PREVENTING TISSUE ADHESION USING -i(IN SITU) MODIFICATION OF ALGINATE

• Main Authors: BARRY, JAMES J, ABERMAN, HAROLD M, HIGHAM, PAUL A
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 20.11.1996
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS, ORSURGICAL ARTICLES; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION, OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS, OR SURGICALARTICLES; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS INGENERAL; PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL, OR TOILET PURPOSES; SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS ORMEDICINAL PREPARATIONS

A method of modifying salts of alginic acid in situ for prevention and treatment of various intra-articular and extra-articular (spine) complications modifies the alginate in situ to an insoluble gel. This in situ modification provides a final product which can be compressed within the intra-articular space thus remaining localized. The modified material can have varied mechanical strengths and thus varied degradation times and can serve as a matrix for localizing and slowly releasing therapeutic agents. The modified material is biocompatible and biodegradable, thus requiring no reoperation for removal.