Patent · US Expired

Modification of polyglycolic acid structural elements to achieve variable in-vivo physical properties

US4496446A · kind A · utility

18Cited by
6References
3Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 16, 1983
Grant dateJan 29, 1985
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 16, 2003

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S522/911
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The physical properties of structural surgical elements which are made from bioabsorbable materials having a glycolic ester linkage can be controlled so that the rate of strength loss and degradation in vivo is altered to achieve disintegration into fragments suitable for removal from or passage through the body without the need for waiting until the material is absorbed. This is achieved by a method of modifying the element through various chemical and/or physical treatments, preferably irradiation, or combinations thereof, with the result that bioabsorbable structural surgical elements are made more controllable in their strength loss and degradation pattern.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.