Devices formed of or including biocompatible 
polyhydroxyalkanoates are provided with 
controlled degradation rates, preferably less than one year under physiological conditions. Preferred devices include sutures, suture fasteners, 
meniscus repair devices, rivets, tacks, staples, screws (including 
interference screws), 
bone plates and bone plating systems, 
surgical mesh, repair patches, slings, cardiovascular patches, orthopedic pins (including bone filling augmentation material), adhesion barriers, stents, guided 
tissue repair / regeneration devices, 
articular cartilage repair devices, nerve guides, 
tendon repair devices, atrial septal 
defect repair devices, pericardial patches, bulking and filling agents, 
vein valves, 
bone marrow scaffolds, 
meniscus regeneration devices, 
ligament and 
tendon grafts, ocular 
cell implants, 
spinal fusion cages, 
skin substitutes, dural substitutes, bone graft substitutes, bone dowels, wound dressings, and hemostats. The 
polyhydroxyalkanoates can contain additives, be formed of mixtures of monomers or include pendant groups or modifications in their backbones, or can be chemically modified, all to alter the degradation rates. The polyhydroxyalkanoate compositions also provide favorable mechanical properties, 
biocompatibility, and degradation times within desirable time frames under physiological conditions.