Wound closure material

1. A method comprising:

obtaining a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, lactic acid, glycolide, lactide, dioxanone, trimethylene carbonate, caprolactone, and combinations thereof;

forming the polymeric material into an article that does not possess orientation in a single direction by subjecting the polymeric material to a temperature of from about 95° C. to about 230° C. and a pressure of from about 1 psi to about 2500 psi, for a period of time from about 5 seconds to about 10 minutes; and

recovering the article.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric material comprises a copolymer including glycolide in amounts from about 60% to about 75% by weight of the copolymer and trimethylene carbonate in amounts from about 25% to about 40% by weight of the copolymer.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric material comprises a copolymer including glycolide in amounts from about 55% to about 65% by weight of the copolymer, dioxanone in amounts from about 10% to about 18% by weight of the copolymer, and trimethylene carbonate in amounts from about 17% to about 35% by weight of the copolymer.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric material comprises a copolymer including caprolactone in amounts from about 14% to about 20% by weight of the copolymer, lactide in amounts from about 4% to about 10% by weight of the copolymer, trimethylene carbonate in amounts from about 4% to about 10% by weight of the copolymer, and glycolide in amounts from about 60% to about 78% by weight of the copolymer.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the polymeric material into an article comprises forming an article selected from the group consisting of ribbons, tapes, sheets, and films.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the polymeric material into an article that does not possess orientation in a single direction results in an article possessing no orientation.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the polymeric material into an article that does not possess orientation in a single direction results in an article possessing multi-directional orientation.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising forming a texture on at least one surface of the article.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the article possesses a thickness of from about 0.0005 inches to about 0.014 inches.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the article possesses a thickness of from about 0.002 inches to about 0.005 inches.

11. A method of sealing a wound comprising:

enclosing tissue between a cartridge and an anvil of a surgical stapling apparatus, one of the cartridge or anvil having a buttress positioned adjacent thereto, wherein the buttress comprises an article produced by the method of claim 1 ; and

ejecting staples from said cartridge to secure the buttress to the tissue.

12. A method comprising:

obtaining a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of glycolic acid, lactic acid, glycolide, lactide, dioxanone, trimethylene carbonate, caprolactone, and combinations thereof;

forming the polymeric material into an article that does not possess orientation in a single direction by introducing the polymeric material into a barrel heated to a temperature of from about 290° F. to about 355° F., extruding the polymeric material through a die having a diameter of from about 1 inch to about 1.5 inches to produce a tubular film, expanding the tubular film to a diameter of from about 2 inches to about 4 inches, and flattening the tubular film to produce a film having a thickness from about 0.001 inches to about 0.014 inches; and

recovering the article.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the polymeric material comprises a copolymer including glycolide in amounts from about 60% to about 75% by weight of the copolymer and trimethylene carbonate in amounts from about 25% to about 40% by weight of the copolymer.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the polymeric material comprises a copolymer including glycolide in amounts from about 55% to about 65% by weight of the copolymer, dioxanone in amounts from about 10% to about 18% by weight of the copolymer, and trimethylene carbonate in amounts from about 17% to about 35% by weight of the copolymer.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the polymeric material comprises a copolymer including caprolactone in amounts from about 14% to about 20% by weight of the copolymer, lactide in amounts from about 4% to about 10% by weight of the copolymer, trimethylene carbonate in amounts from about 4% to about 10% by weight of the copolymer, and glycolide in amounts from about 60% to about 78% by weight of the copolymer.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein forming the polymeric material into an article comprises forming an article selected from the group consisting of ribbons, tapes, sheets, and films.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein forming the polymeric material into an article that does not possess orientation in a single direction results in an article possessing no orientation.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein forming the polymeric material into an article that does not possess orientation in a single direction results in an article possessing multi-directional orientation.

19. The method of claim 12 , further comprising forming a texture on at least one surface of the article.

20. The method of claim 12 , wherein the article possesses a thickness of from about 0.0005 inches to about 0.014 inches.

21. The method of claim 12 , wherein the article possesses a thickness of from about 0.002 inches to about 0.005 inches.

22. A method of sealing a wound comprising:

enclosing tissue between a cartridge and an anvil of a surgical stapling apparatus, one of the cartridge or anvil having a buttress positioned adjacent thereto, wherein the buttress comprises an article produced by the method of claim 12 ; and

ejecting staples from said cartridge to secure the buttress to the tissue.