Sheath flow device and method
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsPeter B. Howell, Jr., Frances S. Ligler, Adam R. Shields
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sheath flow system having a channel with at least one fluid transporting structure located in the top and bottom surfaces situated so as to transport the sheath fluid laterally across the channel to provide sheath fluid fully surrounding the core solution. At the point of introduction into the channel, the sheath fluid and core solutions flow side by side within the channel or the core solution may be bounded on either side by the sheath fluid. The system is functional over a broad channel size range and with liquids of high or low viscosity. A wide variety of shapes of fibers and other materials can be produced from this system through the use of polymerizable material.
Claims20
A method of creating a sheathed flow comprising:
- providing a channel having a proximal end and a distal end, said channel having opposed facing top and bottom surfaces, said channel having at least one first fluid transporting structure across said channel located on said top surface and at least one second fluid transporting structure across said channel located on said bottom surface,
- said first and second fluid transporting structures being located between said proximal and said distal end and on opposing surfaces facing one another across the channel;
- and
- introducing a sheath stream and a core stream at said proximal end of said channel, said sheath and core streams flowing down said channel side by side towards said distal end, wherein said fluid transporting structures transport said sheath stream across said top and bottom surfaces of said channel to surround said core stream, thereby creating a sheathed flow,
- wherein the core stream comprises a polymerizable material;
- and
- polymerizing the polymerizable material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.