Portable electrospinning device

• US 20040094873A1
• Filed: 09/17/2003
• Published: 05/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nanomedic Technologies, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nicast Ltd.
• Inventors: Bar, Eli, Dubson, Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 7,794,219 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 264/465
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0023 differing in porosity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0067 Means for introducing or releasing pharmaceutical products into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/56 Porous materials, e.g. foams or sponges
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 67/20 for porous or cellular articles, e.g. of foam plastics, coarse-pored chemical aspects of working up macro-molecular substances to porous or cellular articles C08J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: D01D 5/0092 characterised by the electrical field, e.g. combined with a magnetic fields, using biased or alternating fields
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 1/728 by electro-spinning electro-spinning methods and apparatus D01D5/0007
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 3/07 otherwise than in a plane, e.g. in a tubular way
• CPC Class Codes: D04H 3/16 with bonds between thermoplastic filaments produced in association with filament formation, e.g. immediately following extrusion

Abstract

An electrospinning device for generating a coat from a liquefied polymer, the device comprising: (a) a dispenser for dispensing the liquefied polymer; (b) a cavity having a longitudinal axis, comprising a first system of electrodes; the dispenser and the first system of electrodes being constructed and design such that the liquefied polymer is dispensed from the dispenser and forms a plurality of polymer fibers moving along the longitudinal axis; and (c) a mechanism for relocating the polymer fibers out of the cavity, in a direction of an object, so as to generate a coat on the object.

Claims

1. An electrospinning device for generating a coat from a liquefied polymer, the device comprising:

(a) a dispenser for dispensing the liquefied polymer;

(b) a cavity having a longitudinal axis, comprising a first system of electrodes;

said dispenser and said first system of electrodes being constructed and design such that the liquefied polymer is dispensed from said dispenser and forms a plurality of polymer fibers moving along said longitudinal axis; and

(c) a mechanism for relocating said polymer fibers out of said cavity, in a direction of an object, so as to generate a coat on said object.

2. The electrospinning device of claim 1, wherein said mechanism comprises at least one blower, positioned adjacent to said dispenser, and generating an airflow substantially directed along said longitudinal axis.

3. The electrospinning device of claim 1, wherein said object is a portion of a body of an organism.

4. The electrospinning device of claim 1, wherein said object is a skin of an organism.

5. The electrospinning device of claim 1, wherein said object is a wounded skin of an organism.

6. The electrospinning device of claim 3, wherein said portion is selected from the group consisting of an internal portion and an external portion of the organism.

7. The electrospinning device of claim 1, wherein said object is selected from the group consisting of an artery and a vein.

8. The electrospinning device of claim 1, wherein said object is a rotating mandrel.

9. The electrospinning device of claim 1, wherein said dispenser comprises a mechanism for forming a jet of the liquefied polymer.

10. The electrospinning device of claim 9, wherein said mechanism for forming a jet of the liquefied polymer includes a dispensing electrode.

11. The electrospinning device of claim 1, further comprising a first reservoir for holding the liquefied polymer.

12. The electrospinning device of claim 1, further comprising a second reservoir for holding a pharmaceutical agent to be mixed with the liquefied polymer.

13. The electrospinning device of claim 1, wherein said first system of electrodes comprises a circular electrode being at a first potential relative to said dispenser, and spaced apart from said dispenser, along said longitudinal axis.

14. The electrospinning device of claim 1, further comprising a mechanism for intertwining at least a portion of said plurality of polymer fibers, so as to provide at least one polymer fiber bundle moving along said longitudinal axis.

15. The electrospinning device of claim 14, wherein said mechanism for intertwining at least a portion of said plurality of polymer fibers comprises a second system of electrodes, being laterally displaced from said dispenser, being at a second potential relative to said dispenser and capable of providing an electric field having at least one rotating component about said longitudinal axis.

16. The electrospinning device of claim 15, wherein said second system of electrodes includes at least one rotating electrode, operable to rotate about said longitudinal axis.

17. The electrospinning device of claim 2, wherein said cavity is designed such that a velocity of said airflow increases as a function of a distance from said dispenser along said longitudinal axis.

18. The electrospinning device of claim 1, wherein said cavity is characterized by a gradually decreases cross-sectional area as a function of a distance from said dispenser along said longitudinal axis.

19. The electrospinning device of claim 1, wherein said cavity comprises a perforated plate positioned at a first terminal of said cavity.

20. The electrospinning device of claim 1, wherein said cavity is opened at a second terminal of said cavity.

21. The electrospinning device of claim 1, wherein the liquefied polymer is biocompatible.

22. The electrospinning device of claim 1, wherein the liquefied polymer is selected from the group consisting of a biodegradable liquefied polymer and a biostable liquefied polymer.

23. The electrospinning device of claim 1, wherein the liquefied polymer is characterized by predetermined magnetic properties.

102. The method of claim 1, wherein said liquefied polymer is characterized by predetermined magnetic properties.

24. A method of generating a coat from a liquefied polymer, the method comprising dispensing the liquefied polymer within a first electric field present in a cavity having a longitudinal axis, thereby providing a plurality of polymer fibers moving along said longitudinal axis, and relocating said polymer fibers out of said cavity, in a direction of an object so as to generate a coat onto said object.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said relocating is done by airflow.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein said object is a portion of a body of an organism.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein said object is a skin of an organism.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein said object is a wounded skin of an organism.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein said portion is selected from the group consisting of an internal portion and an external portion of the organism.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein said object is a blood vessel.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein said object is selected from the group consisting of an artery and a vein.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein said object is a rotating mandrel.

33. The method of claim 24, wherein said dispensing is done by a dispenser.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said dispenser comprises a mechanism for forming a jet of the liquefied polymer.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein said mechanism for forming a jet of the liquefied polymer includes a dispensing electrode.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein said first electric field is generated by said dispensing electrode and by a first system of electrodes.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said first system of electrodes comprises a circular electrode being at a first potential relative to said dispenser, and spaced apart from said dispenser, along said longitudinal axis.

38. The method of claim 24, further comprising intertwining at least a portion of said plurality of polymer fibers, so as to provide at least one polymer fiber bundle moving along said longitudinal axis.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said intertwining is done by a second system of electrodes, being laterally displaced from said dispenser, being at a second potential relative to said dispenser and capable of providing a second electric field having at least one rotating component about said longitudinal axis.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said second system of electrodes includes at least one rotating electrode, operable to rotate about said longitudinal axis.

41. The method of claim 25, wherein said cavity is designed such that a velocity of said airflow increases as a function of a distance from said dispenser along said longitudinal axis.

42. The method of claim 24, wherein said cavity is characterized by a gradually decreases cross-sectional area along a direction of motion of said polymer fibers.

43. The method of claim 24, wherein said cavity comprises a perforated plate positioned at a first terminal of said cavity.

44. The method of claim 24, wherein said cavity is opened at a second terminal of said cavity.

45. The method of claim 26, further comprising incorporating at least one drug within said liquefied polymer, for delivery of said at least one drug into a vasculature of said organism, during or after generating the coat.

46. The method of claim 30, further comprising incorporating at least one drug within said liquefied polymer, for delivery of said at least one drug into said vessel during or after generating the coat.

47. The method of claim 24, wherein the liquefied polymer is biocompatible.

48. The method of claim 24, wherein the liquefied polymer is selected from the group consisting of a biodegradable liquefied polymer and a biostable liquefied polymer.

49. The method of claim 24, wherein the liquefied polymer is characterized by predetermined magnetic properties.

50. A nonwoven sterile wound dressing comprising at least one layer of polymer fibers shaped in accordance with an individual wound and body geometry, the nonwoven wound dressing having at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of:

(a) having a predetermined porosity;

(b) flexible in accordance with a motion of said individual;

(c) removable when placed under a sufficient amount of liquid; and

(d) having at least one drug incorporated therein, for delivery of said at least one drug into said body vasculature during or after application of the wound dressing.

51. The nonwoven sterile wound dressing of claim 50, which is an artificial skin.

52. The nonwoven sterile wound dressing of claim 50, wherein the polymer fibers are biocompatible.

53. The nonwoven sterile wound dressing of claim 50, wherein the polymer fibers are selected from the group consisting of biodegradable the polymer fibers and biostable the polymer fibers.

54. A nonwoven sterile wound dressing comprising at least one layer of polymer fibers shaped in accordance with an individual wound and body geometry, the nonwoven wound dressing having at least two characteristics selected from the group consisting of:

(a) having a predetermined porosity;

(b) flexible in accordance with a motion of said individual;

(c) removable when placed under a sufficient amount of liquid; and

(d) having at least one drug incorporated therein, for delivery of said at least one drug into said body vasculature during or after application of the wound dressing.

55. The nonwoven sterile wound dressing of claim 54, which is an artificial skin.

56. The nonwoven sterile wound dressing of claim 54, wherein the polymer fibers are biocompatible.

57. The nonwoven sterile wound dressing of claim 54, wherein the polymer fibers are selected from the group consisting of biodegradable the polymer fibers and biostable the polymer fibers.

58. A nonwoven sterile wound dressing comprising at least one layer of polymer fibers shaped in accordance with an individual wound and body geometry, the nonwoven wound dressing having at least three characteristics selected from the group consisting of:

(a) having a predetermined porosity;

(b) flexible in accordance with a motion of said individual;

(c) removable when placed under a sufficient amount of liquid; and

(d) having at least one drug incorporated therein, for delivery of said at least one drug into said body vasculature during or after application of the wound dressing.

59. The nonwoven sterile wound dressing of claim 58, which is an artificial skin.

60. The nonwoven sterile wound dressing of claim 58, wherein the polymer fibers are biocompatible.

61. The nonwoven sterile wound dressing of claim 58, wherein the polymer fibers are selected from the group consisting of biodegradable the polymer fibers and biostable the polymer fibers.

62. A nonwoven sterile wound dressing comprising at least one layer of polymer fibers shaped in accordance with an individual wound and body geometry, the nonwoven wound dressing:

(a) having a predetermined porosity;

(b) flexible in accordance with a motion of said individual;

(c) removable when placed under a sufficient amount of liquid; and

(d) having at least one drug incorporated therein, for delivery of said at least one drug into said body vasculature during or after application of the wound dressing.

63. The nonwoven sterile wound dressing of claim 62, which is an artificial skin.

64. The nonwoven sterile wound dressing of claim 62, wherein the polymer fibers are biocompatible.

65. The nonwoven sterile wound dressing of claim 62, wherein the polymer fibers are selected from the group consisting of biodegradable the polymer fibers and biostable the polymer fibers.

66. A method of connecting two vessels having open ends, the method comprising, attaching the two open ends of the two vessels and, via electrospinning, providing a coat onto at least a portion of the two vessels so as to adhere the two open ends.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein said providing a coat comprises dispensing a liquefied polymer within a first electric field present in a cavity having a longitudinal axis, thereby providing a plurality of polymer fibers moving along said longitudinal axis, and relocating said polymer fibers out of said cavity, in a direction of said at least a portion of the two vessels.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein said relocating is done by airflow.

69. The method of claim 67, wherein said dispensing is done by a dispenser.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein said dispenser comprises a mechanism for forming a jet of said liquefied polymer.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein said mechanism for forming a jet of said liquefied polymer includes a dispensing electrode.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein said first electric field is generated by said dispensing electrode and by a first system of electrodes.

73. The method of claim 72, wherein said first system of electrodes comprises a circular electrode being at a first potential relative to said dispenser, and spaced apart from said dispenser, along said longitudinal axis.

74. The method of claim 67, further comprising intertwining at least a portion of said plurality of polymer fibers, so as to provide at least one polymer fiber bundle moving along said longitudinal axis.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein said intertwining is done by a second system of electrodes, being laterally displaced from said dispenser, being at a second potential relative to said dispenser and capable of providing a second electric field having at least one rotating component about said longitudinal axis.

76. The method of claim 75, wherein said second system of electrodes includes at least one rotating electrode, operable to rotate about said longitudinal axis.

77. The method of claim 68, wherein said cavity is designed such that a velocity of said airflow increases as a function of a distance from said dispenser along said longitudinal axis.

78. The method of claim 67, wherein said cavity is characterized by a gradually decreases cross-sectional area along a direction of motion of said polymer fibers.

79. The method of claim 67, wherein said cavity comprises a perforated plate positioned at a first terminal of said cavity.

80. The method of claim 67, wherein said cavity is opened at a second terminal of said cavity.

81. The method of claim 67, further comprising incorporating at least one drug within said liquefied polymer, for delivery of said at least one drug into at least one vessel during or after providing the coat.

82. The method of claim 67, wherein said liquefied polymer is biocompatible.

83. The method of claim 67, wherein said liquefied polymer is selected from the group consisting of a biodegradable liquefied polymer and a biostable liquefied polymer.

84. A method of recording a fingerprint of an individual having a finger, the method comprising:

via electrospinning, coating the finger by a nonwoven material; and

removing said nonwoven material from the finger so as to produce data information representative of the fingerprint of the finger.

85. The method of claim 84, wherein said nonwoven material is made from polymer fibers.

86. The method of claim 85, wherein said coating comprises dispensing a liquefied polymer within a first electric field present in a cavity having a longitudinal axis, thereby providing a plurality of said polymer fibers moving along said longitudinal axis, and relocating said polymer fibers out of said cavity, in a direction of the finger so as to generate a coat onto the finger.

87. The method of claim 86, wherein said relocating is done by airflow.

88. The method of claim 86, wherein said dispensing is done by a dispenser.

89. The method of claim 88, wherein said dispenser comprises a mechanism for forming a jet of said liquefied polymer.

90. The method of claim 89, wherein said mechanism for forming a jet of said liquefied polymer includes a dispensing electrode.

91. The method of claim 90, wherein said first electric field is generated by said dispensing electrode and by a first system of electrodes.

92. The method of claim 91, wherein said first system of electrodes comprises a circular electrode being at a first potential relative to said dispenser, and spaced apart from said dispenser, along said longitudinal axis.

93. The method of claim 86, further comprising intertwining at least a portion of said plurality of polymer fibers, so as to provide at least one polymer fiber bundle moving along said longitudinal axis.

94. The method of claim 93, wherein said intertwining is done by a second system of electrodes, being laterally displaced from said dispenser, being at a second potential relative to said dispenser and capable of providing a second electric field having at least one rotating component about said longitudinal axis.

95. The method of claim 94, wherein said second system of electrodes includes at least one rotating electrode, operable to rotate about said longitudinal axis.

96. The method of claim 87, wherein said cavity is designed such that a velocity of said airflow increases as a function of a distance from said dispenser along said longitudinal axis.

97. The method of claim 86, wherein said cavity is characterized by a gradually decreases cross-sectional area along a direction of motion of said polymer fibers.

98. The method of claim 86, wherein said cavity comprises a perforated plate positioned at a first terminal of said cavity.

99. The method of claim 86, wherein said cavity is opened at a second terminal of said cavity.

100. The method of claim 86, wherein said liquefied polymer is biocompatible.

101. The method of claim 86, wherein said liquefied polymer is selected from the group consisting of a biodegradable liquefied polymer and a biostable liquefied polymer.

103. A method of adhering two objects having contact surfaces, the method comprising:

via electrospinning, coating at least one contact surface by a nonwoven material; and

attaching the contact surfaces together hence adhering the two objects.

104. The method of claim 103, wherein said nonwoven material is made from polymer fibers.

105. The method of claim 104, wherein said coating comprises dispensing a liquefied polymer within a first electric field present in a cavity having a longitudinal axis, thereby providing a plurality of said polymer fibers moving along said longitudinal axis, and relocating said polymer fibers out of said cavity, in a direction of said at least one contact surface.

106. The method of claim 105, wherein said relocating is done by airflow.

107. The method of claim 105, wherein said dispensing is done by a dispenser.

108. The method of claim 107, wherein said dispenser comprises a mechanism for forming a jet of said liquefied polymer.

109. The method of claim 108, wherein said mechanism for forming a jet of said liquefied polymer includes a dispensing electrode.

110. The method of claim 109, wherein said first electric field is generated by said dispensing electrode and by a first system of electrodes.

111. The method of claim 110, wherein said first system of electrodes comprises a circular electrode being at a first potential relative to said dispenser, and spaced apart from said dispenser, along said longitudinal axis.

112. The method of claim 105, further comprising intertwining at least a portion of said plurality of polymer fibers, so as to provide at least one polymer fiber bundle moving along said longitudinal axis.

113. The method of claim 112, wherein said intertwining is done by a second system of electrodes, being laterally displaced from said dispenser, being at a second potential relative to said dispenser and capable of providing a second electric field having at least one rotating component about said longitudinal axis.

114. The method of claim 113, wherein said second system of electrodes includes at least one rotating electrode, operable to rotate about said longitudinal axis.

115. The method of claim 106, wherein said cavity is designed such that a velocity of said airflow increases as a function of a distance from said dispenser along said longitudinal axis.

116. The method of claim 105, wherein said cavity is characterized by a gradually decreases cross-sectional area along a direction of motion of said polymer fibers.

117. The method of claim 105, wherein said cavity comprises a perforated plate positioned at a first terminal of said cavity.

118. The method of claim 105, wherein said cavity is opened at a second terminal of said cavity.

119. The method of claim 105, wherein said liquefied polymer is biocompatible.

120. The method of claim 105, wherein said liquefied polymer is selected from the group consisting of a biodegradable liquefied polymer and a biostable liquefied polymer.

121. A method of wound dressing by electrospinning, the method comprising dispensing a liquefied polymer within a first electric field present in a cavity having a longitudinal axis, thereby providing a plurality of polymer fibers moving along said longitudinal axis, and relocating said polymer fibers out of said cavity, in a direction of an object so as to generate a wound dressing onto said object.

122. The method of claim 121, wherein said relocating is done by airflow.

123. The method of claim 121, wherein said object is a portion of a body of an organism.

124. The method of claim 121, wherein said object is a skin of an organism.

125. The method of claim 121, wherein said object is a wounded skin of an organism.

126. The method of claim 123, wherein said portion is selected from the group consisting of an internal portion and an external portion of the organism.

127. The method of claim 121, wherein said object is a blood vessel.

128. The method of claim 126, wherein said object is selected from the group consisting of an artery and a vein.

129. The method of claim 121, wherein said object is a rotating mandrel.

130. The method of claim 121, wherein said dispensing is done by a dispenser.

131. The method of claim 130, wherein said dispenser comprises a mechanism for forming a jet of said liquefied polymer.

132. The method of claim 131, wherein said mechanism for forming a jet of said liquefied polymer includes a dispensing electrode.

133. The method of claim 132, wherein said first electric field is generated by said dispensing electrode and by a first system of electrodes.

134. The method of claim 133, wherein said first system of electrodes comprises a circular electrode being at a first potential relative to said dispenser, and spaced apart from said dispenser, along said longitudinal axis.

135. The method of claim 121, further comprising intertwining at least a portion of said plurality of polymer fibers, so as to provide at least one polymer fiber bundle moving along said longitudinal axis.

136. The method of claim 135, wherein said intertwining is done by a second system of electrodes, being laterally displaced from said dispenser, being at a second potential relative to said dispenser and capable of providing a second electric field having at least one rotating component about said longitudinal axis.

137. The method of claim 136, wherein said second system of electrodes includes at least one rotating electrode, operable to rotate about said longitudinal axis.

138. The method of claim 122, wherein said cavity is designed such that a velocity of said airflow increases as a function of a distance from said dispenser along said longitudinal axis.

139. The method of claim 121, wherein said cavity is characterized by a gradually decreases cross-sectional area along a direction of motion of said polymer fibers.

140. The method of claim 121, wherein said cavity comprises a perforated plate positioned at a first terminal of said cavity.

141. The method of claim 121, wherein said cavity is opened at a second terminal of said cavity.

142. The method of claim 123, further comprising incorporating at least one drug within said liquefied polymer, for delivery of said at least one drug into a vasculature of said organism, during or after generating the coat.

143. The method of claim 127, further comprising incorporating at least one drug within said liquefied polymer, for delivery of said at least one drug into said vessel during or after generating the coat.

144. The method of claim 121, wherein said liquefied polymer is biocompatible.

145. The method of claim 121, wherein said liquefied polymer is selected from the group consisting of a biodegradable liquefied polymer and a biostable liquefied polymer.