1.1 This guide describes general guidelines for the chemical, physical, mechanical, biocompatibility, and preclinical assessments of implantable synthetic polymeric absorbable devices. This guide also describes evaluation methods that are potentially useful and should be considered when assessing absorbable implants or implant components.

1.2 The described evaluations may assist a manufacturer in establishing the safety and effectiveness of an absorbable implant device. However, these polymeric material-oriented guidelines do not necessarily reflect the total needs for any particular implant application (for example, orthopedic, cardiovascular, sutures, and dermal fillers), which may require additional and potentially essential application-specific evaluations.

1.3 This guide is intended to cover all forms of absorbable polymeric components and devices, including solid (for example, injection-molded) and porous (for example, fibrous) forms. This guide is also intended to cover devices fabricated from amorphous and/or semicrystalline absorbable polymer systems.

1.4 This guide has been generated with principal emphasis on the evaluation of devices formed from synthetic polymers that degrade in vivo primarily through hydrolysis (for example, α-hydroxy-polyesters). Evaluation methods suggested herein may or may not be applicable to implants formed from materials that, upon implantation, are substantially degraded through other mechanisms (for example, enzymatically induced degradation).

1.5 This guide references and generally describes various means to assess absorbable materials, components, and devices. The user needs to refer to specific test methods for additional details. Additionally, some of the recommended test methods may require modification to address the properties of a particular device, construct, or application.

1.6 Adherence to all aspects of these guidelines is not mandatory, in that assessments and tests listed within this guide are not necessarily relevant for all absorbable implant systems and applications.

1.7 Absorbable polymers used as a matrix to control the in vivo release of bioactive agents (drugs, antimicrobials, and so forth) may be evaluated according to many of the methods described herein. However, additional test methods not covered by this guide will likely be needed to evaluate a bioactive agent’s composition, loading, release kinetics, safety, and efficacy, as well as its interaction with the degradants released from the absorbable polymers during the clinical use.

1.8 Composites of absorbable polymers with ceramics and/or metals may be evaluated according to many of the methods described herein. However, additional test methods not covered by this guide will likely be needed to evaluate the composite’s other component(s).

1.9 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.10 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.11 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.