Abstract: The present invention provides an absorbable barrier membrane for guided tissue regeneration which is useful for regeneration of animal tissues, including those of humans, the absorbable barrier membrane being superior in heat stability, processability, reproducibility, storage stability, bioabsorbablity, and tissue regeneration effects, and further provides a method for regeneration, using the absorbable barrier membrane, of a mandible, periodontal tissue, or defective tubulous bone, and particularly a defective tubulous bone which possesses a segmental bone defect in which both ends of the bone are in separate segments. The above objects are attained by an absorbable barrier membrane for use in guided tissue generation, comprising a lactic copolyester in which a polymerization catalyst is deactivated, as an essential component.

Abstract: The present invention provides a biodegradable expanded material having excellent expandability, moldability, impact resistance, heat resistance and storage stability. The present invention also provides a process for the preparation of the foregoing expanded material. The present invention further provides a laminate of a non-expanded material layer and an expanded material layer prepared from the foregoing expanded material which exhibits excellent impact resistance and heat resistance and an excellent transparency in the non-expanded material even after heat treatment so that a pattern printed on the inner side of the non-expanded material layer can be clearly viewed from the outside.

Abstract: The present invention provides a biodegradable expanded material having excellent expandability, moldability, impact resistance, heat resistance and storage stability. The present invention also provides a process for the preparation of the foregoing expanded material. The present invention further provides a laminate of a non-expanded material layer and an expanded material layer prepared from the foregoing expanded material which exhibits excellent impact resistance and heat resistance and an excellent transparency in the non-expanded material even after heat treatment so that a pattern printed on the inner side of the non-expanded material layer can be clearly viewed from the outside.

Abstract: The present invention provides a biodegradable material having excellent organic compatibility, moldability, mechanical properties, biodegradability and storage stability which can be used as bone substitute material, material for osteosynthesis, bone filling material, dental material, material having controlled release of chemical, material having controlled release of physiologically active compound or the like and a process for the preparation thereof. A novel biodegradable material is provided, comprising as essential components a lactic acid-based polymer (A) consisting of structural units (a) derived from lactic acid components and polyester structural units (b) derived from dicarboxylic acid components and diol components, the weight ratio of (a)/(b) being from 98/2 to 20/80, and a calcium phosphate-based compound (B), wherein the weight ratio of (A)/(B) is from 99/1 to 30/70. A process for the preparation of such a biodegradable material is also provided.