Biodegradable polymer composition

Biodegradable polymers have been used for many years in medical applications. Medical devices made from biodegradable polymers include sutures, surgical clips, staples, implants, and drug delivery systems. The majority of these biodegradable polymers have been solid thermoplastic materials based upon glycolide, lactide, caprolactone, and copolymers thereof. Some of these biodegradable polymers are star-branched polymers, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,922,338 and 5,922,682, which can be used in sustained release medical devices (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,538,739; 5,639,480; and 5,688,530). A flowable composition containing a biocompatible, biodegradable, branched thermoplastic polymer is used to form solid matrices such as implants and controlled-release, drug-compositions in a body. The flowable composition with or without bioactive agent can be administered by syringe and needle to form in situ a solid matrix. Alternatively, the flowable composition can be used to form ex vivo solid biodegradable matrices such as articles, implants and devices. The articles implants and the like can then used as solid fasteners, prosthetic devices, and controlled drug compositions.