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US 9,168,677 B2Granted
Controlling moisture in and plasticization of bioresorbable polymer for melt processing
AssigneeAbbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
InventorsBethany Steichen, Stephen Pacetti, Manish Gada, Thierry Glauser, Lothar Kleiner, Yunbing Wang, James Oberhauser, Ni Ding
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Abstract
Methods and systems for controlling the moisture content of biodegradable and bioresorbable polymer resin during extrusion above a lower limit that allows for plasticization of the polymer resin melt and below an upper limit to reduce or prevent molecular weight loss are disclosed. Methods are further disclosed involving plasticization of a polymer resin for feeding into an extruder with carbon dioxide and freon.
Claims10
A method comprising
- providing a bioresorbable polymer resin as feed to an extruder for an extrusion process;
- controlling the moisture content of the polymer resin during the extrusion process prior to feeding to the extruder to be within a selected range between 50 ppm and 1000 ppm as the polymer resin is fed into the extruder;
- and
- adjusting the moisture content of a drying gas stream passing through the polymer resin prior to being fed into the extruder to control the moisture content of the polymer resin;
- wherein adjusting the moisture content of the drying gas stream comprises increasing the moisture content of the drying gas stream.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.