Dispensing device and method for forming material

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.

1 - 43 . (canceled) 
   
   
       44 . A hand holdable wound care device that enables a user to apply a dressing onto a wound surface, comprising a housing adapted to be held in a user's hand, the housing having a housing outlet, the housing containing:
 a reservoir containing liquid and having a reservoir outlet;   a liquid supply tube configured to receive liquid from the reservoir outlet and having a supply tube outlet registering with the housing outlet;   a pump for pumping liquid from the reservoir along the liquid supply tube to the supply tube outlet and through the housing outlet;   a voltage source for supplying voltage; and   user operable switch means adapted to be activated manually by the user, the housing outlet being directable by the user towards the wound surface so as to couple the voltage supplied by the voltage source to the supply tube outlet to generate an electric field to cause the liquid to form at the housing outlet at least one electrically charged jet, the jet forming a fiber that is eletrostatically attracted to and deposits on the wound surface to form a mat or web of fiber providing a dressing covering the wound surface.   
   
   
       45 - 49 . (canceled) 
   
   
       50 . A method of promoting or controlling tissue repair in a wound, the method comprising:
 subjecting liquid issuing from an outlet to an electric field to cause the liquid to form at least one jet of electrically charged liquid and from the at least one jet at least one electrically charged fiber which, by virtue of its charge, is attracted to and deposits on the wound to form a mat or web; and   incorporating into the mat or web cytokines for stimulating cytokinetic activity to promote cell activities to stimulate dendritic growth.   
   
   
       51 . A method of providing a tissue repair promoting dressing for a wound, the method comprising:
 providing a hand holdable device comprising a housing adapted to be held in the user's hand and having a housing outlet and containing a reservoir containing liquid comprising a biologically compatible polymer and having a reservoir outlet, a liquid supply tube for receiving liquid from the reservoir outlet and having a supply tube outlet registered with the housing outlet, and a voltage source for applying a voltage to generate an electric field at the supply tube outlet, the method comprising:   positioning the housing outlet at least 5 [to 10] cm away form the wound;   activating the voltage source to cause the liquid issuing from the supply tube outlet to form at least one electrically charged fiber having a diameter in the range of 10 nanometers to 10 micrometers which fiber, by virtue of its charge, is attracted to and deposits onto the wound to form a mat or web with adjacent fiber portions being spaced apart by a gap; and   directing a spray containing an active ingredient comprising cytokines for promoting tissue repair onto the web or mat.   
   
   
       52 . A method of promoting or controlling tissue repair, the method comprising:
 controlling a supply of liquid from an outlet and subjecting the liquid issuing from the outlet to an electric field to cause the liquid to form electrically charged fibers having a diameter in a region of 10 nanometers to 10 micrometers and having a charge-to-mass ratio such that the fibers are attracted to and deposit onto the wound to form a mat or web having a controlled pattern of fibers; and   incorporating into the mat or web an active ingredient that promotes tissue repair to reduce scarring or otherwise control the sequence of events essential to natural tissue repair.   
   
   
       53 . A method according to  claim 52 , which comprises incorporating the active ingredient into the mat or web by electrohydrogenatomically spraying a liquid comprising at least one tissue repair promoting active ingredient selected form a group consisting of cytokines that stimulate cytokinetic activity to promote cell activity and growth factors that include fibroblast growth factor, epithelial growth factor and transforming growth factor. 
   
   
       54 . A method according to  claim 52 , which comprises incorporating the active ingredient by providing the active ingredient within the liquid supply to the liquid outlet. 
   
   
       55 . A hand holdable device for enabling promotion of tissue repair, the device comprising a housing adapted to be held in a user's hand, the housing having a housing outlet, the housing containing:
 a reservoir containing liquid comprising a biologically compatible polymer and having a reservoir outlet;   a liquid supply tube for receiving liquid from the reservoir outlet and having a supply tube outlet registering with the housing outlet;   a voltage source for applying a voltage;
 a spray device comprising a second reservoir containing liquid comprising an active ingredient and having an outlet for spraying liquid containing the active ingredient into the path of liquid issuing from the liquid supply tube; and 
   user operable switch means adapted to be activated by a user when the device is held in the user's hand to cause an electric field to be generated at the supply tube outlet to cause liquid from the reservoir to form at the housing outlet at least one electrically charged fiber and to cause liquid containing the active ingredient to be sprayed onto the fiber whereby, in use, the fiber is electrostatically attracted to and deposits onto the wound to form a mat or web incorporating the active ingredient sprayed by the spraying device.   
   
   
       56 . A method of promoting tissue repair, which method comprises generating electrostatically charged fibers by subjecting liquid containing a biologically compatible polymer issuing from an outlet to an electric field and controlling the charge ratio of the fiber thereby enabling a location at which the fibers are deposited on the wound to be controlled mainly by moving the liquid outlet relative to the wound and controlling a number of passes and pattern of movement of the outlet over the wound. 
   
   
       57 . A method of providing a fiber covering on a surface, the method comprising:
 providing a reservoir of a polymer containing liquid to a liquid outlet via a supply tube; and   subjecting liquid issuing from the liquid outlet to an electric field while regulating a flow of liquid along the supply tube to the liquid outlet to cause the liquid to form at least one electrically charge jet which forms at least one electrically charged fiber that has a diameter controlled by the flow rate and which is electrically attracted to and deposits onto the surface.   
   
   
       58 . A method of supplying an active ingredient to an area of skin or soft tissue, the method comprising:
 providing a polymer containing liquid comprising an active ingredient to an outlet directed towards said area; and   subjecting the liquid that issues from the outlet to an electric field to cause the liquid to form at least one electrically charged jet that breaks up to provide the charged fiber fragments that are electrically attracted to and stick onto said area of skin or soft tissue to supply the active ingredient beneath the skin or into the soft tissue.   
   
   
       59 . (canceled) 
   
   
       60 . A method of producing a fibrous layer covering on a surface, the method comprising:
 supplying a polymer containing liquid to a liquid outlet nozzle;   subjecting liquid issuing from the liquid outlet nozzle to an electric field while regulating the flow of the liquid to the liquid outlet nozzle such that liquid issuing from the liquid outlet nozzle forms a multitude of liquid jets each of which forms an electrically charged fiber of breaks up into fibrils or particles which are electrically attracted to and deposit onto the surface.   
   
   
       61 . (canceled) 
   
   
       62 . A method of depositing material into a cavity or onto a concave surface, which method comprises:
 supplying polymer containing liquid to a liquid outlet directed towards the cavity or concave surface; and   subjecting liquid issuing from the liquid outlet to an electric field thereby causing the liquid to form at least one jet of electrically charged liquid which then forms electrically charged polymer matter comprising at least one of an electrically charged polymer fiber, electrically charged polymer fiber fragments or electrically charged polymer particles.   
   
   
       63 . A method of producing material for supply to the respiratory system of a mammal, which method comprises:
 supplying a polymer containing liquid to a liquid outlet; and   generating at the liquid outlet an electrical field to cause the polymer containing liquid to form at least one liquid jet which forms charged polymer matter comprising at least one of polymer fiber, fiber fragments and polymer particles.   
   
   
       64 . A method of forming a cavity wound dressing, which method comprises:
 supplying a first liquid comprising thrombin to a first liquid outlet;   supplying a second liquid comprising fibrinogen to a second liquid outlet;   subjecting liquid issuing from the first and second liquid outlets to an electric field so as to generate liquid droplets of opposite polarity which rapidly coalesce causing the thrombin and fibrinogen to react together to form a fibrin mat in the wound cavity.   
   
   
       65 - 80 . (canceled) 
   
   
       81 . A method of forming a hemostatic dressing, said method comprising electrohydrodynamically processing liquid comprising at least one active ingredient selected from fibrinogen, thrombin and mixtures thereof, to form a fibrous mat. 
   
   
       82 . The method  claim 81  wherein said liquid comprises at least one additional active ingredient selected from the group consisting of analgesics, antiseptics, antibiotics, bactericides, anti fungals, antiparasitics, anti-inflammatory agents, vasodilators, proteolytic enzymes, cytokines, fibroblast growth factor (FGF), epithelial growth factor (EGF), transforming growth-factor (TGF), cells, peptides, polypeptides, insulin, immune suppressants, stimulants, vaccines, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       83 . The method  claim 81  wherein the method further comprises electrohydrodynamically processing thrombin at one polarity so as to rapidly coalesce with droplets of opposite polarity comprising fibrinogen to form a fibrin mat. 
   
   
       84 . The method of  claim 81  wherein at least a portion of the fibers include collagen, and at least a portion of the fibers include at least one active component selected from thrombin, fibrinogen and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       85 . The method  claim 81  wherein the step of electrohydrodynamically processing comprises processing matter comprising thrombin at one polarity so as to rapidly coalesce with matter of opposite polarity comprising fibrinogen to form a fast-reacting fibrin mat. 
   
   
       86 . A wound dressing formed by supplying liquid to at least one outlet; subjecting liquid at an outlet to an electric field thereby causing the liquid to form at least one jet of electrically charged liquid, the liquid being such that after formation the at least one jet forms charged fibers which deposit onto a surface to form a mat; and the fibers comprise a bioresorbable inert polymer. 
   
   
       87 . The wound dressing of  claim 86  wherein the fibers further comprise one or more active components. 
   
   
       88 . The wound dressing of  claim 87  wherein the active components are selected form the group consisting of analgesics, antiseptics, antibiotics, bactericides, antifungals, antiparasitics, anti-inflammatory agents, fibrinogen, vasodilators, proteolytic enzymes, cytokines, fibroblast growth factor (FGF), epithelial growth factor (EGF), thrombin, transforming growth factor (TGF), cells, peptides, polypeptides, insulin, immune suppressants, stimulants, vaccines, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       89 . The wound dressing of  claim 88  wherein the active components are selected from fibrinogen, thrombin, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       90 . The wound dressing of  claim 86  wherein at least a portion of the fibers include collagen, and at least a portion of the fibers include at least one active component selected from thrombin, fibrinogen and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       91 . The wound dressing of  claim 86  wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxybutyric, polyvinyl alcohol, polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       92 . The wound dressing of  claim 86  wherein the dressing comprises more than one layer of fibers. 
   
   
       93 . The wound dressing of  claim 92  wherein skin cells are interspersed between fiber layers. 
   
   
       94 . The wound dressing of  claim 86  wherein the mat is formed by electrohydrodynamically processing thrombin at one polarity so as to rapidly coalesce with matter of opposite polarity comprising fibrinogen to form a fast-reacting fibrin mat. 
   
   
       95 . The wound dressing of  claim 86  comprised of more than one layer. 
   
   
       96 . The wound dressing of  claim 86  wherein cells are dispersed between the layers. 
   
   
       97 . A pre-formed, stable hemostatic dressing comprising fibers wherein the dressing is formed by subjecting to an electric field a liquid comprising an active ingredient selected from fibrinogen, thrombin, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       98 . The dressing of  claim 97  wherein said liquid is processed by EHD processing. 
   
   
       99 . The dressing of  claim 98  wherein the fibers comprise a bioresorbable polymer. 
   
   
       100 . The dressing of  claim 99  wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyhydroxybutyric acid, polyvinyl alcohol, polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       101 . The dressing of  claim 99  wherein the fibers comprise an additional active ingredient selected from the group consisting of analgesics, antiseptics, antibiotics, bactericides, antifungals, antiparasitics, anti-inflammatory agents, vasodilators, proteolytic enzymes, cytokines, fibroblast growth factor (FGF), epithelial growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor (TGF), cells, peptides, polypeptides, insulin, immune suppressants, stimulants, vaccines, and mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       102 . The dressing of  claim 99  wherein said dressing is adapted for application to an external surface. 
   
   
       103 . The dressing of  claim 99  wherein said dressing is adapted for application to an internal surface. 
   
   
       104 . A method of forming a product containing an active ingredient, the method comprising supplying a liquid containing an active ingredient to an outlet and subjecting the liquid to an electric field to cause formation of electrically charged particles of a bioresorbable or biodegradable polymer carrying the active ingredient whereby, when the particles are contacted by chemicals or enzymes present in biological tissue or fluid, the polymer is degraded by chemical or enzymic attack to enable release of the active ingredient.