Medical fibres & fabrics

Abstract

A fibre or fabric comprising silicon for use as a medical fibre or fabric. The silicon present can be biocompatible, bioactive or resorbable material and may also be able to act as an electrical conductor. In addition, porous silicon may be used as a slow release means for example for drugs or fragrances, or as a collector for example for sweat. Novel fibres, fabrics and methods of preparation of these are also described and claimed.

1 . A fibre or fabric comprising silicon for use as a medical fibre or fabric. 
     
     
         2 . A fibre or fabric according to  claim 1  wherein the silicon is bioactive silicon. 
     
     
         3 . A fibre or fabric according to  claim 1  wherein the silicon is resorbable silicon. 
     
     
         4 . A fibre or fabric according to  claim 1  wherein the silicon is biocompatible. 
     
     
         5 . A fibre or fabric according to  claim 1  wherein the fibre or fabric is A semiconductor. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A fibre or fabric according to  claim 1  wherein the silicon is mesoporous silicon. 
     
     
         8 .- 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 .- 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A fibre or fabric according to claim wherein the fabric comprises porous silicon fibres. 
     
     
         13 . A fabric according to  claim 12  which contains only silicon containing fibres. 
     
     
         14 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A fabric having silicon microparticles incorporated therein. 
     
     
         17 . A fabric according to  claim 16  where the silicon microparticles are covalently bound to the fabric. 
     
     
         18 .- 47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . An electrically conductive porous silicon fabric. 
     
     
         49 .- 59 . (canceled) 
     
     
         60 . A medical device comprising a fabric comprising porous silicon. 
     
     
         61 . A medical device according to  claim 60  which is selected from a scaffold for tissue engineering, an orthopedic prostheses, a stent, an electrode for neuro-interfacing, a “wrapped” in-vivo drug delivery system, a “wrapped” ex-vivo drug delivery system, a medical distributed network for electrical stimulation, a non-occluding garment, patch or bandage for sweat diagnostics, a topical dressing which is optionally absorptive, or an X-ray opaque yarn. 
     
     
         62 .- 64 . (canceled) 
     
     
         65 . A fabric comprising porous silicon, wherein the silicon is impregnated with a substance such that the substance is slowly released from the silicon. 
     
     
         66 . A fabric according to  claim 65  wherein said substance is a) pharmaceutical compound or a fragrance. 
     
     
         67 .- 72 . (canceled)