Absorv - Bioabsorbables

Zeus AbsorvAbsorv® - Bioabsorbable Extrusion: Revolutionizing the Next Generation of Medical Devices

Development of Bioabsorbable Polymers

Bioabsorbable polymers are capable of safely existing in the body and eventually absorbing without causing harm or adverse interactions. The ability to safely remain in the body for controlled lengths of time makes bioabsorbable polymers particularly suitable for various medical applications, presenting an alternative to traditional polymers or metal components.

Several families of bioabsorbable polymers are known which include polyesters, poly(amino acids), polyanhydrides, polyorthoesters, polyurethanes, and polycarbonates. Most of the commercially available bioabsorbable devices are composed of polyesters, primarily homopolymers and copolymers of poly(lactic acid) and poly(glycolic acid). Copolyesters of e-caprolactone, trimethylene carbonate, and para-dioxanone have also been commercialized.

The Zeus Advantage: Technology and Capabilities

Our bioabsorbable material processing capabilities and formulations are the most advanced in the industry. Zeus is able to extrude these biomaterials into high precision tubular geometries and perform full polymer characterization to provide necessary data to meet regulatory requirements. Our capabilities include tight tolerance extrusion, formulations, customization, sophisticated materials science, multiple combinations of the product, and degradation profiles.

The Role of Bioabsorbables in Typical Medical Applications

Zeus’ Absorv® biomaterials platform is targeted for the development of a wide variety of medical products for both preventive care and the treatment of disease. With steady growth in the field of bioabsorbables, typical applications are ever-evolving and expanding. Current typical applications include:

Orthopedic – fracture fixation plates, pins and screws, bone augmentation, nails (scaffolding) 
Dental – Packing, dry socket treatment, scaffolding 
Surgical – Ligament repair, wound closure (sutures, suture anchors, skin staples, & adhesives), adhesion barriers, drug delivery, antineoplastic delivery, ligating clips, hemostasis clips, temporary RO markers
Stents – vascular, coronary, biliary, ureteral, esophageal, etc.
Tissue engineering – 3-D structures, electrospinning, molded, extruded
Vascular graft with scaffolding
Bowel anastamosis and ureteral anastamosis
Guided nerve regeneration
Percutaneous devices with limited ingrowth
Tissue engineering scaffolds
Vehicles for controlled drug and therapeutic agent delivery
Catheters 
 
Key Properties:

  • Modulated degradation rates
  • Varying strengths and stiffness
  • Multiple extrusion forms
  • FDA-approved for medical devices
  • Tailored to customer’s specifications

Features:

  • Capable of safely existing and being absorbed in the body
  • Finite functionality 
  • Absence of stress shielding associated with long term permanent implants
  • Controlled/gradual rate of bioabsorption or degradation

Benefits:

  • No second surgery for explantation
  • Controlled load transfer
  • Promotion and temporary support for tissue in-growth for tissue engineering
  • Ability to match degradation profile with healing profile leading to optimal tissue differentiation
  • No undesirable interactions with the body as associated with corrosion of metals
  • Enables long term drug release
  • Provides Novel and Alternate IP position
  • Controlled rate of drug delivery or therapeutic agent
  • Cost effective as compared to metal equivalents

Capabilities: 

  • Tight tolerance extrusion 
  • Sophisticated materials science
  • Advanced processing and development
  • Multiple combinations of the product

 

   Tg (C) Tm (C) E (GPa) Strength (MPa)  Mass Loss (months)* 
 PLLA  60  180-190  3.0-4.0            65           18-36
 PGA  40  215-225  6.0-7.0            95            4-6
 PDLLA  55  amorph  1.0-3.0            40          12-16
 PCL  -60  55-60  0.2-0.4            25          24-36
 PLGA (85L/15G)  55  140-150  2.0-4.0            65          12-18
 PLGA (82L/18G)  50  135-145  2.0-4.0            60          12-16
 PLGA (10L/90G)  40  202-210  3.0-6.0            45            3-4
 PDLGA (50DL/50G)  45  amorph  2.0-4.0             45              1-2     
 PLDLA (80L/20DL)  60  115-130  2.0-4.0            50          12-18
 PLC (70L/30C)  20  105-115  0.02-0.04             3          12-24
*Approximate values for a small selection of absorbable materials processed by Zeus

Zeus Tubing and other Products

Need More Information?

Contact us now to evaluate samples of our extruded tubing or request a quote. To request part numbers or locate regional distributors, contact a technical account manager at 1.800.526.3842 or 1.803.268.9500.

Zeus Online Catalog Available

Please click here to access our catalog for downloading.

*The information in the Zeus website, catalog, and other sources present and discuss generally accepted properties for non-pigmented virgin polymer resins from which ZEUS fabricates its line of extruded products. Actual properties may change due to processing method, resin grade, extruded dimensions, and other variables. It is the end user's responsibility to fully evaluate and test the fitness of the product for their specific application.