THERMOFORMED POLY-4-HYDROXYBUTYRATE MEDICAL IMPLANTS

• Main Authors: WILLIAMS, Simon F, BERNASCONI, Matthew, RIZK, Said, CONNELLY, Dennis W, MARTIN, David P
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 06.05.2020
• 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

Methods to produce thermoforms from P4HB homopolymer and blends thereof have been developed. These thermoforms are produced from films and sheets including P4HB, wherein the intrinsic viscosity of the P4HB is less than 3.5 dl/g, but greater than 0.35 dl/g, and the thermoforms are produced at a temperature equal to or greater than the softening point of P4HB, and more preferably at a temperature higher than the melting point of P4HB. A preferred embodiment includes a P4HB thermoform wherein a film or sheet including a P4HB polymer is thermoformed at a temperature between its melting point and 150 °C. In a particularly preferred embodiment the thermoform is a laminate made from a P4HB film and a P4HB mesh.