Patent ID: 8500431

Claim:
An electrospinning apparatus, comprising: a spinneret for electrospinning in fluid communication with a supply of electrospinnable fluid, the pressure of the electrospinnable fluid being controlled by a system of valves; an electrical power supply in electrical communication with the electrospinnable fluid, wherein the electrical power supply is capable of supplying an output voltage; a first valve having a first port and a second port, wherein the first port is in fluid communication with an atmosphere, and the second is in parallel fluid communication with a second valve and a third valve; the second valve having two ports, wherein the first port is in parallel fluid communication with the first valve and the third valve, and the second port is in parallel fluid communication with a pumping means and a fourth valve; the third valve having two ports, wherein the first port is in parallel fluid communication with the first valve and the second valve, and the second port is in parallel fluid communication with the pumping means and a fifth valve; the fourth valve having two ports, wherein the first port is in parallel fluid communication with the pumping means and the second valve, and the second port is in parallel fluid communication with the electrospinnable fluid and the fifth valve; the fifth valve having two ports, wherein the first port is in parallel fluid communication with the pumping means and the third valve, and the second port is in parallel fluid communication with the electrospinnable fluid and the fourth valve; and the pumping means having two ports, the first port being in parallel fluid communication with the second and fourth valves and the second port being in parallel fluid communication with the third and fifth valves, and wherein the pumping means draws from the first port and pumps fluid out of the second port; wherein each of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth valves are at least capable of on and off fluid flow states, and wherein at least the second and third valves are additionally capable of continuous flow rate adjustment.