Structures, systems and methods for joining articles and materials and uses therefor

• US 20060122596A1
• Filed: 01/12/2006
• Published: 06/08/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nanosys Incorporated (Shoei Electronic Materials, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Nanosys Incorporated (Shoei Electronic Materials, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dubrow, Robert
• Application Number:
  US11/330,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20060122596A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/02 for holding wounds open; Tractors specula A61B1/32 ; drainage appliances for wounds A61M27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/72 Intramedullary pins, nails or other devices A61B17/744 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/866 Material or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/88 Osteosynthesis instruments; Methods or means for implanting or extracting internal or external fixation devices A61B17/7074 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2808 Clamp, e.g. towel clamp
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00 Bandages or dressings radioactive dressings A61N5/1029; Absorbent pads
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/42 Use of materials characterised by their function or physical properties liquid bandages A61L26/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2400/12 Nanosized materials, e.g. nanofibres, nanoparticles, nanowires, nanotubes; Nanostructured surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/50 Materials characterised by their function or physical properties , e.g. injectable or lubricating compositions, shape-memory materials, surface modified materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/14 Materials characterised by their function or physical properties , e.g. injectable or lubricating compositions, shape-memory materials, surface modified materials
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/00 Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 30/00 Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites

Abstract

This invention provides novel nanofibers and nanofiber structures which posses adherent properties, as well as the use of such nanofibers and nanofiber comprising structures in the coupling and/or joining together of articles or materials.

Claims

1. A medical device having at least a first surface and a plurality of silicon nanofibers associated with the first surface.

2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises a clamp.

3. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises a stent.

4. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises a shunt.

5. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises a probe.

6. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises a retractor.

7. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises a patch.

8. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises a bandage.

9. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises a medical mesh.

10. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the nanofibers comprise hollow nanotubular structures.

11. The medical device of claim 1, wherein substantially all nanofibers comprise one or more associated moiety.

12. The medical device of claim 11, wherein the one or more moiety comprises a functional moiety.

13. The medical device of claim 12, wherein the functional moiety creates a van der Waals attraction between the nanofibers and a biological tissue surface, greater than a van der Waals attraction between the nanofibers and such surface in the absence of the moiety.

14. The medical device of claim 13, wherein the biological tissue comprises one or more of:

plant tissue, animal tissue, or bone tissue.

15. The medical device of claim 12, wherein the functional moiety comprises one or more of a polymer, a ceramic or a small molecule.

16. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the nanofibers are grown on the first surface of the medical device.

17. The medical device of claim 16, wherein the nanofibers are grown by a VLS growth process.

18. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the nanofibers have a length of at least about 50 microns.

19. The medical device of claim 1, whereby the nanofibers are arranged on the first surface to contact a biological tissue surface at a plurality of contact points at least a portion of which are located on a side surface of the nanofibers, such that forces between the nanofibers and the biological tissue surface adhere the medical device to the biological tissue surface substantially by van der Waals forces between the nanofibers and the biological tissue surface.

20. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the nanofibers comprise nanowires.

21. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the first surface comprises a density of nanofibers on the first surface of from about 1 to about 1000 nanofibers per micrometer².

22. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the nanofibers comprise a shell of silicon oxide.