Technologies for fiber nanotechnology
AssigneeThe Trustees of Indiana University
InventorsChandan K. SEN, Alexander GUMENNIK, Louis Alexandre VAN DER ELST, Merve GOKCE KURTOGLU
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Abstract
Technologies for fibers with nanotechnology is disclosed. In the illustrative embodiment, a preform is 3D printed with one or more sacrificial cores and one or more hollow channels. The preform is drawn into a fiber, and one or more metal core(s) is inserted into the hollow channel during the fiber draw. The fiber is then heated, breaking up the sacrificial cores into balls through capillary action. The fiber can be etched, exposing the balls made up of the sacrificial cores. The balls can be selectively etched, exposing the metal core(s) of the fiber. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
Claims20
A fiber comprising:
- a first core extending along an axis of the fiber;
- a second core extending along the axis of the fiber different from the first core;
- a cladding surrounding the first core and the second core;
- wherein the cladding has a plurality of outlets spaced-apart along the axis of the fiber, wherein each outlet of the plurality of outlets exposes a of the first core or the second core to an environment surrounding the fiber,
- wherein the first core and the second core generate an electric field in the environment surrounding the fiber.
A fiber comprising:
- a biocompatible polymer cladding;
- a biocompatible coating surrounding the biocompatible polymer cladding, the biocompatible coating configured to dissolve in a wound environment;
- wherein the biocompatible polymer cladding has a pneumatic or fluidic channel with one or more outlets from the pneumatic or fluidic channel to the biocompatible coating,
- wherein the fiber has a length of at least 10 millimeters and a diameter less than one millimeter.
A method of manufacturing a fiber, the method comprising:
- creating a preform, wherein the preform comprises one or more sacrificial cores;
- drawing the preform into a fiber;
- annealing the fiber after drawing the fiber;
- after annealing the fiber, heating the fiber to break up the one or more sacrificial cores by capillary action into a plurality of balls;
- etching the fiber to expose the plurality of balls;
- and
- etching the plurality of balls.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.