Electrospraying apparatus and method for coating particles
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for coating particles, the apparatus comprising:
- a source comprising at least one suspension, wherein the source comprising the at least one suspension comprises at least particles and coating material;
a capillary tube electrode, wherein the capillary tube electrode includes a capillary tube having a first open end and a second open end, the capillary tube operatively connected to the source to receive a flow of at least the suspension at the first open end thereof; and
an electrode isolated from but positioned in proximity to the second open end of the capillary tube, wherein a nonuniform electrical field is created between the capillary tube electrode and the electrode isolated therefrom such that a spray of microdroplets suspending at least the particles is provided from the second end of the capillary tube, and further wherein the particles are coated with at least a portion of the coating material as the microdroplet evaporates.
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Abstract
An electrospraying apparatus and/or method is used to coat particles. For example, a flow including at least one liquid suspension may be provided through at least one opening at a spray dispenser end. The flow includes at least particles and a coating material. A spray of microdroplets suspending at least the particles is established forward of the spray dispenser end by creating a nonuniform electrical field between the spray dispenser end and an electrode electrically isolated therefrom. The particles are coated with at least a portion of the coating material as the microdroplet evaporates. For example, the suspension may include biological material particles.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for coating particles, the apparatus comprising:
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a source comprising at least one suspension, wherein the source comprising the at least one suspension comprises at least particles and coating material; a capillary tube electrode, wherein the capillary tube electrode includes a capillary tube having a first open end and a second open end, the capillary tube operatively connected to the source to receive a flow of at least the suspension at the first open end thereof; and an electrode isolated from but positioned in proximity to the second open end of the capillary tube, wherein a nonuniform electrical field is created between the capillary tube electrode and the electrode isolated therefrom such that a spray of microdroplets suspending at least the particles is provided from the second end of the capillary tube, and further wherein the particles are coated with at least a portion of the coating material as the microdroplet evaporates. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for coating particles, the apparatus comprising:
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a particle source comprising at least particles to be coated; a coating material source comprising at least coating material; a capillary tube electrode having a dispensing tip, wherein the capillary tube electrode includes; a first capillary tube having a first open end and a second open end, the first capillary tube operatively connected to receive a flow of at least one of particles and coating material at the first open end thereof, and a second capillary tube concentric with at least a portion of the first capillary tube, wherein at least one of the particles and the coating material is received in an annular opening defined between the first and second concentric capillary tubes; and an electrode isolated from but positioned in proximity to the dispensing tip of the capillary tube electrode, wherein a nonuniform electrical field is created between the capillary tube electrode and the electrode such that a spray of microdroplets suspending at least particles is provided from the dispensing tip, and further wherein upon evaporation of the microdroplets the particles are coated with the coating material. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification