Molding process for polydioxanone polymers

Claim 1

A method of producing a molded surgical device from polymers having units of the formula: ##STR3## wherein x is the degree of polymerization resulting in a high molecular weight moldable polymer, said polymer having an inherent viscosity of at least 0.50 measured as a 0.1% solution in tetrachloroethane at 25° C. and a crystallinity of at least 20% as determined by X-ray diffraction comprising: (a) heating the polymer to a temperature of from about the melt temperature of the polymer to about 140° C.: (b) injecting said heated polymer in a mold, said mold being maintained at a temperature of 35° C. or less; (c) allowing said polymer to harden sufficient to maintain its shape while in the mold; and (d) removing said hardened polymer from the mold.

Claim 2

A method of producing a molded surgical device from polymers having units of the formula: ##STR3## wherein x is the degree of polymerization resulting in a high molecular weight moldable polymer, said polymer having an inherent viscosity of at least 0.50 measured as a 0.1% solution in tetrachloroethane at 25° C. and a crystallinity of at least 20% as determined by X-ray diffraction comprising: (a) heating the polymer to a temperature of from about the melt temperature of the polymer to about 140° C.: (b) injecting said heated polymer in a mold, said mold being maintained at a temperature of 35° C. or less; (c) allowing said polymer to harden sufficient to maintain its shape while in the mold; and (d) removing said hardened polymer from the mold.

Claim 9

A method for producing a molded ligating clip from a polymer of p-dioxanone, said polymer having an inherent viscosity of at least 0.50 measured as a 0.1% solution in tetrachloroethane at 25° C. and a crystallinity of at least about 20% determined by X-ray diffraction, said clip comprising a pair of leg members connected at their proximal ends by a resilient hinge area and including latching means at the distal ends of said leg members, comprising: (a) heating the polymer to a temperature of from about the melt temperature of the polymer to 140° C.; (b) injecting said heated polymer under pressure into a mold having the configuration of said ligating clip, said mold being maintained at a temperature of 35° C. or less; (c) maintaining pressure on said polymer as the polymer starts to harden and crystallize in the mold; (d) allowing the polymer to harden while in the mold; and (e) removing said hardened polymer from the mold in the configuration of said ligating clip.

Claim 10

A method for producing a molded ligating clip from a polymer of p-dioxanone, said polymer having an inherent viscosity of at least 0.50 measured as a 0.1% solution in tetrachloroethane at 25° C. and a crystallinity of at least about 20% determined by X-ray diffraction, said clip comprising a pair of leg members connected at their proximal ends by a resilient hinge area and including latching means at the distal ends of said leg members, comprising: (a) heating the polymer to a temperature of from about the melt temperature of the polymer to 140° C.; (b) injecting said heated polymer under pressure into a mold having the configuration of said ligating clip, said mold being maintained at a temperature of 35° C. or less; (c) maintaining pressure on said polymer as the polymer starts to harden and crystallize in the mold; (d) allowing the polymer to harden while in the mold; and (e) removing said hardened polymer from the mold in the configuration of said ligating clip.