In-Fiber Particle Generation

Abstract

A fiber is provided, including a cladding material that is disposed along a longitudinal-axis fiber length. A plurality of spherical particles are disposed as a sequence along a longitudinal line parallel to the longitudinal fiber axis in at least a portion of the fiber length. Each spherical particle is of a spherical particle material that is interior to and different than the fiber cladding material. The spacing between adjacent spherical particles in the sequence of particles is greater than the spherical particle diameter. Each spherical particle can be provided as a core-shell particle that includes a spherical core that is surrounded by at least one spherical shell. Each spherical particle can be provided with a plurality of azimuthal sections of at least two distinct materials.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A fiber comprising:
 a cladding material disposed along a longitudinal-axis fiber length; and   a plurality of spherical particles disposed as a sequence along a longitudinal line parallel to the longitudinal fiber axis in at least a portion of the fiber length, each spherical particle comprising a spherical particle material that is interior to and different than the fiber cladding material, and each spherical particle comprising a core-shell particle including a spherical core that is surrounded by at least one spherical shell.   
     
     
         2 . The fiber of  claim 1  wherein the spherical shell comprises a plurality of nested spherical shells. 
     
     
         3 . The fiber of  claim 1  wherein each core-shell spherical particle includes a spherical core including at least two distinct materials in the spherical core. 
     
     
         4 . The fiber of  claim 1  wherein the spherical shell includes at least two distinct materials in the spherical shell. 
     
     
         5 . The fiber of  claim 1  wherein each core-shell spherical particle includes a spherical core including at least two distinct materials in the spherical core and the spherical shell includes at least two distinct materials in the spherical shell. 
     
     
         6 . The fiber of  claim 1  wherein each core-shell spherical particle includes a spherical core that is a mother spherical particle including a plurality of daughter spherical particles within the mother spherical particle. 
     
     
         7 . A fiber comprising:
 a cladding material disposed along a longitudinal-axis fiber length; and   a plurality of spherical particles disposed as a sequence along a longitudinal line parallel to the longitudinal fiber axis in at least a portion of the fiber length, and comprising a spherical particle material that is interior to and different than the fiber cladding material, each spherical particle comprising a plurality of azimuthal sections of at least two distinct materials.   
     
     
         8 . The fiber of  claim 7  wherein the spherical core is surrounded by at least one spherical shell. 
     
     
         9 . The fiber of  claim 7  wherein each spherical particle has no rotational symmetry. 
     
     
         10 . The fiber of  claim 7  wherein each spherical particle is a mother spherical particle including a plurality of daughter spherical particles within the mother spherical particle. 
     
     
         11 . A fiber comprising:
 a cladding material disposed along a longitudinal-axis fiber length; and   a plurality of spherical particles disposed as a sequence along a longitudinal line parallel to the longitudinal fiber axis in at least a portion of the fiber length, each spherical particle comprising a spherical particle material that is interior to and different than the fiber cladding material, and each spherical particle having a particle diameter, with spacing between adjacent spherical particles in the sequence of particles being greater than the spherical particle diameter.   
     
     
         12 . The fiber of  claim 11  wherein the fiber cladding material and the spherical particle material are each characterized by a viscosity that is less than about 10 6  Poise, while maintaining material integrity, at a common fiber draw temperature. 
     
     
         13 . The fiber of  claim 11  wherein the fiber cladding material comprises a polymer material selected from the group consisting of poly-ether imide, poly-ether sulfone, polycarbonate, polysulfone, cyclic olefin polymer, cyclic olefin copolymer, and poly-methyl methacrylate. 
     
     
         14 . The fiber of  claim 11  wherein the spherical particle material comprises an electrically semiconducting material. 
     
     
         15 . The fiber of  claim 11  wherein the spherical particle material comprises an electrically insulating material. 
     
     
         16 . The fiber of  claim 11  wherein the spherical particle material comprises an electrically conducting material. 
     
     
         17 . The fiber of  claim 16  wherein the spherical particle material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of metals and metal alloys. 
     
     
         18 . The fiber of  claim 17  wherein the spherical particle material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of tin, indium, bismuth, cadmium, lithium, lead, zinc, Sn—Ag alloys, Sn—Sb alloys, and Sn—Cu alloys. 
     
     
         19 . The fiber of  claim 11  wherein each spherical particle is a mother spherical particle including a plurality of daughter spherical particles within the mother spherical particle. 
     
     
         20 . The fiber of  claim 11  wherein each spherical particle comprises a biocompatible polymer material.