Patent ID: 8495969
Filing Date: 2013-07-30
Classification: D01D,D01F

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for producing electrically conducting linear structures with a line width of at most 5 μm on the surface of a non-electrically conducting substrate, said apparatus comprising a substrate holder ( 1 ), an electrospinning capillary ( 2 ) above or below the substrate holder, said electrospinning capillary having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being connected to a reservoir ( 3 ) for an electrospinning liquid ( 4 ), said apparatus further comprising an electrical voltage supply ( 5 ) connected to (i) the electrospinning capillary or a holder for the electrospinning capillary and (ii) connectable to the substrate holder or to a substrate on the substrate holder, an adjustable movement unit ( 6 , 6 ′) for moving the electrospinning capillary ( 2 ) or the holder for the electrospinning capillary and/or the substrate holder ( 1 ), a camera ( 7 ) trained on the outlet of the electrospinning capillary ( 2 ) adapted to provide image data to a computer ( 8 ) connected to said computer, said computer having image processing software and being connected to the adjustable movement unit and programmed to operate the adjustable movement unit to adjust and maintain the interspacing between the electrospinning capillary ( 2 ) and a surface of a substrate held by the substrate holder ( 1 ) in accordance with image data provided by said camera.