ELECTROSPRAYING DEVICES AND METHODS

• US 20110040147A1
• Filed: 04/20/2009
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National University of Ireland, Maynooth
• Original Assignee: National University of Ireland, Maynooth
• Inventors: Maguire, Michael, O'Dea, Shirley
• Granted Patent: US 8,870,102 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/104
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/02 with activated or ionised fluids, e.g. electrohydrodynamic [EHD] or electrostatic devices; Ozone-inhalators with radioactive tagged particles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0477 with incorporated means for delivering or removing fluids
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/14 with multiple outlet openings B05B1/02, B05B1/26 take precedence; with strainers in or outside the outlet opening
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/30 designed to control volume of flow, e.g. with adjustable passages B05B11/0094 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/32 in which a valve member forms part of the outlet opening B05B1/3033 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/0255 spraying and depositing by electrostatic forces only
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 5/16 Arrangements for supplying liquids or other fluent material
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/042 with peristaltic pumps

Abstract

An electrospray head for use in an electro-spraying apparatus comprises a body with an internal surface defining a conduit having an inlet for receiving a fluid to be sprayed and an outlet for emitting the fluid. A movable wall forms a part of the internal surface defining the conduit, the movable wall being arranged to constrict or dilate the conduit upon operation of the actuator. The movable wall can thus control the delivery of fluid through the outlet from the conduit.

Claims

1. An electrospray head for use in an electrospraying apparatus, the electrospray head comprising:

a body;

an actuator disposed in said body;

an internal surface in said body defining a conduit, said conduit having an inlet for receiving a fluid to be sprayed and an outlet for emitting said fluid; and

a movable wall forming a portion of said internal surface defining the conduit;

wherein said movable wall is arranged to co-operate with said actuator to constrict or dilate said conduit upon operation of the actuator.

2. An electrospray head according to claim 1, wherein the movable wall is located adjacent the outlet of the conduit whereby the effective exit dimensions of the conduit can be varied by controlling the actuator.

3. An electrospray head according to claim 1, wherein the movable wall comprises a cylindrical wall section whose diameter can be varied by controlling the actuator.

4. An electrospray head according to claim 3, wherein said cylindrical wall section extends around the entire circumference of a cylinder.

5. An electrospray head according to claim 3, wherein said cylindrical wall section extends around a sector of the circumference of a cylinder.

6. An electrospray head according to claim 3, wherein said actuator is disposed circumferentially outside said cylindrical wall section.

7. An electrospray head according to claim 6, wherein said actuator is a generally cylindrical actuator operable to compress said cylindrical wall section and thereby constrict the diameter thereof.

8. An electrospray head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises an expandable member disposed adjacent said movable wall, and means for varying the expansion of said expandable member.

9. An electrospray head as claimed in claim 8, wherein said expandable member comprises a fluid reservoir which may be caused to expand.

10. An electrospray head as claimed in claim 9, wherein said movable wall comprises a boundary of said reservoir.

11. An electrospray head as claimed in claim 9, wherein said fluid reservoir is constrained from movement in at least one direction, whereby the expansion of the fluid reservoir is enhanced in a different direction.

12. An electrospray head as claimed in claim 11, wherein said body is a solid structure having a seat within which said fluid reservoir is disposed.

13. An electrospray head as claimed in claim 12, wherein said fluid reservoir is in the form of an annular cylinder having an inner cylindrical face defining said movable wall and an external cylindrical face abutting said seat in which said annular cylindrical reservoir is seated, whereby radial expansion of the reservoir is directed inwardly to constrict said inner cylindrical diameter.

14. An electrospray head as claimed in claim 8, wherein the expandable member is a thermally expandable structure, and wherein the means for varying the expansion thereof comprises means for heating the thermally expandable structure.

15. An electrospray head as claimed in claim 14, wherein the means for heating comprises at least one resistor.

16. An electrospray head as claimed in claim 13, wherein the means for heating comprises a plurality of resistors disposed radially outwardly of the annular cylindrical reservoir.

17. An electrospray head as claimed in claim 16, wherein the plurality of resistors are embedded in the body and flush with the seat.

18. An electrospray head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said movable wall is controllable to simultaneously constrict and dilate different portions of said conduit.

20. An electrospray head as claimed in claim 18, wherein said movable wall comprises a plurality of independently controllable sections which together define said conduit, and each independently controllable section being arranged to co-operate with an actuator to constrict or dilate a portion of said conduit upon operation of the actuator.

21. An electrospray head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outlet of said conduit comprises a plurality of outlet orifices.

22. An electrospray head as claimed in claim 21, wherein said plurality of outlet orifices are configured to direct fluid emerging therefrom in a plurality of different directions.

23. An electrospray head as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an electrode adapted to energise said fluid with a high voltage when connected to an appropriate power supply.

24. An electrospray head as claimed in claim 23, further comprising an electrical circuit for supplying said electrode with a high voltage.

25. An electrospray head as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body comprises a solid body structure having fabricated therein:

said conduit;

a space for receiving said movable wall; and

a space for receiving said actuator.

26. An electrospray head as claimed in claim 25, wherein said solid body structure is selected from a substrate of borosilicate, quartz, or silicon.

19. An electrospray head as claimed in claim 19, wherein said movable wall is controllable to generate a peristaltic contraction movable along said conduit.

27. An electrospraying device-comprising an electrospray head, and means for receiving a supply of fluid for electrospraying, wherein said electrospray head comprises:

a body;

an actuator disposed in said body;

an internal surface in said body defining a conduit, said conduit having an inlet for receiving a fluid to be sprayed and an outlet for emitting said fluid; and

a movable wall forming a portion of said internal surface defining the conduit;

wherein said movable wall is arranged to co-operate with said actuator to constrict or dilate said conduit upon operation of the actuator.

28. A bronchoscope apparatus comprising an electrospraying device mounted on a body adapted for insertion into the respiratory passages of a subject,

wherein said electrospraying device comprises an electrospray head, and means for receiving a supply of fluid for electrospraying, wherein said electrospray head comprises:

a body;

an actuator disposed in said body;

an internal surface in said body defining a conduit, said conduit having an inlet for receiving a fluid to be sprayed and an outlet for emitting said fluid; and

a movable wall forming a portion of said internal surface defining the conduit;

wherein said movable wall is arranged to co-operate with said actuator to constrict or dilate said conduit upon operation of the actuator;

whereby the electrospray head of the device may be directed at a tissue wall for delivery of an agent to said tissue by electrospraying.

29. An apparatus for delivering a biological agent to a sample of cells in vitro, comprising a sample area for receiving said sample of cells, and an electrospraying device, wherein said electrospraying device comprises an electrospray head, and means for receiving a supply of fluid for electrospraying, wherein said electrospray head comprises:

a body;

an actuator disposed in said body;

an internal surface in said body defining a conduit, said conduit having an inlet for receiving a fluid to be sprayed and an outlet for emitting said fluid; and

a movable wall forming a portion of said internal surface defining the conduit;

wherein said movable wall is arranged to co-operate with said actuator to constrict or dilate said conduit upon operation of the actuator;

the electrospray head of said electrospraying device being positioned to deliver said biological agent from said supply of fluid to said sample of cells by electrospraying, and optionally, a counter-electrode positioned relative to the sample area to direct said electrospray.

30. A method of treatment of the human or animal body comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an apparatus having an electrospray head, the electrospray head comprising;

a body;

an actuator disposed in said body;

an internal surface in said body defining a conduit, said conduit having an inlet for receiving a fluid to be sprayed and an outlet for emitting said fluid; and

a movable wall forming a portion of said internal surface defining the conduit;

wherein said movable wall is arranged to co-operate with said actuator to constrict or dilate said conduit upon operation of the actuator; and

(b) operating said apparatus to deliver an electrospray agent to said human or animal body.