Abstract:
Novel absorbable polymer blends are disclosed. The blends are useful for manufacturing medical devices having engineered degradation and breaking strength retention in vivo. The blends consist of a first absorbable polymeric component and a second absorbable polymeric component. The weight average molecular weight of the first polymeric component is higher than the weight average molecular weight of the second polymeric component. At least at least one of said components is at least partially end-capped by a carboxylic acid group. Further aspects are medical devices made therefrom.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a novel polymerization process for making novel absorbable, linear polylactone polymers prepared using novel polymerization initiators to achieve rates of mechanical property loss or of absorption of articles made from the polymers that are at least about 1.2 times faster than the rates of mechanical property loss of polymers made by similar processes utilizing conventional initiators. The novel polymerization initiators include monols or diols possessing at least one primary alcohol group and two or more carboxylic acid groups. The invention also is directed to absorbable polylactone polymers prepared by processes of the present invention and to medical devices made from such polymers.
Abstract:
Copolymers exhibiting the following combinations of properties, including without limitation, ε-caprolactone in an amount ranging from about 12 to about 70 mole percent, glycolide in an amount ranging from about 30 to about 88 mole percent, crystallinity ranging from about 10 to about 50% as measured by WAXD or about 10 to about 50 J/g as measured by DSC, and an inherent viscosity ranging from about 0.5 to about 1.45 dL/g as measured in a 0.1 g/dl solution of HFIP at 25° C.; a method for melt blowing such copolymers and nonwoven constructs produced therefrom are described herein.