Abstract: Block copolymers wherein one of the blocks is made from hard phase forming monomers and another of the blocks is made from soft phase forming monomers copolymerized with randomly intermingled units of other soft phase forming monomers. The copolymers are useful in forming surgical articles, including both monofilament and multifilament sutures.

Abstract: Composite materials have a core portion formed from a biocompatible material and at least one shell portion of a biocompatible material joined to the core portion. In a preferred embodiment, the core portion is coextruded with the shell portion to form a composite filament or sheet. The composite materials may be used as sutures or formed into medical devices or surgical articles for implantation within a living organism.

Abstract: A gut suture is coated with a bioabsorbable copolymer obtained by polymerizing a major amount of .epsilon.-caprolactone and a minor amount of at least one other copolymerizable monomer in the presence of polyhydric alcohol as initiator. The coated gut suture can be packaged in the absence of conventional tubing fluid, i.e., in the dry state, while at the same time retaining flexibility, pliability and resistance to fray. In an alternative embodiment, a gut suture is coated with a pre-coating composition prior to being coated with the bioabsorbable copolymer.

Abstract: A moldable biodegradable surgical material is made of a bioabsorbable polymer derived from hydroxyacids, tactones, carbonates, etheresters, anhydrides, orthoesters and copolymers, terpolymers and/or blends thereof, the polymer blended with at least one surface active agent selected from the group consisting of fatty acid ester and poly(oxypropylene)/poly(oxyethylene) block copolymer. In one embodiment, a leaching agent is blended with the above-mentioned surgical material. Methods of making moldable biodegradable surgical material are provided. The surgical material may be used as a moldable bone wax in connection with repair of wounds and is an adaptable aid for any appropriate surgical use, e.g., hemostat, anchor, patch etc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to composite materials having a core portion formed from a first bioabsorbable material and at least one shell portion of a second bioabsorbable material joined to the core portion. The first and second bioabsorbable materials have different rates of bioabsorption. In a preferred embodiment, the core portion is coextruded with the shell portion to form a composite filament or sheet. The materials of the present invention may be used as sutures or formed into medical devices or surgical articles for implantation within a living organism.

Abstract: Absorbable copolymers are fabricated from a predominant component of dioxanone randomly copolymerized with minor amounts of other bioabsorbable monomers. The copolymers are useful in forming surgical articles, including both monofilament and multifilament sutures.

Abstract: Star polymers of soft segment forming monomers are useful in forming surgical devices. The star polymers can be endcapped with isocyanate, mixed with a filler and/or cross-linked. The polymer compositions are useful, for example, as fiber coatings, surgical adhesives or bone putty, or tissue growth substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to composite materials having a core portion formed from a first bioabsorbable material and at least one shell portion of a second bioabsorbable material joined to the core portion. The first and second bioabsorbable materials have different rates of bioabsorption. In a preferred embodiment, the core portion is coextruded with the shell portion to form a composite filament or sheet. The materials of the present invention may be used as sutures or formed into medical devices or surgical articles for implantation within a living organism.

Abstract: Block copolymers wherein one of the blocks is made from hard phase forming monomers and another of the blocks is made from soft phase forming monomers copolymerized with randomly intermingled units of other soft phase forming monomers. The copolymers are useful in forming surgical articles, including both monofilament and multifilament sutures.

Abstract: A bioabsorbable copolymer is obtained from the polymerization of a major amount of .epsilon.-caprolactone and a minor amount of at least one other copolymerizable monomer in the presence of a polyhydric alcohol initiator. The copolymer is useful, inter alia, as a coating for a surgical suture.

Abstract: Block copolymers have one of the block made from hard phase forming monomers and another block made from soft phase forming monomers copolymerized with randomly intermingled units of other soft phase forming monomers. Particularly useful copolymers are initiated with a polyalkylene oxide initiator. The copolymers are useful in forming surgical articles, including both monofilament and multifilament sutures.

Abstract: A block copolymer for use in the fabrication of bioabsorbable articles such as monofilament surgical sutures is prepared by copolymerizing one or more hard phase forming monomers and 1,4-dioxan-2-one, and then polymerizing one or more hard phase forming monomers with the dioxanone-containing copolymer.

Abstract: Block copolymers wherein one of the blocks is made from hard phase forming monomers and another of the blocks is made from soft phase forming monomers copolymerized with randomly intermingled units of other soft phase forming monomers. The copolymers are useful in forming surgical articles, including both monofilament and multifilament sutures.

Abstract: A bioabsorbable copolymer is obtained from the polymerization of a major amount of .epsilon.-caprolactone and a minor amount of at least one other copolymerizable monomer in the presence of an initiator possessing at least two carboxylic acid groups. The copolymer is useful, inter alia, as a coating for a surgical suture.

Abstract: Block copolymers wherein one of the blocks is made from hard phase forming monomers and another of the blocks is made from soft phase forming monomers copolymerized with randomly intermingled units of other soft phase forming monomers. The copolymers are useful in forming surgical articles, including both monofilament and multifilament sutures. The block copolymer preferably comprising:a) a proportion of glycolic acid ester units as end blocks, andb) a center block comprising 1,4 dioxan-2-one randomly polymerized with 1,3 dioxane-2-one.

Abstract: An absorbable composition for application to a surgical suture to improve the knot tie-down and/or knot security characteristics thereof is obtained from the reaction of a poly(oxypropylene) glycol and a lactide/glycolide copolymer, optionally, in the presence of an initiator and/or catalyst.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a bent sequence code as a transform of an m-sequence code.

Abstract: A ranging apparatus is provided having an encoded waveform signal which is generated by completely random sequence generator without second order statistics so that the waveform signal has a remote statistical probability of being analyzed. The modulated radio frequency waveform is transmitted to an object and the reflected signal is received by the ranging apparatus which comprises a digital solid state read-write memory arranged to have information written into the memory at a fixed frequency and arranged to have the information read out of the solid state read-write memory at a variable frequency to provide the equivalent of a rotating memory. The digital logic employed in the ranging apparatus is extremely accurate and not subject to drift and changes which could occur in analog type systems. The implementation of the ranging apparatus is accomplished with economical commercially available components thus providing an improved digital ranging apparatus.