A method, apparatus, and system for fabricating buckypaper or similar sheets of nanostructures having relatively high aspect ratios. A dispersion of nanostructures such as nanotubes is subjected to fluid dynamics/forces which promote alignment of their axes of elongation while in suspension in the flow. An agglomeration of better aligned nanostructures is isolated from the carrier fluid into a useable form. In the case of nanotubes, one form is buckypaper. One example of alignment forces is Taylor-Couette flow shear forces. One example of isolation is filtering the flowing dispersion to collect better aligned nanostructures across the filter into a sheet or film. The degree of alignment can produce anisotropic material properties that can be beneficially used in application of the sheet or film.

A system and method for additive manufacturing of heterogeneous porous structures, and structures made therefrom. The system includes: a powder feeding module for depositing layers of powder material; a binder module for dispensing powder binding material; a porogen module for selectively depositing at least one porogen to the layers of powder material, wherein the at least one porogen is removable to produce at least one predetermined porosity in the part; and a controller to control the powder feeding module, binder module and porogen module. The method includes: forming a layer by performing at least one of: applying a powder to a substrate; applying a binder to the powder; applying at least one porogen to the powder based on a predetermined pattern; and forming additional layers until a predetermined number of layers is reached, wherein at least one of the layers includes a porogen.

A system and method for additive manufacturing of heterogeneous porous structures, and structures made therefrom. The system includes: a powder feeding module for depositing layers of powder material; a binder module for dispensing powder binding material; a porogen module for selectively depositing at least one porogen to the layers of powder material, wherein the at least one porogen is removable to produce at least one predetermined porosity in the part; and a controller to control the powder feeding module, binder module and porogen module. The method includes: forming a layer by performing at least one of: applying a powder to a substrate; applying a binder to the powder; applying at least one porogen to the powder based on a predetermined pattern; and forming additional layers until a predetermined number of layers is reached, wherein at least one of the layers includes a porogen.

Provided are: a powdered material for slush molding; and a manufacturing process therefor. The powdered material is less odorous, exhibits excellent powder fluidity, and does not suffer from troubles resulting from the sliding-down or agglomeration of a pigment even when the resin particles have been pigmented on the surfaces thereof. Thus, the powdered material ensures high productivity. The powdered material is a powdered polyurethane urea resin composition which comprises (D) a polyurethane urea resin that has a total content of bimolecular condensate of acetone, bimolecular condensate of methyl ethyl ketone, and bimolecular condensate of methyl isobutyl ketone of 1,000 ppm or less and (N) an additive, wherein the polyurethane urea resin (D) takes the form of thermoplastic polyurethane urea resin particles (P) that have a volume-mean particle diameter of 20 to 500 m and that have protrusions and recesses on the surfaces. The powdered polyurethane urea resin composition is manufactured by a manufacturing process which includes a step of mixing (A) an isocyanato-terminated urethane prepolymer with (B) an alicyclic diamine and/or an aliphatic diamine in an aqueous medium by stirring to form the resin particles (P).

Provided are: a powdered material for slush molding; and a manufacturing process therefor. The powdered material is less odorous, exhibits excellent powder fluidity, and does not suffer from troubles resulting from the sliding-down or agglomeration of a pigment even when the resin particles have been pigmented on the surfaces thereof. Thus, the powdered material ensures high productivity. The powdered material is a powdered polyurethane urea resin composition which comprises (D) a polyurethane urea resin that has a total content of bimolecular condensate of acetone, bimolecular condensate of methyl ethyl ketone, and bimolecular condensate of methyl isobutyl ketone of 1,000 ppm or less and (N) an additive, wherein the polyurethane urea resin (D) takes the form of thermoplastic polyurethane urea resin particles (P) that have a volume-mean particle diameter of 20 to 500 m and that have protrusions and recesses on the surfaces. The powdered polyurethane urea resin composition is manufactured by a manufacturing process which includes a step of mixing (A) an isocyanato-terminated urethane prepolymer with (B) an alicyclic diamine and/or an aliphatic diamine in an aqueous medium by stirring to form the resin particles (P).

A bioresorbable, implantable device having controlled drug delivery is disclosed herein. The bioresorbable, implantable device is configured as a film, a roll, a tube, and a stent. The bioresorbable, implantable device is configured to release an active ingredient (the drug) from the bioresorbable, implantable device when the bioresorbable, implantable device is implanted within a body. The bioresorbable, implantable device is configured to control the onset of the release of the drug, the sequence of drug delivery, and the duration of drug delivery by embedding the drug within at least one therapeutic layer positioned within bioresorbable, implantable device.

A bioresorbable, implantable device having controlled drug delivery is disclosed herein. The bioresorbable, implantable device is configured as a film, a roll, a tube, and a stent. The bioresorbable, implantable device is configured to release an active ingredient (the drug) from the bioresorbable, implantable device when the bioresorbable, implantable device is implanted within a body. The bioresorbable, implantable device is configured to control the onset of the release of the drug, the sequence of drug delivery, and the duration of drug delivery by embedding the drug within at least one therapeutic layer positioned within bioresorbable, implantable device.

A multilayer bioresorbable stent having sustained drug delivery is disclosed herein. The bioresorbable stent releases a therapeutic substance from the body of the bioresorbable stent starting when the bioresorbable stent is implanted within an anatomical lumen and ending when the entire mass of the bioresorbable stent is no longer present within the anatomical lumen. The bioresorbable stent releases the therapeutic substance gradually during the treatment as the mass of the each layer of the bioresorbable stent erodes. Methods of making the therapeutic layers within the bioresorbable sent are further disclosed. Sustained drug delivery reduces the risk of late and very late stent thrombosis.

A multilayer bioresorbable stent having sustained drug delivery is disclosed herein. The bioresorbable stent releases a therapeutic substance from the body of the bioresorbable stent starting when the bioresorbable stent is implanted within an anatomical lumen and ending when the entire mass of the bioresorbable stent is no longer present within the anatomical lumen. The bioresorbable stent releases the therapeutic substance gradually during the treatment as the mass of the each layer of the bioresorbable stent erodes. Methods of making the therapeutic layers within the bioresorbable sent are further disclosed. Sustained drug delivery reduces the risk of late and very late stent thrombosis.