Synthetic absorbable autoclaveable monofilament fibers and brachytherapy seed spacers

Abstract

The present invention is directed to absorbable, autoclaveable, monofilament fibers prepared from absorbable glycolide-rich polymers, in which the fibers are oriented in the total draw ratio range 4.1 to 5.9X, and are annealed at a temperature between about 165° C. and about 185° C; to brachytherapy seed spacers manufactured from the absorbable, autoclaveable, glycolide-rich polymers, monofilament fibers; and to methods of manufacturing such fibers and brachytherapy seed spacers.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A process for the manufacture of a monofilament fiber, comprising the steps of: 
 extruding a polymer comprising 100 to about 80 mole percent polymerized glycolide to form a monofilament fiber,    orienting the extruded monofilament fiber to a total draw ratio of 4.1 to 5.9X; and    annealing the oriented monofilament fiber at a temperature of about 165° to about 185° C.    
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the polymer comprises up to about 20 mole percent polymerized monomer selected from the group consisting of L(−)-lactide, D(+)-lactide, meso-lactide, p-dioxanone, trimethylene carbonate and epsilon-caprolactone.  
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 2  wherein the polymer comprises about 10 mole percent polymerized lactide and about 90 mole percent polymerized glycolide.  
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the total draw ratio is about 4.5 to about 5.5X.  
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the monofilament fiber is annealed at a temperature of about 170° C. to about 180° C.  
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 4  wherein the monofilament fiber is annealed at a temperature of about 170° C. to about 180° C.  
     
     
         7 . An absorbable, autoclaveable, monofilament fiber prepared by the process of: 
 extruding a polymer comprising 100 to about 80 mole percent polymerized glycolide to form a monofilament fiber, orienting the extruded monofilament fiber to a total draw ratio of 4.1 to 5.9X; and    annealing the oriented monofilament fiber at a temperature from about 165°to about 185° C.    
     
     
         8 . The fiber of  claim 7  wherein the polymer comprises up to about 20 mole percent polymerized monomer selected from the group consisting of L(−)-lactide, D(+)-lactide, meso-lactide, p-dioxanone, trimethylene carbonate and epsilon-caprolactone.  
     
     
         9 . The fiber of  claim 8  wherein the polymer comprises about 10 mole percent polymerized lactide and about 90 mole percent polymerized glycolide.  
     
     
         10 . The fiber of  claim 7  wherein the total draw ratio is about 4.5 to about 5.5X.  
     
     
         11 . The fiber of  claim 7  wherein the monofilament fiber is annealed at a temperature from about 170° C. to about 1 80° C.  
     
     
         12 . The fiber of  claim 10  wherein the monofilament fiber is annealed at a temperature of about 170° C. to about 180° C.  
     
     
         13 . A brachytherapy seed spacer comprising an absorbable, autoclaveable monofilament fiber prepared by the process of: 
 extruding a polymer comprising 100 to about 80 mole percent polymerized glycolide to form a monofilament fiber,    orienting the extruded monofilament fiber to a total draw ratio of 4.1 to 5.9X; and    annealing the oriented monofilament fiber at a temperature of about 165° to about 185° C.    
     
     
         14 . The seed spacer of  claim 13  wherein the polymer comprises up to about 20 mole percent polymerized monomer selected from the group consisting of L(−)-lactide, D(+)-lactide, meso-lactide, p-dioxanone, trimethylene carbonate and epsilon-caprolactone.  
     
     
         15 . The seed spacer of  claim 14  wherein the polymer comprises about 10 mole percent polymerized lactide and about 90 mole percent polymerized glycolide.  
     
     
         16 . The seed spacer of  claim 13  wherein the total draw ratio is about 4.5 to about 5.5X.  
     
     
         17 . The seed spacer of  claim 13  wherein the monofilament fiber is annealed at a temperature from about 170° C. to about 180° C.  
     
     
         18 . The seed spacer of  claim 16  wherein the monofilament fiber is annealed at a temperature from about 170° C. to about 180° C.  
     
     
         19 . A process for the manufacture of a brachytherapy seed spacer, comprising the steps of: 
 extruding a polymer comprising 100 to about 80 mole percent polymerized glycolide to prepare a mono filament fiber,    orienting the extruded monofilament fiber to a total draw ratio of 4.1 to 5.9X,    annealing the oriented monofilament fiber at a temperature from about 165° to about 185° C; and    cutting the annealed, oriented monofilament fiber to a pre-determined dimension effective for use as the brachytherapy seed spacer.    
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 19  wherein the polymer comprises up to about 20 mole percent polymerized monomer selected from the group consisting of L(−)-lactide, D(+)-lactide, meso-lactide, p-dioxanone, trimethylene carbonate and epsilon-caprolactone.  
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 20  wherein the polymer comprises about 10 mole percent polymerized lactide and about 90 mole percent polymerized glycolide.  
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 19  wherein the total draw ratio is about 4.5 to about 5.5X.  
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 19  wherein the monofilament fiber is annealed at a temperature from about 170° C to about 180° C.  
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 22  wherein the monofilament fiber is annealed at a temperature from about 170° C to about 180° C.