High strength, melt processable, lactide-rich, poly (lactide-co-p-dioxanone) copolymers

Claim 2

A process for producing a segmented copolymer from the group of lactone monomers comprising p-dioxanone, and lactide, said process comprising heating a mixture of p-dioxanone monomer, p-dioxanone homopolymer, and lactide, to a sufficient temperature for a sufficient period of time to effectively produce a segmented copolymer comprising a first component comprising about 30 mole percent to about 95 mole percent of repeating units of lactide and a second component comprising about 70 mole percent to about 5 mole percent of repeating units of p-dioxanone.

Claim 3

A process for producing a segmented copolymer comprising the steps of: a) polymerizing p-dioxanone in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of catalyst and an initiator at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient period of time to yield a first mixture of p-dioxanone monomer and p-dioxanone homopolymer; and, b) adding lactide to the first mixture to form a second mixture; and, c) polymerizing the second mixture at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient amount of time to form a segmented copolymer comprising a first component comprising about 30 mole percent to about 95 mole percent of repeating units of lactide and a second component comprising about 70 mole percent to about 5 mole percent of repeating unites of p-dioxanone.

Claim 4

A process for producing a segmented copolymer comprising the steps of: a) polymerizing p-dioxanone in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of catalyst and an initiator at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient period of time to yield a first mixture of p-dioxanone monomer and p-dioxanone homopolymer; and, b) adding lactide to the first mixture to form a second mixture; and, c) polymerizing the second mixture at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient amount of time to form a segmented copolymer comprising a first component comprising about 30 mole percent to about 95 mole percent of repeating units of lactide and a second component comprising about 70 mole percent to about 5 mole percent of repeating unites of p-dioxanone.

Claim 5

The process of claim 2 wherein the temperature for the initial polymerization is about 100° C. to about 130° C. and the time is about 5 to about 6 hours and the temperature for the second polymerization is about 190° C. to about 210° C. and the time is about 1 hour to about 4 hours.

Claim 6

The process of claim 3 wherein the amount of catalyst utilized comprises from about 10,000/1 to about 100,000/1, based on the molar ratio of polymer to catalyst, and wherein the catalyst is tin based.

Claim 7

The process of claim 4 wherein the catalyst comprises stannous octoate.

Claim 8

The process of claim 3 wherein the amount of initiator comprises from about 100/1 to about 5,000/1, based on the molar ratio of polymer to initiator, and wherein the initiator comprises a member selected from the group consisting of alkanols, glycols, a hydroxyacids, amines, and combinations thereof.

Claim 9

The process of claim 3 wherein the lactone monomer added in the second step (b) comprises lactide and the temperature of the polymerization of the second mixture is from about 180° C. to about 220° C.

Claim 10

The process of claim 2 wherein the segmented copolymer comprises a molecular weight such that the inherent viscosity is from about 0.6 dL/g to about 3.0 dL/g as measured in hexafluoroisopropanol at a concentration of 0.1 g/dL.

Claim 11

The process of claim 2 wherein the segmented copolymer comprises: a first component comprising about 30 mole percent to about 90 mole percent of repeating units of lactide and, a second component comprising about 70 mole percent to about 10 mole percent of repeating units of p-dioxanone.

Claim 12

The process of claim 2 wherein the segmented copolymer comprises: about 30 mole percent to about 50 mole percent of repeating units of lactide and, about 70 mole percent to about 50 mole percent of repeating units of p-dioxanone.

Claim 13

An absorbable, biocompatible segmented copolymer comprising: a first component comprising about 30 mole percent to about 95 mole percent of repeating units of lactide; and, a second component comprising about 70 mole percent to about 5 mole percent of repeating units of p-dioxanone, wherein said segmented copolymer is the product of the process comprising the steps of: a) polymerizing p-dioxanone in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of catalyst and an initiator at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient period of time to yield a first mixture of p-dioxanone monomer and p-dioxanone homopolymer; and, b) adding lactide to the first mixture to form a second mixture; and, c) polymerizing the second mixture at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient amount of time.

Claim 14

An absorbable, biocompatible segmented copolymer comprising: a first component comprising about 30 mole percent to about 95 mole percent of repeating units of lactide; and, a second component comprising about 70 mole percent to about 5 mole percent of repeating units of p-dioxanone, wherein said segmented copolymer is the product of the process comprising the steps of: a) polymerizing p-dioxanone in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of catalyst and an initiator at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient period of time to yield a first mixture of p-dioxanone monomer and p-dioxanone homopolymer; and, b) adding lactide to the first mixture to form a second mixture; and, c) polymerizing the second mixture at a sufficient temperature and for a sufficient amount of time.