Multi-phase, variable frequency electrospinner system

A multi-phase, variable frequency electrospinner apparatus for producing fibrous material, the apparatus comprising:

• a first material source for storing a first material to be electrospun;
• a second material source for storing a second material to be electrospun;
• a first tip attached to an end of the first material source;
• a second tip attached to an end of the second material source;
• a collector spaced apart from the first and second material sources;
• a first electric field generator producing a first voltage signal in the form of a square wave having a first frequency as a function of time and a first phase;
• and
• a second electric field generator producing a second voltage signal simultaneously with the first signal and in the form of a sine wave having a second frequency as a function of time and a second phase different from the first phase, wherein at least one of the first and second frequency are varied as a function of time,
• the apparatus being configured for electrospinning fibers formed from the first and second materials as extracted from the respective first and second tips responsive to a first and second electric field generated between the respective first and second tips and the collector by the respective first and second voltage signals, wherein the first frequency, first phase, second frequency, and second phase are selected to control an interaction between the first material and the second material at the collector to form a composite material with a unique pattern based on the interaction.

A multi-phase, variable frequency electrospinner apparatus for producing a fibrous material, the apparatus comprising:

• a material source holding a material to be electrospun;
• a tip attached to an end of the material source;
• a collector spaced apart from the material source;
• and
• an electric field generator simultaneously producing:
• a first voltage signal having a first frequency as a function of time and a first phase, and
• a second voltage signal having a second frequency as a function of time and a second phase, wherein the first and second frequency are varied as a function of time,
• wherein at least one of the first and second voltage signals are in the form of a square wave,
• the apparatus being configured for electrospinning fibers formed from the material as extracted from the tip responsive to an electric field generated between the tip and the collector by the first and second voltage signals, wherein the first frequency, first phase, second frequency, and second phase are selected to control at least one property of the fibers extracted from the tip, and
• wherein the first signal is unmatched and out of phase with the second signal.