A biodegradable and biocompatible nontoxic polymeric composition is provided which includes a base material such as a crystallizable polymer, copolymer, or terpolymer, and a copolymer or terpolymer additive. Medical devices manufactured from the composition are also provided.

A biodegradable and biocompatible nontoxic polymeric composition is provided which includes a base material such as a crystallizable polymer, copolymer, or terpolymer, and a copolymer or terpolymer additive. Medical devices manufactured from the composition are also provided.

A biodegradable and biocompatible nontoxic polymeric composition is provided which includes a base material such as a crystallizable polymer, copolymer, or terpolymer, and a copolymer or terpolymer additive. Medical devices manufactured from the composition are also provided.

Methods and systems of fabricating a polymeric stent are disclosed herein.

A semi-crystalline blended polymer useful for additive manufacturing is comprised of an amorphous thermoplastic polymer and a thermoplastic semi-crystalline polymer, each of the polymers being essentially miscible in the other and being blended at a weight ratio of amorphous polymer/semi-crystalline polymer of greater that 1 to about 20. The semi-crystalline blended polymer displays a DSC melt peak enthalpy of at least about 3 joules/g. The semi-crystalline polymer may be made by blending the aforementioned polymers at the weight ratio and subject to heating between the melt temperature of the semi-crystalline polymer and the glass transition temperature of the amorphous polymer. The semi-crystalline blended polymer may revert to essentially an amorphous polymer when additive manufactured by fusing layers of said polymer powders together.

Provided is a new and better solution to the problems associated with the premature softening of PLA filaments in the additive manufacturing of three dimensional articles. It is based upon the finding that poly (lactic acid) filaments with high crystallinity offer much better resistance to heat-induced softening. The crystalline poly (lactic acid) filament can accordingly be used in the additive manufacturing of three dimensional articles without encountering the problems associated with premature softening, such as poor quality and printer jamming. The crystalline poly (lactic acid) filaments can also be used in additive manufacturing of three dimensional articles without compromising the quality of the ultimate product, reducing printing speed, increasing cost, or leading to increased printer complexity. It more specifically discloses a filament for use in three-dimensional printing which is comprised of crystalized poly (lactic acid), wherein said filament has a diameter which is within the range of 1.65 mm to 1.85 mm.

A biodegradable and biocompatible nontoxic polymeric composition is provided which includes a base material such as a crystallizable polymer, copolymer, or terpolymer, and a copolymer or terpolymer additive. Medical devices manufactured from the composition are also provided.

A biodegradable and biocompatible nontoxic polymeric composition is provided which includes a base material such as a crystallizable polymer, copolymer, or terpolymer, and a copolymer or terpolymer additive. Medical devices manufactured from the composition are also provided.

Methods and systems of fabricating a polymeric stent are disclosed herein.

A crystallinity measurement device includes a Raman spectroscopy unit configured to acquire a Raman spectrum of resin-containing material including crystalline thermoplastic resin; and an analysis unit configured to calculate crystallinity of the crystalline thermoplastic resin based on an intensity of a low-wavenumber spectrum that is a spectrum in a region of less than 600 cm.sup.1, in the Raman spectrum.