Patent ID: 7745532

Claim:
A method of controlling properties and forming a physically crosslinked, biocompatible hydrogel for a medical implant, wherein the method comprises the steps of: (a) dissolving vinyl polymer molecules in a first solution to form a vinyl polymer solution, wherein the first solution has a Flory interaction parameter (chi value) that is not sufficient for gelation; (b) contacting the vinyl polymer solution with a second solution in a controlled manner, wherein after the contacting the combination of both solutions has a Flory interaction parameter (chi value) that is sufficient for gelation in order to form a physically crosslinked, biocompatible hydrogel without chemical crosslinkers, irradiation or thermal cycling; and (c) providing the physically crosslinked, biocompatible hydrogel formed in step (b) for the medical implant, wherein the medical implant is a load bearing or non-load bearing material for replacement, repair or enhancement of tissue.