Apparatus and methods for electrospinning polymeric fibers and membranes

A method for electrospinning a polymer fiber from a conducting fluid containing a polymer in the presence of an electric field established between a spinneret and a ground source comprising:

• a) forming an electrospinning jet stream of said conducting fluid;
• and
• b) electrically controlling the flow characteristics of said jet stream to provide a controlled pattern over a desired target area;
• and
• c) forming a polymer fiber from said jet stream.

A method for forming a controlled-dimension and controlled-morphology membrane by electrospinning a plurality of polymer fibers from a conducting fluid containing said polymer in the presence of an electric field established between a solution introduction device and a ground source, said method comprising:

• a) forming a plurality of electrospinniflg jet streams of said conducting fluid;
• b) independently controlling the flow characteristics of at least one of said jet streams;
• and
• c) forming a membrane.

An electrospinning apparatus for forming a membrane, comprising:

• a conducting fluid introduction device for providing a quantity of conducting fluid containing a polymer, said conducting fluid introduction device comprising a plurality of electrospinning spinnerets for delivering said conducting fluid, said spinnerets being electrically charged at a first potential;
• a ground member positioned adjacent said spinnerets and electrically charged at a second potential different from said first potential, thereby establishing an electric field between said spinnerets and said ground member;
• a support member disposed between said spinnerets and said ground member and movable to receive conducting fluid from said spinnerets;
• and
• means for controlling the flow characteristics of conducting fluid from at least one spinneret independently from the flow of conducting fluid from another spinneret.