Devices formed of or including biocompatible
polyhydroxyalkanoates are provided with
controlled degradation rates, preferably less than one year under physiological conditions. Preferred devices include sutures, suture fasteners,
meniscus repair devices, rivets, tacks, staples, screws (including
interference screws),
bone plates and bone plating systems,
surgical mesh, repair patches, slings, cardiovascular patches, orthopedic pins (including bone filling augmentation material), adhesion barriers, stents, guided
tissue repair / regeneration devices,
articular cartilage repair devices, nerve guides,
tendon repair devices, atrial septal
defect repair devices, pericardial patches, bulking and filling agents,
vein valves,
bone marrow scaffolds,
meniscus regeneration devices,
ligament and
tendon grafts, ocular
cell implants,
spinal fusion cages,
skin substitutes, dural substitutes, bone graft substitutes, bone dowels, wound dressings, and hemostats. The
polyhydroxyalkanoates can contain additives, be formed of mixtures of monomers or include pendant groups or modifications in their backbones, or can be chemically modified, all to alter the degradation rates. The polyhydroxyalkanoate compositions also provide favorable mechanical properties,
biocompatibility, and degradation times within desirable time frames under physiological conditions.