Patent ID: 8636753

Claim:
A surgical mesh prosthesis comprising a porous surgical woven or knitted mesh comprising a biocompatible material selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyesters and polyamides, said mesh formed into the configuration of a pouch for encapsulation of an implantable electronic device, whereby tissue ingrowth into said mesh stabilizes said implantable electronic device within said mesh, said surgical mesh coated with a biodegradable polymer coating, wherein said coating (i) temporarily imparts stiffness to said mesh to at least 1.1 times its uncoated stiffness, (ii) is disposed on said mesh without substantially altering the porosity thereof, (iii) biodegrades in the body of a patient to allow the mesh to revert substantially to its uncoated stiffness, (iv) has sufficient strength to hold said mesh in the form of said pouch once said coating is dried, cured or set, and (v) has a molecular weight of between 10,000 and 200,000 Dalton, said coating further comprising at least one drug miscible in said polymer coating selected from the group consisting of antimicrobial agents, anesthetics, analgesics, anti-fibrotic agents and leukotriene inhibitors.