The objective of this book is to convey to academic and industrial researchers and students advances in synthetic and characterization methods in 9 selected areas of polymer chemistry reported in 2007-2008 US Patents. It reviews the impact of newer bulk anionic, cationic, and free radical polymerization methods within selected industrial applications.  Bulk and surface crosslinking agents using selected bi- and tri-functional reagents, photochemical methods, or free radical agents are also reviewed. Finally, there is a separate section on cationic and cationic ring opening polymerization reactions describing di- and tri-heterocyclic monomers and their use in medical devices.