Dispensing device and method for forming material
First Claim
1. A method of forming composite matter, which comprises supplying a liquid to a first outlet and supplying a further liquid to a second outlet located adjacent the first outlet and subjecting the liquids to an electric field so as to form at least one jet, the liquids being such that, after formation, the jet forms a fiber which has a core formed substantially by one of the two liquids and a coating formed substantially by the other of the two liquids or breaks up into fiber fragments or particles which have a core formed substantially by one of the liquids and a coating formed substantially by the other of the two liquids.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A dispensing device and method for forming a least partially solid or gel-like material from a liquid. At least one liquid issuing from an outlet is subjected to an electric field causing the liquid to form at least one electrically charged jet which, after formation, forms a fiber (F) or breaks up into fiber fragments (FF) or particles (D). The thus formed at least partially solid or gel-like material may be directly deposited, by virtue of the energy in the electrical field, onto a surface area, for example an area of skin enabling, for example, formation of a dressing for a wound or burn which is of high specific area and extremely absorbent. A biologically active ingredient such as a pharmaceutical ingredient or biological matter such as DNA may be incorporated into the fibers (F), fragments (FF) or particles (D). Fibrils, particles or microcapsules incorporating a biologically active ingredient may be supplied for oral or nasal administration to an animal such as a human being.
338 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of forming composite matter, which comprises supplying a liquid to a first outlet and supplying a further liquid to a second outlet located adjacent the first outlet and subjecting the liquids to an electric field so as to form at least one jet, the liquids being such that, after formation, the jet forms a fiber which has a core formed substantially by one of the two liquids and a coating formed substantially by the other of the two liquids or breaks up into fiber fragments or particles which have a core formed substantially by one of the liquids and a coating formed substantially by the other of the two liquids.
- 2. A method of forming a dressing for an area of animal such as a wound, a burn or an area exposed by a surgical procedure, the method comprising the step of subjecting first and second liquids to an electric field at an outlet in the vicinity of the area to be dressed thereby causing the liquids to form at least one jet of electrically charged liquid, the first and second liquids being such that, after formation, the at least one jet forms a fiber that has a core formed substantially by one of the first and second liquids and a coating formed substantially by the other of the first and second liquids or breaks up into fiber fragments or particles which have a core formed substantially by one of the first and second liquids and a coating formed substantially by the other of the first and second liquids.
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7. A method of forming composite matter comprising the steps of:
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supplying a first liquid to a first outlet;
supplying a second liquid to a second outlet located adjacent to the first outlet;
and subjecting the first and second liquids to an electric field so as to form at least one jet, the first and second liquids being such that, after formation, the jet forms a fiber that has a core formed substantially by one of the first and second liquids and a coating formed substantially by the other of the first and second liquids or breaks up into fiber fragments or particles having a core formed substantially by one of the first and second liquids and a coating formed substantially by the other of the first and second liquids or breaks up into fiber fragments or particles having a core formed substantially by one of the first and second liquids and a coating formed substantially by the other of the first and second liquids, the liquid forming the coating being adapted to be degraded by chemical or enzymic attack to enable slow or controlled release of an active ingredient provided by the liquid forming the core as the coating is degraded.
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8. A method of forming a dressing for an area of an animal such as a wound, a burn or an area exposed by a surgical procedure, the method comprising the steps of subjecting first and second liquids to an electric field at an output in a vicinity of a substrate to be applied to the area thereby causing the liquids to form at least one jet of electrically charged liquid, the first and second liquids being such that, after formation, the at least one jet forms a fiber that has a core formed substantially by one of the first and second liquids and a coating formed substantially by the other of the first and second liquids or breaks up into fiber fragments or particles that have a core formed substantially by one of the first and second liquids and a coating formed substantially by the other of the first and second liquid, so as to form a mat or web on said substrate to provide said dressing.
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9. A method depositing material into a cavity or onto a concave surface, the method comprising subjecting first and second liquids to an electric field, thereby causing the liquid to form at least one jet of electrically charged liquid, the first and second liquids being such that, after formation, the at least one jet forms a fiber that has a core formed substantially by one of the first and second liquids and a coating formed substantially by the other of the first and second liquids or breaks up into fiber fragments or articles that have a core formed substantially by one of the first and second liquids and a coating formed substantially by the other of the first and second liquids.
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10. A method for producing material for supply to the respiratory system of an animal, the method comprising the steps of:
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supplying first and second liquids to a communition site;
generating at the communition site an electric field to cause the liquids to form at least one jet of liquid, the first and second liquids being such that, after formation, the at least one jet breaks up into electrically charged communited matter comprising fiber fragments or electrically charged at least partially solid particles each having a core formed substantially by one of the first and second liquids and a coating formed substantially by the other of the first and second liquids; and
at least partially electrically discharging the communited matter prior to the supply to the respiratory system of the animal.- View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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- 14. A method of forming at least partially solid material, comprising the steps of subjecting first and second liquids to an electric field to cause the liquids to form at least one jet of electrically charged liquid, the two liquids being such that after formation the at least one jet forms a fiber which has a core formed substantially by one of the two liquids and a coating formed substantially by the other of the two liquids or breaks up into fiber fragments or particles which have a core formed substantially by one of the liquids and a coating formed substantially by the other of the two liquids.
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23. A fiber, fiber fragment or capsule having a core of an active ingredient and a protective coating of, for example, a polymer, formed by electrohydrodynamic processing of at least two liquids.
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24. A device for producing composite material, which device comprises a housing having an outlet, the housing containing:
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a first reservoir of a first liquid;
a second reservoir of a second liquid;
a first liquid supply tube for supplying the first liquid to a first liquid supply outlet;
a second supply tube for supplying the second liquid to a second liquid outlet adjacent to the first liquid outlet; and
means for subjecting liquid issuing from the first and second liquid outlets to an electric field to cause the liquids to form at least one jet of electrically charged liquid, the liquids being such that, after formation, the at least one jet forms a fiber that has a core formed substantially by one of the first and second liquids and a coating formed substantially by the other of the first and second liquids or breaks up into fiber fragments or particles that have a core formed substantially by one of the first and second liquids and a coating formed substantially by the other of the first and second liquids. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification