Abstract: A polymer, particularly a biomedical polymer for the fabrication of medical and surgical devices and for use as a coating, is described. The polymer is derived from the reaction product of one or more lactone monomers and castor oil preferably: (a) .epsilon.-caprolactone, trimethylene carbonate or an ether lactone; (b) castor oil; and (c) glycolide, lactide or 1,4-dioxanone. The preferred polymer is derived from .epsilon.-caprolactone, castor oil, and glycolide.The polymer in preferred embodiments is ideally suited for use as a coating for a surgical suture, particularly an absorbable, braided multifilament suture and surgical needles. For this application, glycerol is advantageously added to the reactive monomer mix from which the polymer is derived.

Abstract: A surgical suture having a coating thereon of at least one polyvinyl ester, and a method for improving the knot tiedown performance of a suture by first coating a polyvinyl ester solution onto the surface of the suture and then removing the solvent from the coated suture.

Abstract: Crystalline copolymer comprising the reaction product of: a) a predominant amount of a high molecular weight prepolymer of .epsilon.-caprolactone and glycolide, and b) the balance glycolide. A surgical device such as a surgical filament, in particular a surgical suture, prepared by injection molding or melt spinning the crystalline copolymer.

Abstract: A surgical suture having a coating thereon of a copolymer of a predominant amount of p-dioxanone and the balance .epsilon.-caprolactone, and a method for improving the knot tiedown performance of a suture by first coating a solution of the coating copolymer onto the surface of the suture and then removing the solvent from the coated suture.

Abstract: A surgical suture having a coating thereon of at least one polyvinyl ester, and a method for improving the knot tiedown performance of a suture by first coating a polyvinyl ester solution onto the surface of the suture and then removing the solvent from the coated suture.

Abstract: Low molecular weight absorbable copolymers of p-dioxanone with lactide and/or glycolide are used as coatings for surgical filaments to improve tactile smoothness and tie-down properties. These copolymers are prepared by reacting p-dioxanone with lactide and/or glycolide in the presence of an initiator such as a mono- or polyhydric alcohol or a hydroxy acid.

Abstract: Crystalline copolymers of .epsilon.-caprolactone and a monomer having the formula: ##STR1## Surgical filaments, especially monofilament sutures, prepared by melt spinning the crystalline copolymers described above.

Abstract: Bioabsorbable copolymers comprising .rho.-dioxanone and AA-BB type polyalkylene carbonates are provided. The copolymers are useful in the fabrication of sterile surgical articles and bioabsorbable coatings for sutures and are produced from organic carbonates by way of prepolymeric synthetic intermediates.

Abstract: A crystalline copolymer of p-dioxanone and a poly(alkylene oxide), and absorbable surgical filaments and devices derived therefrom.

Abstract: A crystalline copolyester of p-diaxanone and a prepolymer of lactide and glycolide, and absorbable surgical filaments derived therefrom.

Abstract: Copolymer of a predominant amount of .epsilon.-caprolactone, the balance being glycolide and glycolic acid. Coating for an absorbable, multifilament surgical suture prepared by dissolving the copolymer in an organic solvent.

Abstract: Block copolymers of glycolide and p-dioxanone are produced by reacting poly(p-dioxanone) that is substantially free of p-dioxanone monomer with glycolide.

Abstract: Copolymers are made by reacting glycolide with a mixture of p-dioxanone monomer and homopolymer. The copolymers are useful in making surgical devices such as surgical sutures.

Abstract: A sterile surgical suture comprising an absorbable, radiation sterilizable, normally solid polymer comprising a copolyester that comprises repeating divalent units of the formulas:(A) --O--CO--CH.sub.2 --O--CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, and(B) --G--, and(C) --O--CO--CHR--O--.sub.m Ph--O--CHR--CO--O--wherein G represents the residue after removal of the hydroxyl groups of a dihydric alcohol, wherein Ph represents 1,2-, 1,3-, or 1,4-phenylene or alkyl- or alkoxy-substituted phenylene, wherein m represents a number having a value of 0 or 1, wherein R represents hydrogen or lower alkyl, and wherein the divalent units (A), (B), and (C) are bonded to each other through ester groups contained in said units.

Abstract: A crystalline copolymer is produced by first polymerizing p-dioxanone to form a mixture of monomer and homopolymer, and then adding lactide to this mixture and polymerizing to form a copolymer.

Abstract: An absorbable, radiation sterilizable, normally solid polymer comprising a copolyester that comprises repeating divalent units of the formulas:(A) --O--CO--CH.sub.2 --O--CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, and(B) --G--, and(C) --O--CO--CHR--O--.sub.m Ph--O--CHR--CO--O--wherein G represents the residue after removal of the hydroxyl groups of a dihydric alcohol, wherein Ph represents 1,2-, 1,3-, or 1,4-phenylene or alkyl- or alkoxy-substituted phenylene, wherein m represents a number having a value of 0 or 1, wherein R represents hydrogen or lower alkyl, and wherein the divalent units (A), (B), and (C) are bonded to each other through ester groups contained in said units.

Abstract: Absorbable, radiation sterilizable polymers, useful as sutures and other medical and surgical devices, are produced from polyesters of substituted benzoic acid, dihydric alcohols, and glycolide and/or lactide.

Abstract: New and improved storage stable, one package, heat-curable polyurea/urethane coating compositions are disclosed which comprise:(a) a mixture or prepolymer of(i) a poly aliphatic isocyanate compound of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R and R' are each, independently, hydrogen, alkyl or substituted alkyl and X is a bridging means selected from divalent aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, or aromatic groups, or a polymeric adduct of said aliphatic isocyanate compound possessing poly aliphatic isocyanate functionality; and(ii) an approximately stoichiometric amount of at least one monomeric or polymeric compound containing a plurality of isocyanate reactive hydrogens; and(b) a minor effective amount of a polymerization catalyst.The compositions cure when heated to above about 100.degree. C. to form coatings which exhibit good abrasion resistance, solvent resistance, weather resistance and good adhesion to a wide variety of substrates.

Abstract: Absorbable, radiation sterilizable polymers, useful as sutures and other medical and surgical devices, are produced from polyesters of substituted benzoic acid, dihydric alcohols, and glycolide and/or lactide.

Abstract: A method for adhering rubber to reinforcing materials which comprises embedding a textile fiber or metal reinforcing material in a vulcanizable rubber composition comprising rubber, a sulfur vulcanizing agent, high surface area silica and an N-(substituted oxymethyl) melamine compound.