System and method for mandrel-less electrospinning

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10065352-B2
Application number	US-201715499242-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 27, 2017
Priority date	Dec 29, 2010
Publication date	Sep 4, 2018
Grant date	Sep 4, 2018

Abstract

A system for electrospinning a fiber matrix on a tubular member includes at least one nozzle, a tubular member in a spaced relationship to the at least one nozzle, and a fluid source for pressurizing a lumen of the tubular member. An electrical potential is applied between the at least one nozzle and either the tubular member or fluid from the fluid source. The electrical potential draws at least one fiber from the at least one nozzle to the tubular member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for electrospinning a fiber matrix onto a tubular member to form a vascular graft device, the system comprising:
at least one nozzle;
a tubular member in a spaced relationship to the at least one nozzle, the tubular member defining an internal lumen;
a fluid source that pressurizes the internal lumen of the tubular member with a fluid; and
a pressure control system operatively connected to the fluid source and configured to control a pressure exerted on the internal lumen of the tubular member by the fluid source;
wherein an electrical potential is applied between the at least one nozzle and the tubular member and/or the fluid within the internal lumen of the tubular member, the electrical potential drawing at least one fiber from the at least one nozzle to the tubular member, and wherein the system does not comprise a mechanical type of mandrel inserted through the lumen of the tubular member.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid source is configured to pressurize the internal lumen of the tubular member with a varying pressure.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid source is configured to pressurize the internal lumen with a stagnant fluid.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid source is configured to pressurize the internal lumen with a flowing fluid.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the fluid source is configured to pressurize the internal lumen with the flowing fluid that is recirculated.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid that pressurizes the internal lumen has a voltage lower than a voltage of the at least one nozzle.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the fluid that pressurizes the internal lumen has a voltage of about −5 kilovolts (kV) and the at least one nozzle has a voltage of about +15 kV.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid source is configured to pressurize the internal lumen with the fluid that comprises heparinized saline.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid source is configured to pressurize the internal lumen with the fluid that is selected from the group consisting of: an electrically conductive fluid; a dielectric fluid; and a combination thereof.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid source is configured to pressurize the internal lumen with the fluid that comprises a phase change material.

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a pressure sensor in communication with the fluid, the pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure the fluid exerts on the tubular member.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the pressure sensor controls a topography of the tubular member.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid source is configured to pressurize the internal lumen of the tubular member to a pressure that does not exceed about 40 mmHg.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the tubular member is a living tissue.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the tubular member comprises a saphenous vein graft.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the tubular member comprises a harvested vein segment.

Assignees

• Neograft Tech Inc
• Univ Of Pittsburgh—Of The Commonwealth System Of Higher Education

Inventors

• Mcgrath Jon
• Soletti Lorenzo
• El-Kurdi Mohammed S
• Wagner William R
• Flaherty J Christopher

Classifications

• A61F2/062

  Apparatus for the production of blood vessels made from natural tissue or with layers of living cells · CPC title

• D01D5/0076

  characterised by the collecting device, e.g. drum, wheel, endless belt, plate or grid (D01D5/0046 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A61L27/14

  Macromolecular materials · CPC title

• A61F2240/001

  Designing or manufacturing processes · CPC title

• A61L27/38

  containing added animal cells (organs or tissue containing native cells A61L27/36) · CPC title