Films and Methods of Manufacture

Abstract

A flexible body comprises a polymer film having a first surface and an opposing second surface. The polymer film has a plurality of apertures extending from the first surface to the second surface and a plurality of raised lips protruding from the first surface such that each of the plurality of apertures is surrounded by one of the plurality of raised lips. A method of producing a polymer film comprises placing a polymer solution into a one sided mold having a plurality of protrusions extending from a bottom of the mold wherein the polymer solution is characterized by a viscosity that inhibits the unaided flow of the polymer throughout the mold; urging the polymer solution around each of the plurality of protrusions; and solidifying the polymer solution.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of producing an implantable drug eluting polymer film comprising:
 placing a polymer solution containing a drug into a one-sided mold having a plurality of protrusions extending from a bottom of the mold wherein the polymer solution is characterized by a viscosity that inhibits the unaided flow of the polymer throughout the mold;   urging the polymer solution around each of the plurality of protrusions; and   solidifying the polymer solution into an implantable polymer film.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mold includes a perimeter form extending to an elevation that is substantially equal to an elevation of each of the plurality of protrusions. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the urging comprises drawing a urging means across the perimeter form and the plurality of protrusions to force the polymer solution to flow around the plurality of protrusions and throughout the mold such that the polymer solution has a substantially uniform thickness. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein an outer surface of each of the protrusions is substantially free of polymer solution after the drawing. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the placing step includes depositing the polymer solution in the mold such that a portion of the polymer solution is above the elevation of the perimeter form and the protrusions. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer solution is formed by combining a solvent, a polymer, and the drug at a temperature below 90° C. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the drug includes discrete drug units. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein solidifying the polymer solution includes reducing a thickness of the polymer solution. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein solidifying the polymer solution includes forming a meniscus of solidified polymer around each of the plurality of protrusions. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a distance from the bottom of the mold to a top of each of the plurality of protrusions is less than approximately 0.3 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter form defines a total mold area and the plurality of protrusions define an area that is at least about 15% of the total mold area. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising peeling the drug eluting film from the mold. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the polymer solution comprises a cross-linkable pre-polymer solution. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the solidifying step includes cross-linking the polymer by applying UV radiation, temperature change, polymerization catalysts, soluble cross-linking agents or combinations thereof to the polymer solution. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer solution comprises a first solvent and a polymer and the solidifying step includes exposing the polymer solution to a second solvent in which the first solvent is soluble and in which the polymer and the drug are not soluble such that the first solvent is at least substantially removed from the polymer solution and the polymer solidifies to contain the drug.