Abstract: Methods and compositions related polymers and hydrogels. In some cases to biodegradable hydrogels for use in medical applications are disclosed. The polymers and hydrogels may be produced from cross-linked dextran and poly(epoxides). The poly(epoxides) may be poloxamers.

Abstract: Methods and compositions related polymers and hydrogels. In some cases to biodegradable hydrogels for use in medical applications are disclosed. The polymers and hydrogels may be produced from cross-linked dextran and poly(epoxides). The poly(epoxides) may be poloxamers.

Abstract: An electrode providing electrical contact with a patient's skin includes a conductive member adapted for connection to an external electrical apparatus and a non-liquid film for electrically interfacing to said patient's skin, the liquid film being electrically and mechanically connected to said conductive member. The non-liquid film includes an electrically conductive organic polymer plasticized with a polyhydric alcohol with said organic polymer being derived from a monomeric mixture comprising from about 15 to 30 pph acrylic acid, 0.5 to 30 pph N-vinylpyrrolidone and 0.01 to 2 pph of a crosslinking agent. The monomeric mixture may further comprise from about 0.5 to 8 pph of a thickening agent comprising a N-vinylpyrrolidone/acrylic acid copolymer.

Abstract: A gel forming system comprising an aqueous mixture of a first component of at least one water-soluble polymer in an amount sufficient to increase the initial viscosity of the mixture and impart adhesivity properties thereto; a second component of a acid-containing polymer; a third component of an amino-containing polymer; and water. This system has a pH in the range of between about 5.5 and 8.5 and the second and third components are each present in sufficient amounts which, in combination, increase the cohesiveness of the mixture over time, such that the mixture can be initially combined in a relatively fluid state and subsequently forms a cohesive gel structure.

Abstract: A method for producing a sterile packaged adhesive hydrogel product by preparing an aqueous mixture of water, a polymer which can be cross-linked by radiation to form a hydrogel, and a cross-linking inhibitor in an amount sufficient to retard the cross-linking of the polymer when the mixture is exposed to radiation; providing the mixture in a predetermined shape or configuration representative of a hydrogel product; enclosing the shaped mixture in a sealed package; and subjecting the package to a dose of radiation sufficient to simultaneously cross-link and sterilize the mixture to provide a sterile packaged adhesive hydrogel product. The invention also is directed to the sterile packaged adhesive hydrogel product formed by this method, as well as the packaged product prior to sterilization.

Abstract: This invention relates to a non-stringy adhesive hydrophilic gel comprising an aqueous mixture of a radiation crosslinkable water-soluble polymer, at least one humectant effective to extend the moisture retaining characteristics of the gel and which inhibits the ability of radiant energy to crosslink the water-soluble polymer, a pharmacologically active agent, and a crosslinking promoter effective to counteract the crosslinking inhibitory effect of humectant. The aqueous mixture is exposed to radiant energy effective to provide a non-stringy adhesive cohesive homogeneous hydrophilic gel that has an extended in-use lifetime. The gels can be formed into PATCHES for long term application of the pharmacologically active agent to a patient.

Abstract: Biomedical radiopaque acrylic resin, in bead form, with an average diameter of from about 10 to 100 microns and having substantially uniformly dispersed throughout the bead about 5 to 50 wt. % of radiopaque inorganic pigment with an average particle size of about 0.1 to 20 microns.

Abstract: An improved biocompatible and hemocompatible segmented poly-(ether-urethane-urea) is prepared by a process which comprises condensing an alkylene polyether diol of molecular weight of 500 to 6000 with substantially two equivalents of an aryl, aralkyl, or alkyl diisocyanate of 6 to 20 carbon atoms; condensing the thus-formed .alpha.,.OMEGA.-diisocyanato poly-(ether-urethane) with a substantially equivalent proportion of a primary alkyl diamine of 2 to 6 carbon atoms until a degree of condensation of about 5 to 20 is achieved; condensing the resulting poly-(ether-urethane-urea) with a primary alkyl amine or diamine of up to 6 carbon atoms in an amount substantially equivalent to the free isocyanate content of the poly-(ether-urethane-urea); and condensing the amine-treated poly-(ether-urethane-urea) with an amine-reacting agent in an amount substantially equivalent to the free amine content of the amine-treated poly-(ether-urethane-urea).