Abstract: Bioswellable sutures are provided in the form of absorbable, compliant monofilaments of an amphiphilic copolyester, an absorbable multifilament braid, a non-absorbable monofilament with swellable outer layer, a non-absorbable multifilament braid with an absorbable monofilament core of an amphiphilic copolymer, and a non-absorbable, multifilament braid molecularly integrated with an outer sheath that is highly hydrophilic.

Abstract: Intravaginal ring devices have multicomponent drug releasing substrates loaded with at least one bioactive agent and designed to effect contraception and/or provide means to treat and/or prevent diseases caused by infectious bacteria, fungi, virus, and retroviruses, without compromising the primary function of normally occurring, useful vaginal microflora in female patients.

Abstract: Monofilament sutures are disclosed, which are formed of complaint, segmented, polyaxial, absorbable copolyesters. The sutures are capable of retaining at least 50 percent of their initial breaking strength after 6 weeks following placement in animal or human tissues.

Abstract: Biomedical and tissue engineering devices, such as surgical sutures and microporous scaffolds, respectively, which undergo swelling and increase in dimensions when placed in aqueous environments such as living tissues, are produced by the melt-spinning or electrostatic spinning into strong monofilament and multifilament yarns or microfibrous fabrics, respectively. Such devices are formed from especially high molecular weight crystalline polyether-esters having a minimum inherent viscosity of 0.8 dL/g and heat of fusion of at least 5 J/g, wherein the polyether-esters are made by grafting to a polyester component a polyether glycol component having a minimum molecular weight of about 1 kDa with at least one cyclic monomer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward an injectable, single- or multiple-component polymeric liquid precursor of an in situ-forming, non-absorbable, flexible, and resilient hydrogel or semi-solid that can be used in non-surgical, minimally invasive treatment of herniated disc.

Abstract: Precursors of fatigue-enduring phosphate composites, particularly useful as self-hardening bone cement, are formed of a calcium phosphate cement grafted with trimethylene carbonate, phosphate glass, a liquid amine-bearing derivative poly(ethylene glycol-b-propylene glycol) and a liquid C-succinylated polyalkylene glycol and preferably contain at least one bioactive agent.

Abstract: Self-setting, bioactive, absorbable, polymeric cyanoacrylate composites include at least 20 percent weight/volume of inorganic phosphate microparticulate fillers and are capable of the controlled release of bone mineralizing ions, antimicrobials, and bone growth promoters. Such composites are useful as bone cements, fillers, and/or substitutes.

Abstract: Inorganic-organic hybrid micro-/nanofibers having a cross-sectional area not exceeding 140?2 include micro-/nanoparticulate inorganic components dispersed in an organic, absorbable or non-absorbable polymeric matrix at a weight concentration of at least about 4 percent by weight and are produced by electrostatic spinning or melt-blowing.

Abstract: This invention deals with a family of inorganic-organic hybrid, melt-extruded filaments having variable cross-sectional geometry with a cross-sectional area ranging between 100 ?2 and 4 mm2, wherein the inorganic component comprises at least 10 weight percent of the total system and is present as dispersed micro-/nanoparticles in an organic absorbable or non-absorbable matrix representing no more than 90 weight percent. Hybrid filaments are particularly useful for the production of absorbable/disintegratable coil components of an absorbable/disintegratable endoureteral stent and radiopaque surgical markers or sutures.

Abstract: High-purity, acetone-soluble, absorbable components of medical devices are designed for optimum interfacing with human blood or the cell lining of a body cavity, and are formed of a crystalline, segmented l-lactide polyaxial copolymer structurally tailored to have certain molecular dimensions, thermal and physicomechanical properties, and solubility characteristics to allow their uses, optimally, as parts of vascular, urological, and post-surgical adhesion prevention devices

Abstract: This invention deals with package components for radiochemical sterilization of medical or pharmaceutical products consisting of a hermetically sealed foil pack containing (1) a solid device, as in absorbable sutures and meshes, in a perforated holder or a liquid formulation in a sealed, flexible dispenser, as in absorbable cyanoacrylate-based tissue adhesive; (2) a microparticulate, unstabilized polyformaldehyde as a source of radiolytically generated formaldehyde encased in a sealed pouch comprising a porous, non-woven or woven fabric; and (3) a nitrogenous compound capable of reacting with residual formaldehyde, such as melamine or urea, that is encased in a sealed pouch comprising a porous, non-woven or woven fabric.

Abstract: This invention deals with an absorbable/disintegratable endo-urological stent and applicators for introduction into biological conduits, including such as urethras and ureters, with said stent comprising a fiber-reinforced, multicomponent tube made of polyesters having a range of physicochemical properties.

Abstract: Absorbable, essentially non-absorbable, and non-absorbable crystalline, amphiphilic, block/graft copolymeric compositions exhibit an inherent viscosity of at least 0.5 dL/g, a heat of fusion of at least 10 J/g and undergo swelling in the biological environment due to a water up-take of at least 10 percent of original dry mass. These compositions are designed for use in swellable surgical sutures, coatings of medical devices, and carriers for the delivery of bioactive agents.

Abstract: Biocompatible coatings for medical devices are disclosed. Specifically, polymer coatings designed to control the release of bioactive agents from medical devices in vivo are disclosed wherein the solubility parameters of polymers and drugs are closely matched to control elute rate profiles. The present application also discloses providing vascular stents with controlled release coatings and related methods for making these coatings.

Abstract: Biodegradable chewing gum bases are provided having natural and/or synthetic polymeric components of polypeptide- and/or polyester-based materials, the bases having modulated hydrophilicity, adhesive properties, compliance, and elasticity.

Abstract: Absorbable, polymeric medical devices or components thereof are surface functionalized with succinic and/or homosuccinic acid anhydride groups which can be further hydrolyzed to the corresponding dicarboxylic acid groups for immobilizing multivalent metal ions, such as calcium ions, or reacted with hydroxyl- or amine-bearing reagents which can be biologically active.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a sustained release complex of one or more peptides, one or more proteins or a combination thereof immobilized on an absorbable polymer microparticle optionally having an absorbable polymer coating. The microparticle complex of this invention comprises a peptide(s) and/or protein(s) which have at least one amino group and/or at least one carboxyl group per molecule and a solid absorbable polyester microparticle having surface and subsurface carboxylic group or amino groups in sufficient amounts to bind the peptide(s) and/or protein(s) so that the immobilized peptide(s) or protein(s) represent 0.1% to 30% of the total mass of the microparticle complex. The microparticle complex with immobilized peptide(s) and/or protein(s) are optionally further encased individually or in groups with an absorbable polymer to control, further, the release of the immobilized peptide(s) and/or protein(s).

Abstract: Organic inherently conductive polymers, such as those based on polyaniline, polypyrrole and polythiophene, are formed in situ onto polymeric surfaces that are chemically activated to bond, ionically, the conductive polymers to the substrates. The polymeric substrate is preferably a preshaped or preformed thermoplastic film, fabric, tube, or a medical device for tissue repair regeneration and/or replacement, although other forms of thermoplastic and thermoset polymers can be used as the substrates for pretreatment using, most preferably, C-succinylation-based processes followed by exposure to an oxidatively polymerizable compound capable of forming an electrically conductive polymer. The resultant conductive surface imparts unique properties to the substrates and allows their use in antistatic clothing, surface conducting films for electronic components and the like, and electromagnetic interference shielding for civilian and military installations as well as implantable medical devices.

Abstract: Pharmacologically active, easy-to-deploy, biomechanically compatible, inflatable endovascular, drug-eluting stent are formed of a primary expandable polymeric or metallic construct, intimately mantled with a biomechanically compatible, polymeric microporous, microfibrous, compliant, stretchable fabric formed by direct electrospinning onto the outside surface of the primary construct using at least one polymer solution containing at least one active compound, selected from those expected to control key biological events leading to in-stent restenosis.

Abstract: Absorbable/disintegratable endourological stents, specifically endoureteral stents, and applicators for their introduction into the biological site, are formed from fiber-reinforced elastomeric films configured to prevent their migration from the application site.