Phase separated, branched, copolymer hydrogel

• US 7,919,542 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2007
• Issued: 04/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zimmer Spine, Inc. (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Zimmer Spine, Inc. (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hudgins, Robert Garryl, Criss, Jim M. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yoon; Tae H
• Application Number:
  US11/938,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20090124722A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• Field of Search: 523/115, 524/916, 525/374, 528/492
• US Class Current: 523/115
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/16 obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/52 Hydrogels or hydrocolloids
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 16/06 Polyvinyl alcohol ; Vinyl alcohol
• CPC Class Codes: C08F 8/00 Chemical modification by after-treatment graft polymers, block polymers, crosslinking with unsaturated monomers or with polymers C08F251/00 - C08F299/00; of conjugated diene rubbers C08C
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2329/04 Polyvinyl alcohol; Partially hydrolysed homopolymers or copolymers of esters of unsaturated alcohols with saturated carboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 3/075 Macromolecular gels
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 29/04 Polyvinyl alcohol; Partially hydrolysed homopolymers or copolymers of esters of unsaturated alcohols with saturated carboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 524/916 Hydrogel compositions

Abstract

The present invention provides a hydrogel composition comprising a mixture of a hydrophilic polymer and a polymer chain modifying agent, wherein the polymer chain modifying agent is selected from the group consisting of an aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydride, a titanate, and a polyetherimide. The present invention also provides a method for producing a phase separated, branched, copolymer hydrogel comprising a mixture of a hydrophilic polymer and a polymer chain modifying agent. The present invention also provides an implantable medical device comprising a phase separated, branched, copolymer hydrogel wherein the phase separated, branched, copolymer hydrogel is formed of a hydrophilic polymer and a polymer chain modifying agent.

Claims

1. An implantable medical device comprising:

a composition comprising a phase separated, branched, hydrogel, the hydrogel formed by polymerizing a hydrophilic polymer and a polymer chain modifying agent in the presence of a crosslinking agent and a reaction initiator such that the hydrophilic polymer and polymer chain modifying agent are chemically bonded to one another; and

wherein the phase separated, branched, copolymer hydrogel has a greater mechanical strength and a higher melting temperature than the hydrophilic polymer; and

wherein the polymer chain modifying agent is a polyetherimide.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the hydrophilic polymer is a polyhydroxy-containing polymer.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the hydrophilic polymer is a polyvinyl alcohol, a polyacrylamide, or combinations thereof.

4. An implantable medical device comprising a phase separated, branched, hydrogel comprising a hydrophilic polymer and a polymer chain modifying agent chemically bonded to one another, wherein the polymer chain modifying agent is a polyetherimide;

and

wherein the phase separated, branched, copolymer hydrogel has a greater mechanical strength and a higher melting temperature than the hydrophilic polymer.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the hydrophilic polymer is a polyhydroxy-containing polymer.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein the hydrophilic polymer is a polyvinyl alcohol, a polyacrylamide, or combinations thereof.

7. The device of claim 4 wherein the device is used in nucleoplasty or medial compartment tibial resurfacing.