#$%^&*AU2013200515C120160922.pdf#####ABSTRACT Biodegradable polymer-coated surgical meshes formed into pouches are described for use with cardiac rhythm management devices (CRMs) and other implantable medical devices. Such meshes are formed into a receptacle, e.g., a pouch or other covering, capable of encasing, surrounding and/or holding the cardiac rhythm management device or other implantable medical device for the purpose of securing it in position, inhibiting or reducing bacterial growth, providing pain relief and/or inhibiting scarring or fibrosis on or around the CRM or other implantable medical device. Preferred embodiments include surgical mesh pouches coated with one or more biodegradable polymers that can act as a stiffening agent by coating the filaments or fibers of the mesh to temporarily immobilize the contact points of those filaments or fibers and/or by increasing the stiffness of the mesh by at least 1.1 times its original stiffness. The pouches of the invention can also provide relief from various post-operative complications associated with their implantation, insertion or surgical use, and, optionally, include one or more drugs in the polymer matrix of the coating to provide prophylactic effects and/or alleviate side effects or complications associated with the surgery or implantation of the CRM or other implantable medical device.
