Dispensing device and method for forming material

45-49. (canceled)

A method of promoting or controlling tissue repair in a wound, the method comprising:

• subjecting liquid issuing from an outlet to an electric field to cause the liquid to form at least one jet of electrically charged liquid and from the at least one jet at least one electrically charged fiber which, by virtue of its charge, is attracted to and deposits on the wound to form a mat or web;
• and
• incorporating into the mat or web cytokines for stimulating cytokinetic activity to promote cell activities to stimulate dendritic growth.

A method of promoting or controlling tissue repair, the method comprising:

• controlling a supply of liquid from an outlet and subjecting the liquid issuing from the outlet to an electric field to cause the liquid to form electrically charged fibers having a diameter in a region of 10 nanometers to 10 micrometers and having a charge-to-mass ratio such that the fibers are attracted to and deposit onto the wound to form a mat or web having a controlled pattern of fibers;
• and
• incorporating into the mat or web an active ingredient that promotes tissue repair to reduce scarring or otherwise control the sequence of events essential to natural tissue repair.

A method of promoting tissue repair, which method comprises generating electrostatically charged fibers by subjecting liquid containing a biologically compatible polymer issuing from an outlet to an electric field and controlling the charge ratio of the fiber thereby enabling a location at which the fibers are deposited on the wound to be controlled mainly by moving the liquid outlet relative to the wound and controlling a number of passes and pattern of movement of the outlet over the wound.

A method of providing a fiber covering on a surface, the method comprising:

• providing a reservoir of a polymer containing liquid to a liquid outlet via a supply tube;
• and
• subjecting liquid issuing from the liquid outlet to an electric field while regulating a flow of liquid along the supply tube to the liquid outlet to cause the liquid to form at least one electrically charge jet which forms at least one electrically charged fiber that has a diameter controlled by the flow rate and which is electrically attracted to and deposits onto the surface.

A method of supplying an active ingredient to an area of skin or soft tissue, the method comprising:

• providing a polymer containing liquid comprising an active ingredient to an outlet directed towards said area;
• and
• subjecting the liquid that issues from the outlet to an electric field to cause the liquid to form at least one electrically charged jet that breaks up to provide the charged fiber fragments that are electrically attracted to and stick onto said area of skin or soft tissue to supply the active ingredient beneath the skin or into the soft tissue.

(canceled)

A method of producing a fibrous layer covering on a surface, the method comprising:

• supplying a polymer containing liquid to a liquid outlet nozzle;
• subjecting liquid issuing from the liquid outlet nozzle to an electric field while regulating the flow of the liquid to the liquid outlet nozzle such that liquid issuing from the liquid outlet nozzle forms a multitude of liquid jets each of which forms an electrically charged fiber of breaks up into fibrils or particles which are electrically attracted to and deposit onto the surface.

(canceled)

A method of depositing material into a cavity or onto a concave surface, which method comprises:

• supplying polymer containing liquid to a liquid outlet directed towards the cavity or concave surface;
• and
• subjecting liquid issuing from the liquid outlet to an electric field thereby causing the liquid to form at least one jet of electrically charged liquid which then forms electrically charged polymer matter comprising at least one of an electrically charged polymer fiber, electrically charged polymer fiber fragments or electrically charged polymer particles.

A method of producing material for supply to the respiratory system of a mammal, which method comprises:

• supplying a polymer containing liquid to a liquid outlet;
• and
• generating at the liquid outlet an electrical field to cause the polymer containing liquid to form at least one liquid jet which forms charged polymer matter comprising at least one of polymer fiber, fiber fragments and polymer particles.

A method of forming a cavity wound dressing, which method comprises:

• supplying a first liquid comprising thrombin to a first liquid outlet;
• supplying a second liquid comprising fibrinogen to a second liquid outlet;
• subjecting liquid issuing from the first and second liquid outlets to an electric field so as to generate liquid droplets of opposite polarity which rapidly coalesce causing the thrombin and fibrinogen to react together to form a fibrin mat in the wound cavity.

65-80. (canceled)

A method of forming a hemostatic dressing, said method comprising electrohydrodynamically processing liquid comprising at least one active ingredient selected from fibrinogen, thrombin and mixtures thereof, to form a fibrous mat.

A wound dressing formed by supplying liquid to at least one outlet;

• subjecting liquid at an outlet to an electric field thereby causing the liquid to form at least one jet of electrically charged liquid, the liquid being such that after formation the at least one jet forms charged fibers which deposit onto a surface to form a mat;
• and the fibers comprise a bioresorbable inert polymer.

A pre-formed, stable hemostatic dressing comprising fibers wherein the dressing is formed by subjecting to an electric field a liquid comprising an active ingredient selected from fibrinogen, thrombin, and mixtures thereof.

A method of forming a product containing an active ingredient, the method comprising supplying a liquid containing an active ingredient to an outlet and subjecting the liquid to an electric field to cause formation of electrically charged particles of a bioresorbable or biodegradable polymer carrying the active ingredient whereby, when the particles are contacted by chemicals or enzymes present in biological tissue or fluid, the polymer is degraded by chemical or enzymic attack to enable release of the active ingredient.