Portable Electrospinning Device for Non-Conductive Substrates
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable electrospinning devices require a conductive or grounded surface behind the deposition surface, limiting their ability to deposit polymer materials onto non-charged or non-conductive substrates and exposing the surface to electric fields, which complicates and restricts their applications.
Innovation Solution
A portable electrospinning device that uses an isolated ring electrode and laminar airflow to deposit polymer fibers onto any surface, regardless of its charge, by encasing the electrostatic field within the device barrel and using a thermal system to handle both solvent-dissolved and solid polymers, allowing for deposition without the need for a charged or grounded substrate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a charged or grounded surface is placed behind the deposition surface, then polymer materials can be deposited onto the surface using electrostatic force, but the surface is exposed to electric fields and the application scope is limited to conductive or grounded substrates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the electrostatic field generation from the traditional configuration by using an isolated ring electrode that creates a localized electrostatic field only within the device barrel. This allows the electrostatic force to be applied only to the polymer jet during electrospinning, while the deposition surface remains outside the electric field region, thus eliminating harmful field exposure and expanding substrate compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The isolated ring electrode acts as an intermediary that mediates the electrostatic interaction between the polymer jet and the deposition surface. It generates the necessary electrostatic force for fiber formation and deposition without requiring the substrate itself to be conductive or grounded, thereby serving as a bridge that enables deposition on insulating surfaces.
2Productivity
If a charged collection surface is used in traditional electrospinning, then polymer fibers can be collected efficiently, but the setup requires complex electrode configurations and limits deposition to conductive substrates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electrostatic field generation into two distinct functional zones: the isolated ring electrode generates the field for fiber formation and initial acceleration, while the deposition surface simply collects fibers without requiring charge. This segmentation allows efficient fiber deposition on the substrate while simplifying the overall electrode configuration, as the collection surface no longer needs to be conductive or grounded.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional electrospinning configuration by placing the electrostatic field-generating electrode (ring electrode) away from the deposition surface and using an isolated configuration. Instead of charging the collection surface to attract fibers, the system uses the isolated electrode to generate fibers that are then carried to the neutral deposition surface, reversing the traditional charge-attraction mechanism.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables direct and safe deposition of polymer materials onto non-conductive surfaces, preventing contamination and facilitating on-demand applications such as wound treatment and infection detection, while maintaining the integrity of conductive materials and reducing electrode fouling.
Implementation Method 1
The initiated voltage creates an electrostatic force that pulls polymer from spinneret to electrode deposition surface
Implementation Method 2
electrostatic force pulls polymer from the spinneret toward a ring electrode, at which point, airflow overcomes the electrostatic force and directs polymer through the center of the ring electrode and onto a deposition surface
Implementation Method 3
The portable ES device can be plugged in or battery operated and has quick-connect components that can be assembled or disassembled easily for device maintenance and preparation
Data Source
AI summary
Electrospinning (ES) produces fibers with small cross-sections and high surface area, making them ideal for a multitude of applications. Structures produced using ES methods exhibit a high surface-to-volume ratio, tunable porosity, and controllable composition. ES involves the delivery of a liquid or solid polymer to a spinneret, whereby, an initiated electric field pulls the polymer into micro to nano-scale fibers. Due to the multitude of applications for which polymer fibers can be used, it is desirable to provide an efficient and portable ES device that allows on-demand deposition of polymer materials. The invention that is subject of this patent application is a portable ES device that allows ideal deposition on a substrate regardless of whether that substrate is attached to high voltage or grounded, and regardless of whether or not there is a charged or grounded substrate behind the desired deposition surface.