Abstract: Provided herein is a composition comprising a poly(alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acid) substantially free of acidic impurities wherein the poly(alpha-hydroxycarboxylic acid) is selected from poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid), poly(L-lactic acid), poly(D-lactic acid) and poly(D,L-lactic acid). Also provided is a device comprising: a substrate, and a coating wherein the coating comprises poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) substantially free of acidic impurities.

Abstract: A device for selective delivery of therapeutic agents to internal body tissues is disclosed. Upon tight sealing of the device to targeted tissues the diffusion of therapeutic agents to the targeted tissue can be controlled, while minimizing exposure of adjacent organs to the agents being delivered. Mechanisms for replenishment of the device and methods for application of the device in remote sites of the body are disclosed.

Abstract: Articles, particularly fibers, whose shape is dependent on temperature. The articles have a first component composed of a sharply-melting crystalline polymer and an overlapping second component. As the crystalline polymer is cooled through its melting range, the volume of the first component increases much more rapidly than the volume of the second component. As a result, the shape of the article changes. Such fibers can be incorporated into fibrous articles having temperature-dependent thermal insulation properties.

Abstract: A surgically implantable and sealable delivery device that upon contact of its contents via an interface window or port therein with an organ or tissue exposes a therapeutic agent to the organ or tissue surface, allowing a controlled, selective and unidirectional diffusion of the agent into the tissue or organ. The device protects adjacent organs or tissue structures from unnecessary high levels of the delivered agent. Novel methods to deliver chemotherapeutics or bioactive agents to mammalian organs or tissues through a surgically implanted device by the way of a selective and protected diffusion mechanism are disclosed as well as method to achieve the sealing properties of the device.

Abstract: A surgically implantable and sealable delivery device that upon contact of its contents via an interface window or port therein with an organ or tissue exposes a therapeutic agent to the organ or tissue surface, allowing a controlled, selective and unidirectional diffusion of the agent into the tissue or organ. The device protects adjacent organs or tissue structures from unnecessary high levels of the delivered agent. Novel methods to deliver chemotherapeutics or bioactive agents to mammalian organs or tissues through a surgically implanted device by the way of a selective and protected diffusion mechanism are disclosed as well as method to achieve the sealing properties of the device.

Abstract: A method of blocking channels in a mammal which channels normally carry a material from one point to another is carried out by injecting a heated flowable polymer into the channel and allowing the polymer to cool and solidify, thus creating a plug or channel occluder. The plug can be later removed physically in its solid form or removed gradually by softening and/or fluidizing it by heating and/or chemical means. The channel occluder is preferably comprised of a main chain or side-chain crystallizable polymer but may be comprised of other polymers provided the polymers are formulated to have certain characteristics. The polymers must be solid and/or non-flowable at body temperature or lower and flowable when heated slightly above body temperature, i.e., 10 centigrade degrees or less above body temperature. The polymer is capable of changing quickly from a flowable state to a non-flowable state by moving through only a few centigrade degrees of temperature and is a non-immunogenic, biocompatible material.

Abstract: Orthopedic casts which comprise an elastically deformed support which is held in its elastically deformed state by a solid casting composition. After the cast has been placed around a patient's limb, it is heated to soften the casting composition, thus permitting recovery of the cast into conforming contact with the limb. The support can for example be a fabric knitted from elastomeric fibers and glass fiber yarns. The casting composition can for example comprise polycaprolactone and/or a side chain crystallizable polymer, which melts at 45.degree.-60.degree. C. A padded liner can be placed between the cast and the limb. Recovery of the cast is preferably carried out by means of a hot air gun.

Abstract: Orthopedic casts which comprise an elastically deformed support which is held in its elastically deformed state by a solid casting composition. After the cast has been placed around a patient's limb, it is heated to soften the casting composition, thus permitting recovery of the cast into conforming contact with the limb. The support can for example be a fabric knitted from elastomeric fibers and glass fiber yarns. The casting composition can for example comprise polycaprolactone and/or a side chain crystallizable polymer, which melts at 45.degree.-60.degree. C. A padded liner can be placed between the cast and the limb. Recovery of the cast is preferably carried out by means of a hot air gun.

Abstract: A method of blocking channels in a mammal which channels normally carry a material from one point to another is carried out by injecting a heated flowable polymer into the channel and allowing the polymer to cool and solidify, thus creating a plug or channel occluder. The plug can be later removed physically in its solid form or removed gradually by softening and/or fluidizing it by heating and/or chemical means. The channel occluder is preferably comprised of a main chain or side-chain crystallizable polymer but may be comprised of other polymers provided the polymers are formulated to have certain characteristics. The polymers must be solid and/or non-flowable at body temperature or lower and flowable when heated slightly above body temperature, i.e., 10 centigrade degrees or less above body temperature. The polymer is capable of changing quickly from a flowable state to a non-flowable state by moving through only a few centigrade degrees of temperature and is a non-immunogenic, biocompatible material.

Abstract: Pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) compositions containing a crystalline polymeric additive having an M.sub.w of less than 25,000 and a melting point (T.sub.a) greater than 23.degree. C., preferably 30.degree. to 60.degree. , and PSA composites of a backing, preferably a flexible backing, with such a PSA composition coated thereon. The presence of the additive causes the PSA to lose adhesive strength when heated to T.sub.a. The base resin of the PSA is preferably a polyacrylate or a styrene/butadiene copolymer. The additive, which is preferably present in amount 1 to 35%, e.g. 5 to 30%, is preferably a side chain crystallizable (SCC) polymer.

Abstract: Erodible devices are disclosed for delivering a drug to an environment of use. The devices comprise a body sized and adapted for delivering the drug to the environment of use, which body comprises (1) a poly(orthoester) or a poly(orthocarbonate) having a repeating unit consisting of a hydrocarbon radical and a symmetrical dioxycarbon unit of the general formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is a multivalent hydrocarbon radical, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are hydrocarbon radicals with at least one of the R.sub.2 or R.sub.3 bonded to the dioxycarbon through an oxygen covalent bond, (2) a beneficial drug, and (3) an erosion rate modifier. The devices are useful for delivering both locally and systemically acting drugs over a prolonged period of time. A composition of matter is also disclosed comprising the poly(orthoesters) or the poly(orthocarbonates) and an erosion rate modifier.

Abstract: Poly(orthoester) co- and homopolymers and poly(orthocarbonate) co- and homopolymers comprising (1) a repeating dioxycarbon unit in the polymeric backbone having a plurality of organic groups pendant therefrom, and (2) a bridging moiety having at least one carbonyloxy group contained therein are disclosed. The polymers are represented by the formula: ##STR1## WHEREIN R is a bridging moiety and is either R.sub.1 or R.sub.2 arranged in a random manner along the polymeric backbone to form a copolymer containing both R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 with R.sub.1 an aliphatic, an alicyclic or an aromatic group and R.sub.2 is a ##STR2## GROUP WITH R.sub.1 as defined and R.sub.3 an aliphatic, an alicyclic or aromatic group, or wherein R is a bridging moiety and is only R.sub.2 to form a homopolymer with R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 as defined above, and a is 0 to 1, b is 2 to 6, and n and the sum of x and y are positive integers.