Shaping process
AssigneesImperial Chemical Industries PLC, The University of Liverpool
InventorsAlan Bornat, Roy M. Clarke
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Abstract
A process for setting in a desired shape a product at least a portion of which comprises electrostatically spun fibres is disclosed. The process comprises maintaining the product in the desired shape at a temperature below the melding temperature of the electrostatically spun fibres. The desired shape may be the as-spun shape of the product or a shape obtained by deformation of the product, i.e. the product is reshaped. The fibres preferably comprise a polyurethane and reshaping is preferably effected on a former. The reshaped product may be employed as a vascular prosthesis.
Claims24
A process for stabilizing a product at least a portion of which comprises electrostatically spun fibres which process comprises the steps of holding the product under stress in a desired shape and/or size while the temperature thereof is maintained between the melding temperature of the said fibres and room temperature to set the product in the desired shape and/or size and then cooling the product or allowing it to cool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.