Fabricating a carbon nanofiber yarn nerve scaffold

Abstract

A carbo nanofiber nerve scaffold includes a cylindrical helix, a bundle of aligned carbon nanofiber yarns, and a carbon nanofiber sheet. The cylindrical helix includes a surgical suture material, and the cylindrical helix defines an interior of the carbon nanofiber nerve scaffold. The bundle of aligned carbon nanofiber yarns is disposed within the interior of the cylindrical helix. The carbon nanofiber sheet is disposed around the cylindrical helix on a side of the cylindrical helix opposite of the interior.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A carbon nanofiber nerve scaffold comprising:
 a cylindrical helix comprising a surgical suture material, the cylindrical helix defining an interior;   a bundle of aligned carbon nanofiber yarns within the interior of the cylindrical helix; and   a carbon nanofiber sheet around the cylindrical helix on a side of the cylindrical helix opposite the interior.   
     
     
         2 . The carbon nanofiber nerve scaffold of  claim 1 , wherein the aligned segments of the bundle are spaced from 5 μm to 15 μm from one another. 
     
     
         3 . The carbon nanofiber nerve scaffold of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanofiber sheet includes a bioresorbable polymer infiltrant. 
     
     
         4 . The carbon nanofiber nerve scaffold of  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical helix comprises a first helix wrapped in a first direction and a second helix wrapped in a second direction opposite the first helix. 
     
     
         5 . The carbon nanofiber nerve scaffold of  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical helix is a crocheted cylindrical helix. 
     
     
         6 . The carbon nanofiber nerve scaffold of  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical helix is a knitted cylindrical helix.