prevented so as to provide a synthetic absorbable suture having highly desirable out of package hand and feel. The suture an removed from the package exhibits improved tissue drag characteristics.

Packaged synthetic absorbable surgical elements

Polymer blends of glycolide and/or lactide homopolymer and/or glycolide/lactide copolymer and polycaprolactone and/or polytrimethylene carbonate homopolymer or copolymers thereof and absorbable surgical devices manufactured therefrom having improved mechanical properties, such as improved impact resistance and improved cyclic flex, are disclosed.

Blends of glycolide and/or lactide polymers and caprolactone and/or trimethylene carbonate polymers and absorabable surgical devices made therefrom

A completely bioabsorbable reinforced composite material for use in medical implants and a method for making same. The composite material comprises a hybrid yarn of intimately co-mingled reinforcement fibers of a crystalline polymer and matrix fibers of a polymer having a glass transition temperature below the melting point of the crystalline polymer. The hybrid yarn is heated under pressure to a processing temperature between the glass transition temperature of the matrix fibers and the melting point of the crystalline polymer to form a continuous matrix with reinforcing fibers of crystalline polymer. The composite material may be formed by a two step consolidation process.

Bioabsorbable medical implants

Absorbable copolymers are fabricated from a predominant component of dioxanone randomly copolymerized with minor amounts of other bioabsorbable monomers. The copolymers are useful in forming surgical articles, including both monofilament and multifilament sutures.

Absorbable polymer and surgical articles fabricated therefrom

Methods for preventing and/or eliminating fogging of endoscope lenses during an endoscopic procedure which include the steps of introducing an endoscope into a body cavity and contacting the endoscope lens with a biocompatible and biodegradable composition containing a polyalkylene oxide while the lens is positioned within the body. Alternatively, the endoscope may be coated with a biocompatible polyHEMA coating which is activated by a biocompatible solution, such as water or saline, which may be introduced during use through a fluid conduit on the endoscope. Devices for preventing and/or eliminating fogging of endoscope lenses during endoscopic procedures and conveying antifogging solutions to the distal end of the endoscope are also provided, and may include a distensible applicator.

Compositions, methods and apparatus for inhibiting fogging of endoscope

A block copolymer for use in the fabrication of bioabsorbable articles such as monofilament surgical sutures is prepared by copolymerizing one or more hard phase forming monomers and 1,4-dioxan-2-one, and then polymerizing one or more hard phase forming monomers with the dioxanone-containing copolymer.

Absorbable composition

Polymer blends of glycolide and/or lactide homopolymer and/or glycolide/lactide copolymer and polycaprolactone and/or polytrimethylene carbonate homopolymer or copolymers thereof and absorbable surgical devices manufactured therefrom having improved mechanical properties, such as improved impact resistance and improved cyclic flex, are disclosed. The blends may be prepared by polymerizing a glycolide or lactide containing polymer in the presence of a polymer derived from trimethylene carbonate or .epsilon.-caprolactone.

Blends of glycolide and/or lactide polymers and caprolactone and/or

A human growth factor (HGF), a human growth factor-containing composition or a medical or surgical device such as a wound dressing or suture filled with a human growth factor-containing composition is sterilized employing an ethylene oxide gaseous sterilizant.

Sterilization of growth factors

Synthetic absorbable sutures are filled with a stabilizing agent, preferably a mixture of glycerol and calcium lactate, and inserted into a retainer having a narrow convoluted passageway. The retainer is inserted into an open foil pouch with a package stabilizing element, such as a paper sheet filled with stabilizing agent. The package containing the suture, retainer and package stabilizing element is sterilized, aerated, equilibrated to a relatively high moisture level, and sealed. Long lengths of suture and doubled-over and tripled-over suture may be withdrawn from the retainer with low force without damaging the suture. Bends and kinks in the suture are prevented so as to provide a synthetic absorbable suture having highly desirable out of package hand and feel. The suture as removed from the package exhibits improved tissue drag characteristics.

A braided suture possesses a cable core which resists any tendency to protrude through the surrounding braid structure.

Cabled core and braided suture made therefrom

A support material for cell impregnation is provided. The support material is fabricated from a semiabsorbable composite yarn comprising a nonabsorbable, elastic core yarn and an absorbable, relatively inelastic sheath yarn. A prosthetic device may be formed from the support material. The support material is impregnated with living cells followed by incorporation into the tissue structure of a host organism. The support material impregnated with cells may be cultured in vitro to increase the number of cells prior to incorporation into the host organism.

Support material for cell impregnation

A composition for effecting bone repair is provided which includes biocompatible particles dispersed in a matrix.

Growing community of inventors

Weston, CT, United States of America

Donald S Kaplan