Patent ID: 8052407

Claim:
An apparatus for producing fibers, comprising: an electrospinning element having an electrified tip, and configured to electrospin a substance from which the fibers are to be composed by an electric field extraction of the substance from the tip of the electrospinning element; said electrified tip of the electrospinning element producing an electric field having an electric field strength such that a flow rate of the substance to the electrospinning element is balanced with the electric field strength responsible for extracting the substance from which the fibers are to be composed so that a droplet shape of the substance exiting the electrified tip is maintained; a collector disposed from the electrospinning element and configured to collect the fibers; a chamber enclosing the collector and the electrospinning element; a shroud extending from an interior wall of the chamber and partially enclosing the electrospinning element; and a control mechanism configured to control a gaseous environment in which the fibers are to be electrospun.