Patent ID: 6048947
Filing Date: 2000-04-11
Classification: A61L,C08G

Abstract:
A surgical suture material comprising a triblock terpolymer having an ABA structure formed from a biodegradable hard segment A and a biodegradable soft segment B, in which the soft segment B is dihydroxy-terminated and chemically bound to the two hard segments A, wherein the soft segment B is a random terpolymer having an amorphous structure, the hard segment blocks A contains a glycolide monomer and represents 20 to 95 weight % of the triblock terpolymer, the terpolymer of the soft segment B being formed from trimethylene carbonate, .epsilon.-caprolactone and glycolide, with the trimethylene carbonate present in an amount of 5 to 70 weight %, the .epsilon.-caprolactone present in an amount of 5 to 70 weight % and the glycolide present in an amount of 10 to 70 weight %, and with the trimethylene carbonate and .epsilon.-caprolactone being present in a weight ratio of between 80:20 and 20:80, wherein the terpolymer has a glass transition temperature in the range of -10 to +25.degree. C. and a melting point which is at least 164.5.degree. C.