Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
43 words
A radiation-curable, urethane-acrylate prepolymer comprising the reaction product of the following: a) a urethane prepolymer of a polyfunctional isocyanate and a hydrolyzable oligomer of an anhydrous cyclic ester of an hydroxy acid, and b) an endtipping amount of an hydroxy (acrylate or methacrylate).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
28 words
The urethane-acrylate prepolymer of claim 1 wherein the anhydrous cyclic ester of an hydroxy acid is lactide, glycolide, para-dioxanone, trimethylene carbonate, or a mixture of any of these.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The urethane-acrylate prepolymer of claim 1 wherein the anhydrous cyclic ester of an hydroxy acid is a mixture of ε-caprolactone and any of the following: lactide, glycolide, para-dioxanone, or trimethylene carbonate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The urethane-acrylate prepolymer of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the polyfunctional isocyanate is toluene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate, (meta) tetramethyl xylene diisocyanate, 4,4' methylene diphenylene diisocyanate, lysine triisocyanate, or isocyanatoethyl methacrylate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The urethane-acrylate prepolymer of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the hydroxy (acrylate or methacrylate) is HEMA or HEA.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The urethane-acrylate prepolymer of claim 5 wherein the hydroxy (acrylate or methacrylate) is HEMA and wherein the endtipping amount of HEMA is defined by a mole ratio of the urethane prepolymer to HEMA of between about 2:1 to about 1:2.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A crosslinked polymer prepared by irradiating the urethane-acrylate prepolymer of any one of claims 1 to 6 under conditions sufficient to induce curing of said prepolymer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The crosslinked polymer of claim 7 wherein the urethane-acrylate prepolymer is irradiated in the presence of a reactive diluent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The crosslinked polymer of claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the urethane-acrylate prepolymer is irradiated by photopolymerization in the presence of a photoinitiator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The crosslinked polymer of any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein the crosslinked polymer is shaped to form a surgical device such as a surgical staple or clip.