Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of closing a wound of living tissue which comprises: sewing the edges of the wound with a surgical suture consisting of at least one filament of polymer containing more than 2% by weight of recurring units of the formula: ##EQU18## and the remaining units are ##EQU19## and ##EQU20## wherein R 1 and R 2 are not the same as R 3 and R 4 , R 1 has at least one carbon atom, and R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and R 8 are separately selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, and the radicals methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, cyclohexyl, and phenyl, embedding the suture in living tissue and leaving the suture in said tissue until said suture is absorbed by the tissue during the healing process.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of closing a wound of living tissue which comprises: sewing the edges of the wound with a surgical suture consisting of at least one filament of polymer containing more than 2% by weight of recurring units of the formula: ##EQU18## and the remaining units are ##EQU19## and ##EQU20## wherein R 1 and R 2 are not the same as R 3 and R 4 , R 1 has at least one carbon atom, and R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and R 8 are separately selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, and the radicals methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, cyclohexyl, and phenyl, embedding the suture in living tissue and leaving the suture in said tissue until said suture is absorbed by the tissue during the healing process.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 in which the polymer has the formula: ##EQU21## where n is such that the weight average molecular weight is at least about 5,000.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 in which the polymer contains more than 2 mole % of recurring units of the formula: ##EQU22## the remaining units being ##EQU23## where R 1 is CH 3 -- or H --.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of retaining living tissue in a desired location and relationship during a healing process which comprises: positioning and emplacing living tissue with a surgical element of polymer containing more than 2% by weight of recurring units of the formula: ##EQU24## and the remaining units are ##EQU25## and ##EQU26## where R 1 and R 2 are not the same as R 3 and R 4 , R 1 has at least one carbon atom, and R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and R 8 are separately selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, and the radicals methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, cyclohexyl, and phenyl,
Claim 6
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of retaining living tissue in a desired location and relationship during a healing process which comprises: positioning and emplacing living tissue with a surgical element of polymer containing more than 2% by weight of recurring units of the formula: ##EQU24## and the remaining units are ##EQU25## and ##EQU26## where R 1 and R 2 are not the same as R 3 and R 4 , R 1 has at least one carbon atom, and R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 and R 8 are separately selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, and the radicals methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, cyclohexyl, and phenyl,
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
embedding said element in living tissue and leaving said element in said tissue until said element is absorbed by the tissue during the healing process, the element retaining a high proportion of its original strength for at least three days and being substantially absorbed in about six months when the living tissue is muscular tissue, and a proportionate time in other tissues.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
embedding said element in living tissue and leaving said element in said tissue until said element is absorbed by the tissue during the healing process, the element retaining a high proportion of its original strength for at least three days and being substantially absorbed in about six months when the living tissue is muscular tissue, and a proportionate time in other tissues.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 4 in which the polymer has the formula: ##EQU27## where n is such that the weight average molecular weight is at least about 5,000.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 4 in which the polymer contains more than 2 mole % of recurring units of the formula: ##EQU28## the remaining being ##EQU29## where R 1 is CH 3 -- or H --.