Importance

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Abstract

A triblock copolymer having a proportion of units having the formula: ##STR1## as the end blocks, and the formula (I) randomly combined with a proportion of units having the formula: ##STR2## as the middle block finds particular advantageous use in manufacturing absorbable monofilament sutures and other surgical articles. A surgical article is manufactured from a synthetic absorbable copolymer formed by copolymerizing glycolide with 1,3-dioxan-2-one (trimethylene carbonate) wherein a combination of the monomers is substantially completely polymerized before the addition of the other monomer in the presence of a difunctional initiator at or below about 180.degree. C.; glycolide is added and the temperature increased up to about the melting point of poly glycolide to form a triblock copolymer with a proportion of units having the formula: ##STR3## as the end blocks, and the formula (I) randomly combined with a proportion of units having the formula: ##STR4## as the middle block.

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First Claim