US5124103A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Two phase compositions for absorbable surgical devices
Assignee: United States Surgical Corp
•
Filing: 1990-08-02
•
Granted: 1992-06-23
•
Expires: 2010-08-02
Abstract
Abstract An absorbable, annealed surgical device made from a multi-phase, polymeric composition derived from lactide and glycolide. Preferably, the composition has two phases, both phases are continuous, the first phase has about 0-about 25%m glycolide moieties, the overall composition has up to 45%m glycolide moieties, and the first phase constitutes at least 50% (and preferably not more than about 95%) by weight of the composition. The device has a high distortion temperature, good resistance to hot-wet creep, but yet loses tensile strength in vivo quickly. The composition per se is injection-moldable, can be annealed, and is not brittle.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald S. Kaplan
- 👤 Matthew E. Hermes
- 👤 Ross R. Muth
- 👤 John J. Kennedy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:43
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61L; A61L31/00; A61L31/04; A61L31/041; A61L31/12; A61L31/125; A61L31/129
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A process of molding an absorbable surgical article comprising the steps of: providing a dry two-phase polymer composition comprising a glycolide-rich polymer dispersed in a matrix of a lactide-rich polymer, the overall composition having a predominant amount of lactide moieties; placing the composition in a first hopper; applying a vacuum to and slowly heating the composition within the first hopper to maintain the composition in a dry condition; thereafter passing the dried two phase polymeric composition into a second hopper after the composition has been heated in the first hopper; feeding the dried two phase polymeric composition from the second hopper to an injection molding apparatus; and injecting the composition into a mold and recovering the molded article.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
A process of molding an absorbable surgical article comprising the steps of: providing a dry two-phase polymer composition comprising a glycolide-rich polymer dispersed in a matrix of a lactide-rich polymer, the overall composition having a predominant amount of lactide moieties; placing the composition in a first hopper; applying a vacuum to and slowly heating the composition within the first hopper to maintain the composition in a dry condition; thereafter passing the dried two phase polymeric composition into a second hopper after the composition has been heated in the first hopper; feeding the dried two phase polymeric composition from the second hopper to an injection molding apparatus; and injecting the composition into a mold and recovering the molded article.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the pressure in said first hopper is no higher than about 5 m Hg.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 wherein he pressure in said first hopper is no higher than about 0.1 mm Hg.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the composition is maintained in said first hopper for about 15 hours.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process according of claim 1 wherein the composition is maintained in said first hopper at an elevated temperature under vacuum for at least about one hour.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 5 wherein the elevated temperature is 50° to 70° C.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 5 wherein the injection molding is carried out at a temperature less than the melting point of the polymer of the glycolide rich phase.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 5 wherein said first hopper, said second hopper and said injection molding apparatus are padded or purged with a dry inert gas.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process according to claim 1 wherein the second hopper is under vacuum.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the first hopper is heated to 50° to 70 ° C.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the second hopper is preheated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the second hopper is not under vacuum.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-06-23 | 1995-12-23 | 1996-06-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-06-23 | 1999-12-23 | 2000-06-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-06-23 | 2003-12-23 | 2004-06-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |