Fabricating a carbon nanofiber yarn nerve scaffold
AssigneeLintec of America, Inc.
InventorsJulia Bykova, Marcio D. Lima, Kanzan Inoue
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Abstract
Nerve scaffolds are described that include a tubular outer housing fabricated from a biocompatible polymer, within which are disposed a plurality of carbon nanofiber yarns. The carbon nanofiber yarns, which can be separated by distances roughly corresponding to an average nerve fiber diameter, provide surfaces on which nerve fibers can regrow. Because the proximate carbon nanofiber yarns can support individual nerve fibers, a nerve can be regenerated with a reduced likelihood of undesirable outcomes, such as nerve pain or reduced nerve function.
Claims19
A method of manufacturing a nerve scaffold, the method comprising:
- disposing a first strip of adhesive on a roller;
- wrapping a nanofiber yarn around the roller by rotating the roller, the wrapped nanofiber yarn forming a bundle of aligned segments of the nanofiber yarn on the roller, wherein the nanofiber yarn passes over the first strip of adhesive;
- separating the bundle of aligned segments of the nanofiber yarn by dividing the strip into two portions;
- removing the bundle aligned segments of the nanofiber yarn from the roller;
- folding the bundle of aligned segments of the nanofiber yarn, wherein the bundle includes a first end and a second end opposite to the first end;
- and
- configuring the bundle to be disposed within a tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.