Patent ID: 7229471
Filing Date: 2007-06-12
Classification: A61L

Abstract:
1. A medical article comprising an implant comprising a polymeric material, wherein the polymeric material comprises a plasticizing agent capable of increasing a strain-to-failure in the polymeric material so as to prevent or reduce a formation of cracks in the polymeric material while placing the implant in a subject, wherein the plasticizing agent is localized in high-strain regions of the implant such that the high-strain regions have more of the plasticizing agent than regions outside of the high-strain regions, the high strain regions comprising regions that bend during placement of the implant, wherein the plasticizing agent leaches from the polymeric material after placing the implant in a subject to provide rigidity in the polymeric material, and wherein the plasticizing agent leaches from the polymeric material in less than an amount of time necessary for a required dimension of the implant to change in response to a stress in a manner that affects the clinical utility of the implant.