Abstract: The handling characteristics, including particularly the knot run-down, of synthetic absorbable surgical sutures and tissue drag characteristics are improved by a coating of a lubricating film of a bioabsorbable copolymer having polyoxyethylene blocks and polyoxypropylene blocks, and which bioabsorbable copolymer has a molecular weight such that it is pasty to solid at 25.degree. C.

Abstract: The handling characteristics, including particularly the knot run down and tissue drag characteristics, of non-absorbable surgical sutures are improved by a coating of a lubricating film of a bioabsorbable copolymer having polyoxyethylene blocks and polyoxypropylene blocks, and which bioabsobable copolymer has a molecular weight such that it is pasty to solid at 25.degree. C. This lubricant coating is absorbed in tissue in less than about 48 hours--which results in improved long term knot security.

Abstract: Unsymmetrically 3,6-substituted 1,4-dioxane-2,5-diones may be polymerized to give living-tissue absorbable, hydrolytically degradable surgically useful polymers. These polymers have predominantly regular rather than random spacings of side chains, may be stereoregular and tend toward higher crystallinity than randomly sequenced polymers. A polymer of 3-methyl-1,4-dioxane-2,5-dione has the same empirical formula as an equimolecular copolymer of lactic and glycolic acid but has unique physical properties resulting from its more regular steric configuration. Polymers and copolymers of 3- and 3,6-unsymmetrically substituted 1,4-dioxane-2,5-diones have surgically useful mechanical properties. On implantation, in living mammalian tissue, the polymers are absorbed, and replaced by living tissue.

Abstract: Unsymmetrically 3,6-substituted 1,4-dioxane-2,5-diones may be polymerized to give living-tissue absorbable, hydrolytically degradable surgically useful polymers. These polymers have predominantly regular rather than random spacings of side chains, may be stereoregular and tend toward higher crystallinity than randomly sequenced polymers. A polymer of 3-methyl-1,4-dioxane-2,5-dione has the same empirical formula as an equimolecular copolymer of lactic and glycolic acid but has unique physical properties resulting from its more regular steric configuration. Polymers and copolymers of 3- and 3,6-unsymmetrically substituted 1,4-dioxane-2,5-diones have surgically useful mechanical properties. On implantation, in living mammalian tissue, the polymers are absorbed, and replaced by living tissue.

Abstract: A substantially anhydrous liquid iodophor detergent solution is used as a pre-surgical skin cleansing agent. This substantially anhydrous system in which the iodophor is stabilized by the addition of iodides can be incorporated easily into surgical scrub sponges without the expense, delay, and degradation of sponge material resulting from heating to remove the water of aqueous systems to produce a substantially anhydrous product that will not prematurely hydrolyze and deteriorate during prolonged storage.