Medical devices containing oriented films of poly-4-hydroxybutyrate and copolymers

摘要

Continuous processing methods for making absorbable polymeric films with one or more of the following properties: high toughness, low modulus, high tensile strength, and thickness less than 10 mm, more preferably less than 1 mm, and more preferably less than 100 μm, have been developed. In the preferred embodiment, the polymer is a polyhydroxyalkanoate, and in the most preferred embodiment, the polymer comprises 4-hydroxybutyrate. A particularly preferred embodiment is a film of poly-4-hydroxybutyrate or copolymer thereof, wherein the film has a tensile strength greater than 5.5 kgf/mm2, tensile modulus less than 181 kgf/mm2, and elongation at break from 10-500%, wherein the film is derived by a continuous process such as melt extrusion or solvent casting, followed by orientation to more than 25% of the film's original length in one or more directions. These can be used for a variety of purposes including fabrication of medical devices.

主权项

1. A non-porous film of an oriented poly-4-hydroxybutyrate polymer or a copolymer thereof,
wherein the film has an elongation at break from 10-500%, and wherein the film is derived by drying the polymer or copolymer to less than 0.01% (w/w) water, melt extruding the polymer or copolymer, then orienting the film by stretching the film by more than 25% of the film's original length in one or more directions.