Random copolymers of p-dioxanone, lactide and/or glycolide as coating polymers for surgical filaments

Claim 1

A surgical filament having improved tie-down properties characterized in that the surface of the filament is coated with a random copolymer of p-dioxanone and at least one of lactide and glycolide wherein: said random copolymer is prepared by polymerizing, in the presence of an esterification or ester exchange catalyst, a mixture of (a) an initiator comprising a mono- or polyhydric alcohol or a hydroxy acid and (b) a monomer mixture comprising (i) lactide, glycolide, or mixture thereof, and (ii) p-dioxanone, in the molar proportion of from about 0.15 to about 0.5 mole of lactide, glycolide, or mixture thereof, the remainder being p-dioxanone, wherein the initiator is employed in the proportion of from about 0.1 wt % to about 30 wt %, based on weight of said monomer mixture; and said random copolymer has an inherent viscosity of from about 0.05 to about 0.5 dl/g, tested at 25° C. in hexafluoroisopropyl alcohol at a concentration of 0.1 gram of polymer per deciliter of solution.