Abstract: A deformable surgical repair device is manufactured from a block or graft copolymer. The copolymer comprises a plurality of first linkages selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid ester and lactic acid ester linkages, and mixtures thereof, and a plurality of second linkages selected from the group consisting of 1,3-dioxan-2-one; 1,4-dioxan-2-one and .epsilon.-caprolactone linkages. The plurality of first linkages comprises at least about 50 up to about 90 mole percent of the copolymer. In an alternative Claim, the deformable surgical repair device is manufactured from a blend of a first and a second absorbable polymer. The first absorbable polymer comprises a plurality of linkages selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid ester and lactic acid ester linkages, and mixtures thereof. The second absorbable polymer comprises a plurality of linkages selected from the group consisting of 1,3-dioxan-2-one; 1,4-dioxan-2-one and .epsilon.-caprolactone linkages.

Abstract: A load-bearing, bioabsorbable surgical repair device manufactured from a copolymer having a plurality of first linkages of lactide or lactide/glycolide, and a plurality of second linkages of a polymer having a glass transition temperature below ambient temperature. The second linkages preferably are selected from: 1,3-dioxan-2-one; 1,4-dioxan-2-one; and .epsilon.-caprolactone.

Abstract: A one piece surgical repair device consists essentially of a polymeric wire. The polymeric wire is comprised of an oriented, semicrystalline polymer. The surgical repair device can be a staple and is capable of permanent flexural deformation at ambient temperature.

Abstract: A copolymer comprising a bioabsorbable, segmented molecular architecture has been invented. The copolymer has at least two different ester linkages. The segmented molecular architecture comprises a plurality of fast transesterifying linkages. The fast transesterifying linkages have a segment length distribution of greater than 1.3. The segmented molecular architecture also comprises a plurality of slow transesterifying linkages. The following proviso is a material limitation to this invention: for the fast transesterifying linkages consisting essentially of glycolate linkages and the slow transesterifying linkages selected from the group consisting of trimethylene carbonate and caproate linkages, the segment length distribution of the fast transesterifying linkages is up to 2.0 and the number average segment length of the slow transesterifying linkages is greater than 2.5 linkages per segment.

Abstract: A deformable surgical repair device is manufactured from a block or graft copolymer. The copolymer comprises a plurality of first linkages selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid ester and lactic acid ester linkages, and mixtures thereof, and a plurality of second linkages selected from the group consisting of 1,3-dioxan-2-one; 1,4-dioxan-2-one and .epsilon.-caprolactone linkages. The plurality of first linkages comprises at least about 50 up to about 90 mole percent of the copolymer. In an alternative claim, the deformable surgical repair device is manufactured from a blend of a first and a second absorbable polymer. The first absorbable polymer comprises a plurality of linkages selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid ester and lactic acid ester linkages, and mixtures thereof. The second absorbable polymer comprises a plurality of linkages selected from the group consisting of 1,3-dioxan-2-one; 1,4-dioxan-2-one and .epsilon.-caprolactone linkages.

Abstract: The invention is a slow release drug delivery system comprising a drug and an ABA or AB block copolymer wherein one block (B) is a poly(alkylene oxide) and the other blocks (A) are comprised of degradable random copolymers of (1) the cyclic ester of an alpha-hydroxy acid and (2) a second cyclic ester monomer is with the proviso that the second cyclic ester monomer not the same as the first cyclic ester.

Abstract: A bioabsorbable coating for a surgical suture or ligature is disclosed. The coating is manufactured from a diblock or a triblock copolymer.

Abstract: A bioabsorbable coating for a surgical article comprises a copolymer manufactured from the monomer caprolactone and at least one other copolymerizable monomer. The surgical article can be a bioabsorbable suture or ligature.

Abstract: A bioabsorbable coating for a surgical article comprises a copolymer manufactured from the monomer caprolactone and at least one other copolymerizable monomer. The surgical article can be a bioabsorbable suture or ligature.

Abstract: A bone fixation device is disclosed. The device comprises an absorbable homopolymer of 1-lactide or d1-lactide, or a copolymer of 1-lactide, and a reinforcement material. The reinforcement material can be a particulate filler of hydroxyapatite or a plurality of alumina fibers.

Abstract: A diblock copolymer is disclosed having a first block of a polyalkylene oxide and a second block of glycolic acid ester and trimethylene carbonate linkages. A triblock copolymer is disclosed having a middle block obtained from an ethylene oxide homopolymer or a copolymer of ethylene oxide and a cyclic ether. Alternatively, the triblock copolymer middle block is obtained from a copolymer of formula (I): ##STR1## and formula (II): ##STR2## The copolymers are useful in medical and surgical applications.

Abstract: A surgical suture coating comprising a random copolymer is disclosed. The copolymer has about 25 to 75 weight percent of glycolic acid ester linkages. The remaining linkages comprise at least trimethylene carbonate. The copolymer has a glass transition temperature at or below ambient temperature.

Abstract: This disclosure describes the catalyzed rearrangement of trans-dispiro (oxirane-2,9-(10'H)-anthracene)-10',2"-oxirane to 10-hydroxymethyl-9-anthraldehyde.

Abstract: Poly(glycolic acid)/poly(oxyalkylene) ABA triblock copolymers having the following formula: ##STR1## and wherein x and y have values which correspond to a total polyglycolide content of about 75 to 95 weight percent and a total polyoxyalkylene content of about 5 to 25 weight percent. The copolymers are useful for manufacturing fibers possessing a sufficiently low modulus of elasticity to permit their use as absorbable sutures having the requisite flexibility for use in monofilament form. A process of preparation involves purifying the hydroxyl-ended poly(oxyalkylene) and allowing it to react with glycolide to produce an ABA triblock copolymer of extrusion grade in which A represents a polyglycolic acid block and B represents a poly(oxyalkylene) block.

Abstract: Multiblock copolymers having the following general formula: ##STR1## where R represents alkylene and Ar is an aromatic group, are obtained by transesterification of poly(glycolic acid) and an hydroxyl-ended poly(alkylene glycol) such as poly(oxyethylene) in the presence of a catalyst with the degree of polymerization of the copolymer being increased by the subsequent addition of an aromatic orthocarbonate such as tetra-p-tolyl orthocarbonate. The copolymers find use in the manufacture of surgical articles, particularly absorbable monofilament sutures possessing the desired characteristics of flexibility, resulting in good handling properties, and biodegradability.

Abstract: A triblock copolymer having a proportion of units having the formula: ##STR1## as the end blocks, and the formula (I) randomly combined with a proportion of units having the formula: ##STR2## as the middle block finds particular advantageous use in manufacturing absorbable monofilament sutures and other surgical articles. A surgical article is manufactured from a synthetic absorbable copolymer formed by copolymerizing glycolide with 1,3-dioxan-2-one (trimethylene carbonate) wherein a combination of the monomers is substantially completely polymerized before the addition of the other monomer in the presence of a difunctional initiator at or below about 180.degree. C.; glycolide is added and the temperature increased up to about the melting point of poly glycolide to form a triblock copolymer with a proportion of units having the formula: ##STR3## as the end blocks, and the formula (I) randomly combined with a proportion of units having the formula: ##STR4## as the middle block.

Abstract: The use of a fully-hydrolyzed polyvinyl alcohol modified melamine-formaldehyde resin coating for the print sheet in a decorative laminate eliminates the necessity for an overlay sheet without thereby imparting any deleterious effects to the laminate itself.

Abstract: A solid biodegradable hydrolyzable polyester resin of diglycolic acid and an unhindered glycol having a molecular weight sufficiently high so as to provide a polymeric material possessing self-supporting film forming properties and the process of preparing the same and the use of the polymeric material as a sterile surgical suture or ligature.

Abstract: A normally solid biodegradable hydrolyzable polyester resin of diglycolic acid and an unhindered glycol having a molecular weight sufficiently high so as to provide a polymeric material possessing self-supporting film forming properties and the process of preparing the same and the use of the polymeric material as a device for the controlled continuous administration of a predetermined dosage of a drug to a living animal.

Abstract: Polyester filaments treated with aromatic isocyanate to provide improved adhesion to rubber also have improved fatigue resistance and improved drawability provided the aromatic isocyanate used is a mixture of 50 to 90% di-functional aromatic isocyanates and the remainder higher than di-functional aromatic isocyanates.