Patent ID: 8241656

Claim:
A medical implant comprising a biodegradable body member comprising a matrix of crosslinked polymers, wherein the matrix is formed from a composition comprising polymers having a molecular weight of 500,000 Da or less and comprising repeating glucopyranose units comprising hydroxyl groups present on 2, 3, and 6 position carbons, wherein the glucopyranose units are joined by α-1,4 linkages, pendent polymerizable groups, and an ester group present between the pendent polymerizable group and the glucopyranose unit, wherein the ester group is formed from esterification of a hydroxyl group selected from the hydroxyl groups present on the 2, 3, and 6 position carbons of the glucopyranose unit which comprises the formula: where X represents the 6 position carbon, and Y represents the 2 or 3 position carbon of the glucopyranose unit.