Patent ID: 8834780
Filing Date: 2014-09-16
Classification: A61L,D01D

Abstract:
1. A process of forming a polymer fiber by hydrodynamic spinning, comprising: forcing a plurality of fluids to flow through a conduit and to form a laminar flow comprising three or more layers of generally coaxial fluid flows, said fluid flows flowing at respective flow rates through said conduit selected to define a cross-section of a tubular middle layer of said fluid flows, said middle layer comprising a cross-linkable polymer precursor, another layer of said fluid flows comprising a cross-linking agent; wherein substantial diffusion of said polymer precursor away from said middle layer is prevented but a portion of said cross-linking agent is allowed to diffuse from said another layer into said middle layer to facilitate cross-linking of said polymer precursor in said middle layer to form a tubular polymer layer in a polymer fiber, by selecting said polymer precursor, said cross-linking agent, and said fluids and controlling said flow rates, said polymer layer having a cross-section generally corresponding to said cross-section of said middle layer.