Needle-to-needle electrospinning
The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for coating a medical device. The method includes providing an electrospinning apparatus and simultaneously electrospinning at least one solution onto a first surface and an opposing second surface. The apparatus comprises a first spinneret and a second spinneret. An energy source is electrically coupled to the first spinneret and the second spinneret. The first spinneret and second spinneret comprise a reservoir and an orifice fluidly coupled to the reservoir. The first spinneret orifice is located substantially opposite the second spinneret orifice.
1. An electrospinning apparatus comprising:
a first spinneret comprising a reservoir loaded with a first solution and an orifice, the first spinneret orifice comprising a proximal end fluidly coupled to the reservoir and a distal end through which the first solution is electrospun;
a second spinneret comprising a reservoir loaded with a second solution and an orifice, the second spinneret orifice comprising a proximal end fluidly coupled to the reservoir and a distal end through which the second solution is electrospun;
an energy source electrically coupled to the first spinneret and the second spinneret;
where the first spinneret orifice is located substantially opposite the second spinneret orifice,
where the first and second spinnerets are used to prepare a medical device defining a lumen with a proximal end, a distal end, a luminal surface and an abluminal surface,
where the first spinneret orifice distal end is configured to be located outside of the medical device lumen between the medical device proximal end and the medical device distal end and between about 0.1 inches and about 6.0 inches from the medical device abluminal surface, the first spinneret orifice distal end being configured to directly face the medical device abluminal surface, and
where the second spinneret orifice distal end is configured to be located in the medical device lumen between the medical device proximal end and the medical device distal end and between about 0.1 inches and about 2.0 inches from the medical device luminal surface, the second spinneret orifice distal end is configured to directly face the medical device luminal surface.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , where the first solution and second solution comprise at least one material selected from the group comprising polymers, proteins, bioadhesives, and bioactive agents.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , where the first solution is different from the second solution.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , where the first spinneret further comprises a first electrical charge and the second spinneret further comprises a second, opposing electrical charge.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , where the first spinneret further comprises a fluid displacement system and where the second spinneret further comprises a fluid displacement system.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , where the first spinneret and second spinneret comprise a conical or hemispherical configuration.