Synthetic polyester surgical articles

• US 4,243,775 A
• Filed: 11/13/1978
• Issued: 01/06/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sherwood Services AG
• Original Assignee: American Cyanamid Co (Pfizer Inc.)
• Inventors: Webb, Richard L., Rosensaft, Michael N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieberman, Paul
• Application Number:
  US05/960,264
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 528/354, 260/823, 525/415
• US Class Current: 525/415
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 17/12 Homopolymers or copolymers of glycolic acid or lactic acid
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 63/08 Lactones or lactides
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 63/64 Polyesters containing both carboxylic ester groups and carbonate groups
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 6/84 from copolyesters

Abstract

A procedure is disclosed employing the sequential addition of monomers to form a copolymer useful in the manufacture of surgical articles.

Claims

1. In a method for the manufacture of sterile surgical articles fabricated from a synthetic absorbable copolymer formed by copolymerizing glycolide as the predominant monomer with a cyclic ester monomer other than glycolide, the improvement comprising employing sequential addition of the monomers in the polymerization, wherein said glycolide monomer, said cyclic ester monomer, or a combination of said monomers is substantially completely polymerized before the addition of the other monomer or said combination.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said cyclic ester monomer is lactide.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein said cyclic ester monomer is L(-) lactide.

4. The method according to claim 2 wherein said cyclic ester monomer is selected from the group consisting of lactones, oxalates or carbonates.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein said cyclic ester monomer is 1,4-dioxane-2,3-dione.

6. The method according to claim 4 wherein said cyclic ester monomer is 1,3-dioxan-2-one.

7. A copolymer comprising a proportion of sequential units having the formula:

##STR3## and a proportion of sequential units having the formula;

##STR4## wherein formula (II) consists of up to about 50% by weight.

8. A copolymer of claim 7 having a melting point of about 217°

C. to 221°

C. as described by the peak in a differential scanning calorimeter operating at a heating rate of 10°

C. per minute.

9. A copolymer of claim 8 having an inherent viscosity of about 0.5 dl/g. to 2 dl/g.

10. A copolymer of claim 9 having an inherent viscosity of about 0.7 dl/g to 1.2 dl/g.

11. A copolymer of claim 7 or 8 or 10 wherein formula (II) consists of up to about 35% by weight.

12. A copolymer of claim 11 wherein formula (II) consists of between about 10% to 20% by weight.