Biodegradable medical implant with encapsulated buffering agent
First Claim
1. A medical device for placement at a site in a patient'"'"'s body and for maintaining pH levels at the site in the patient'"'"'s body at neutral pH, the device comprising:
- one or more structural components made of a first biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material which is a polymer of poly (alpha-hydroxy acid);
a buffering agent; and
at least one second biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material encapsulating the buffering agent on or in the one or more structural components, said buffering agent being encapsulated by the second biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material, the buffering agent being released from the second biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material as the second biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material degrades, in response to a reduction in the pH level at the site in the patient'"'"'s body resulting from the hydrolysis of the first biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material,wherein the device is configured so that upon exposure to an acidic environment, an amount of the second biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material degrades and releases the encapsulated buffering agent in an amount that provides a stoichiometric balance between the amount of buffering agent released and the total amount of acid released from the device, such that the pH level is raised to a neutral pH level.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A medical device for placement at a site in a patient'"'"'s body and for controlling pH levels at the site in the patient'"'"'s body includes one or more structural components made of a first biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material or, alternatively, one or more structural components having a coating thereon made of a first biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material. The device also includes a buffering agent and at least one second biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material on or in the one or more structural components, or alternatively, on or in the coating on the one or more structural components. The at least one second biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material encapsulates the buffering agent and the buffering agent is dispersed from the at least one second biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material in response to hydrolysis of the first biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material. Additionally, the device can include a drug that is either also encapsulated by the at least one second biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material or is included with the first biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A medical device for placement at a site in a patient'"'"'s body and for maintaining pH levels at the site in the patient'"'"'s body at neutral pH, the device comprising:
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one or more structural components made of a first biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material which is a polymer of poly (alpha-hydroxy acid); a buffering agent; and at least one second biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material encapsulating the buffering agent on or in the one or more structural components, said buffering agent being encapsulated by the second biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material, the buffering agent being released from the second biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material as the second biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material degrades, in response to a reduction in the pH level at the site in the patient'"'"'s body resulting from the hydrolysis of the first biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material, wherein the device is configured so that upon exposure to an acidic environment, an amount of the second biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material degrades and releases the encapsulated buffering agent in an amount that provides a stoichiometric balance between the amount of buffering agent released and the total amount of acid released from the device, such that the pH level is raised to a neutral pH level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 41, 42)
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21. A medical device for placement at a site in a patient'"'"'s body and for maintaining pH levels at the site in the patient'"'"'s body at neutral pH, the device comprising;
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one or more structural components having a coating thereon, the coating made of a first biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material which is a polymer of poly (alpha-hydroxy acid); a buffering agent; and at least one second biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material encapsulating the buffering agent on or in the one or more structural components, said buffering agent being encapsulated by the second biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material, the buffering agent being released from the second biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material as the second biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material degrades, in response to a reduction in the pH level at the site in the patient'"'"'s body resulting from the hydrolysis of the first biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material, wherein the device is configured so that upon exposure to an acidic medium an amount of the second biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable material degrades and releases the encapsulated buffering agent in an amount that provides a stoichiometric balance between the amount of buffering agent released and the total amount of acid released from the device, such that the pH level is raised to a neutral pH level. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 43, 44)
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Specification