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US 8,585,965 B2Granted
Sterilization of polymeric materials
AssigneeEthicon, Inc.
InventorsJames Comolli, Stephen C. Yeadon
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Abstract
A method of sterilizing a polymeric material that is sensitive to radiation. The method includes the steps of applying at least one radiosensitizer to the polymeric material and irradiating the polymeric material with a suitable radiation at an effective dose and time to sterilize the polymeric material. Also disclosed is a method of enhancing the ability of a medical device to withstand sterilization by radiation and a bioabsorbable polymeric medical device.
Claims8
A method of making a polymeric medical device, comprising:
- (a) providing a bioabsorbable polymer composition;
- (b) heating the polymer to a melt processing temperature;
- (c) forming said medical device from the polymer composition using a melt processing apparatus, the medical device having at least a first surface;
- (d) applying at least one radiosensitizer to the at least first surface of the polymeric medical device;
- and
- (e) sterilizing said medical device with ionizing radiation selected from the group consisting of gamma radiation, E-beam radiation, x-ray radiation, and combinations thereof at a dose of between about 0.1 kGy and about 0.3 kGy;
- wherein the medical device is effective for its intended use following sterilization with radiation.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.