Ethicon, Gmbh

Hugh D Newman, Jr

Dennis D Jamiolkowski

Rao S Bezwada

Shalaby Wahba Shalaby

Sasa Andjelic

Brian M Kelly

Mark T Gaterud

Kevin L Cooper

Arindam Datta

Adel Kafrawy

Carl R Smith

Scott Evans Fitzgerald

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

The present invention discloses polymers of poly(p-dioxanone having an inherent viscosity in the range of from 2.3 dL/g to about 8 dL/g, as determined at a concentration of 0.1 g/dL in hexafluoroisopropanol at 25.degree. C. This invention also describes improved surgical devices and filaments made from poly(p-dioxanone) with an inherent viscosity in the range of from 2.3 dL/g to about 8 dL/g, determined at a concentration of 0.1 g/dL in hexafluoroisopropanol at 25.degree. C. Additionally, disclosed are processes for manufacturing poly(p-dioxanone) with an inherent viscosity in the range of from 2.3 dL/g to about 8 dL/g, as determined at a concentration of 0.1 g/dL in hexafluoroisopropanol at 25.degree. C., as well as, processes for molding surgical articles and extruding surgical filaments from these polymers.

Medical devices containing high inherent viscosity poly(p-dioxanone)

Absorbable, segmented copolymers of aliphatic polyesters based on lactone monomers glycolide, and p-dioxanone are described. The segmented copolymers exhibit a broad range of properties, especially high strength and stiffness, and fast absorption rates and breaking strength retention (BSR) profiles, useful in a variety of medical devices. Most importantly, for suture applications where Vicryl.RTM.-like polyglcolide-polylactide sutures with excellent tensile properties, but shorter BSR profiles than Vicryl.RTM. are needed. The copolymers of the present invention have such properties, making them useful in plastic surgery where faster absorption times would lead to less tissue scarring.

High strength, fast absorbing, melt processable, gycolide-rich,

A crystalline copolyester of p-diaxanone and a prepolymer of lactide and glycolide, and absorbable surgical filaments derived therefrom.

Crystalline copolyesters of amorphous (lactide/glycolide) and p-dioxanone

There is described a surgical fastener comprising a glycolide-rich blend of two or more polymers, one polymer being a high lactide content polymer and another being a high glycolide content polymer. The blend as a whole contains from about 65 to 85 weight percent polymerized glycolide, with the high glycolide content polymer constituting at least 50 weight percent of the blend.

Surgical fastener made from glycolide-rich polymer blends

Block copolymers of glycolide and p-dioxanone are produced by reacting poly(p-dioxanone) that is substantially free of p-dioxanone monomer with glycolide.

Glycolide/p-dioxanone block copolymers

A surgical fastener is made from a glycolide-rich blend of polymers.

Copolymers are made by reacting glycolide with a mixture of p-dioxanone monomer and homopolymer. The copolymers are useful in making surgical devices such as surgical sutures.

Crystalline p-dioxanone/glycolide copolymers and surgical devices made

A crystalline copolymer is produced by first polymerizing p-dioxanone to form a mixture of monomer and homopolymer, and then adding lactide to this mixture and polymerizing to form a copolymer.

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Chester, NJ, United States of America

Hugh D Newman, Jr