Bioresponsive polymer seal for protection

Claims

1 / 6 CLAIMS 1. Medical device, CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises a polymer composition wherein the polymer composition comprises a polymer containing polycarboxylic acid and a polymer containing polylactone, wherein the polymer coating is essentially free of any cellulosic polymer.

2. Medical device, according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED in that the polymer containing polycarboxylic acid comprises two or more carboxylic acids or carboxylic esters per repeating unit.

3. Medical device, according to claim 1 or claim 2, CHARACTERIZED in that the polymer containing polycarboxylic acid comprises one or more repeating units of acrylate or methacrylate containing carboxylic acid or carboxylic ester.

4. Medical device, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, CHARACTERIZED in that the polymer containing polycarboxylic acid comprises from about 50% w / w to about 75% w / w of carboxylic acid or carboxylic ester groups.

5. Medical device, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, CHARACTERIZED in that the polymer containing polycarboxylic acid further comprises one or more crosslinking agents.

6. Medical device according to claim 5, characterized in that the crosslinking agent is a sugar or sugar alcohol.

7. Medical device according to claim 6, CHARACTERIZED in that the sugar is a polysaccharide.

8. Medical device according to claim 6, characterized in that the polysaccharide is sucrose.

9. Medical device, according to claim 6, CHARACTERIZED in that the sugar alcohol is erythritol. Petition 870250084339, dated 09 / 18 / 2025, p. 56 / 72 2 / 6 10. Medical device, according to any one of claims 1 to 9, CHARACTERIZED in that the polylactone-containing polymer is a polypyrrolidone-containing polymer.

11. Medical device, according to any one of claims 1 to 10, CHARACTERIZED in that the polypyrrolidone-containing polymer is polyvinylpyrrolidone.

12. Medical device, according to any one of claims 1 to 11, CHARACTERIZED in that the polymer containing polycarboxylic acid and the polymer containing polypyrrolidone are present in a ratio of 15:1 to 1:

15.

13. Medical device, according to claim 12, CHARACTERIZED in that the ratio is 10:1 to 1:

10.

14. Medical device, according to claim 13, CHARACTERIZED in that the ratio is 5:1 to 1:

5.

15. Medical device, according to either claim 12 or claim 13, CHARACTERIZED in that the ratio is 1:

1.

16. Medical device according to claim 12, characterized in that the ratio is 15:1 to 1:

1.

17. Medical device according to claim 16, CHARACTERIZED in that the ratio is 15:1 to 5:

1.

18. Medical device, according to any one of claims 1 to 17, CHARACTERIZED in that the polymer composition is anhydrous.

19. Medical device, according to any one of claims 1 to 17, CHARACTERIZED in that the polymer composition is a hydrate.

20. Medical device, according to any one of claims 1 to 19, CHARACTERIZED in that the medical device is used to prevent pregnancy.

21. Medical device, according to any one of claims 1 to 20, Petition 870250084339, dated 09 / 18 / 2025, p. 57 / 72 3 / 6 CHARACTERIZED by the fact that the medical device is used to prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases.

22. Medical device, according to any one of claims 1 to 21, CHARACTERIZED in that the medical device is used to treat an infection.

23. Medical device, according to any one of claims 1 to 22, CHARACTERIZED in that the medical device is designed to be inserted into the vagina.

24. Medical device, according to any one of claims 1 to 23, CHARACTERIZED in that the medical device forms a barrier between the inside of the vagina and the outside of the body.

25. Medical device according to claim 24, CHARACTERIZED in that the barrier is formed by exposing the polymer composition of the medical device to physiological fluids.

26. Medical device, according to claim 24 or claim 25, CHARACTERIZED in that the barrier is formed by exposing the polymer coating of the medical device to a fluid with a pH of at least 7.

27. Medical device according to claim 26, characterized in that the pH is from about 7 to about 8.

9.

28. Medical device, according to claim 26 or claim 27, CHARACTERIZED in that the pH is about 7.

6.

29. Medical device, according to any one of claims 1 to 28, CHARACTERIZED in that the polymer composition of the medical device forms a barrier upon exposure to seminal fluid.

30. Medical device, according to any one of claims 1 to 29, CHARACTERIZED in that the polymer composition further comprises Petition 870250084339, dated 09 / 18 / 2025, page 58 / 72 4 / 6 one or more excipients.

31. Medical device according to claim 30, CHARACTERIZED in that the excipient is a pore-forming excipient.

32. Medical device according to claim 31, CHARACTERIZED in that the pore-forming excipient is a sugar or sugar alcohol.

33. Medical device according to claim 31, characterized in that the sugar or sugar alcohol is mannitol.

34. Medical device, according to any one of claims 30 to 33, CHARACTERIZED in that the polymer composition comprises an amount of about 0.1% w / w to 25% w / w of the polymer composition.

35. Medical device, according to claim 34, CHARACTERIZED in that the amount is about 1% w / w to about 10% w / w of the polymer composition.

36. Medical device, according to any one of claims 1 to 35, CHARACTERIZED in that the medical device further comprises an active pharmaceutical ingredient.

37. Medical device, according to claim 36, CHARACTERIZED in that the active pharmaceutical ingredient is a hormone, a contraceptive, an anti-inflammatory agent, an antimicrobial agent or a spermicide.

38. Medical device according to claim 37, CHARACTERIZED in that the active pharmaceutical ingredient is a hormone.

39. Medical device according to claim 37, CHARACTERIZED in that the active pharmaceutical ingredient is a contraceptive.

40. Medical device according to claim 37, characterized in that the active pharmaceutical ingredient is an anti-inflammatory agent.

41. Medical device according to claim 40, CHARACTERIZED in that the anti-inflammatory agent is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Petition 870250084339, dated 09 / 18 / 2025, p. 59 / 72 5 / 6.

42. Medical device according to claim 37, characterized in that the active pharmaceutical ingredient is an antimicrobial agent.

43. Medical device according to claim 42, characterized in that the antimicrobial agent is an antibiotic.

44. Medical device according to claim 42, characterized in that the antimicrobial agent is an antiviral.

45. Medical device according to claim 42, characterized in that the antimicrobial agent is an antifungal.

46. ​​Medical device according to claim 37, CHARACTERIZED in that the active pharmaceutical ingredient is a spermicide.

47. Medical device, according to any one of claims 1 to 30, CHARACTERIZED in that the cellulosic polymer is a non-ionic cellulose.

48. Medical device according to claim 47, CHARACTERIZED in that the non-ionic cellulose is hydroxypropyl methylcellulose.

49. Medical device, according to any one of claims 1 to 48, CHARACTERIZED in that the medical device is coated with the polymer composition to form a polymer coating.

50. Medical device, according to claim 49, CHARACTERIZED in that the polymer coating is present in a thickness of at least 1 nm.

51. Medical device according to claim 50, characterized in that its thickness is at least 10 nm.

52. Method for preventing an infection, CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises inserting the medical device of any of claims 1 to 51 into the vagina of a patient. Petition 870250084339, dated 09 / 18 / 2025, pp. 60 / 72 6 / 6 53. Method according to claim 52, CHARACTERIZED in that the infection is a sexually transmitted disease or disorder.

54. Method according to claim 53, CHARACTERIZED in that the sexually transmitted disease or disorder is HIV or AIDS.

55. Method according to claim 52, CHARACTERIZED in that the infection is an infection of the vagina.

56. Method according to claim 52 or claim 55, CHARACTERIZED in that the infection is a yeast infection.

57. Method, according to any one of claims 52 to 56, CHARACTERIZED in that the medical device is inserted into the vagina without the use of an applicator.

58. Method according to claim 57, CHARACTERIZED in that the medical device is inserted into the vagina digitally.

59. Kit, CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises a medical device of any one of claims 1 to 51.

60. Polymer composition, CHARACTERIZED in that it comprises: (A) a polycarboxylic acid-containing polymer, wherein the polycarboxylic acid-containing polymer comprises from about 55% w / w to about 70% w / w of carboxylic acid groups and comprises an acrylate backbone; and (B) a polyvinylpyrrolidone polymer, wherein the polymer composition comprises a ratio of 5:1 to about 1:5 of polycarboxylic acid and polyvinylpyrrolidone polymer and is essentially free of any cellulosic material. Petition 870250084339, dated 09 / 18 / 2025, pp. 61 / 72

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