A 3D printing head and a method of using the same

Abstract

This invention relates to a 3D printing head and its usage method. The printing head includes a second feed tube and a fourth feed tube. A first feed tube passes through the second feed tube and is connected to a first material cylinder. A third feed tube passes through the fourth feed tube and is connected to the second material cylinder. A fifth printing head is fitted over the ends of the second and fourth feed tubes, and a fifth feed tube is connected to the fifth printing head. The printing head is comprehensively designed and can print blood vessels with parallel arteriovenous structures encased in vascular sheaths. By filling the tube with sacrificial material liquid during printing, the sacrificial material liquid can be converted from a gel state to a liquid state under specific conditions and then discharged, resulting in a hollow printed tube. The blood vessel has good smoothness and structural stability, and the printed blood vessel has high quality, making it an effective and convenient replacement for transplanted blood vessels. It can print complex and tortuous artificial blood vessels, which better meets the needs of actual surgery.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of medical equipment, and in particular relates to a 3D printing head and a method for using the same. Background Art

[0002] In common surgical procedures related to cardiovascular disease, doctors often use vascular grafts, which are surgically attached to blocked or unhealthy blood vessels to permanently change the patient's blood flow route. Although this method is effective, it is premised on the doctor being able to find existing blood vessels in the patient that can be used for transplantation. Relevant medical personnel have been committed to using 3D printing technology to develop new solutions to cardiovascular disease.

[0003] For example, CN20649106U discloses a 3D printing device and equipment for preparing cardiovascular stents, which solves the technical problem that existing 3D printing equipment for preparing cardiovascular stents is usually used for large-scale batch production of cardiovascular stents and lacks adaptability to difficult cases; when in use, the driver drives the rotating shaft to rotate, and the 3D printing material sprayed on the rotating shaft can form a cardiovascular stent.

[0004] However, this technology can only print single straight lines or blood vessels with simple twists and turns. But in reality, most blood vessels have complex structures and are winding, so the printed blood vessels cannot meet actual needs.

[0005] In addition, when printing hollow blood vessels by rotation, the smoothness and structural stability of the blood vessels are poor due to the rapid rotation molding; the print head design is relatively simple, and it is difficult to complete the printing of parallel structures of arteries and veins wrapped in vascular sheaths. Summary of the invention

[0006] In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a 3D printing head and a method for using the same, which mainly solves the problems in the prior art that the existing printing head has a single structure and cannot achieve one-piece printing of a parallel structure of arteries and veins wrapped in a vascular sheath, and that hollow artificial blood vessels are printed by rotational printing, but the quality is poor, the printed blood vessel structure is single, and cannot meet actual needs.

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0008] A 3D printing head comprises a second feeding tube and a fourth feeding tube,

[0009] The second feed pipe is provided with a first feed pipe.

[0010] The first feeding pipe is connected to the first barrel,

[0011] The fourth feed pipe is provided with a third feed pipe.

[0012] The third feeding pipe is connected to the second barrel,

[0013] The ends of the second feeding tube and the fourth feeding tube are covered with a fifth print head.

[0014] The fifth printing head is connected with a fifth feeding pipe;

[0015] The first barrel and the second barrel are both provided with joints.

[0016] In one embodiment, the third feed pipe is connected to the second barrel through a second adapter, and the fourth feed pipe is passed through the second adapter;

[0017] The first feed pipe is connected to the first barrel through a first adapter, and the second feed pipe is passed through the first adapter.

[0018] In one embodiment, the outer diameter of the first feeding pipe is smaller than the inner diameter of the second feeding pipe;

[0019] The outer diameter of the third feeding pipe is smaller than the inner diameter of the fourth feeding pipe.

[0020] In one embodiment, the end of the first feeding pipe is coaxially arranged with the end of the second feeding pipe, and the end of the first feeding pipe is located inside the second feeding pipe;

[0021] The end of the third feeding pipe is coaxially arranged with the end of the fourth feeding pipe, and the end of the third feeding pipe is located inside the fourth feeding pipe.

[0022] In one embodiment, the ends of the first feed pipe, the second feed pipe, the third feed pipe and the fourth feed pipe are respectively provided with a first print head, a second print head, a third print head and a fourth print head.

[0023] In one embodiment, the outer aperture of the first print head is smaller than the inner aperture of the second print head;

[0024] The sum of the outer aperture of the second print head and the outer aperture of the fourth print head is smaller than the inner aperture of the fifth print head;

[0025] The outer aperture of the third print head is smaller than the inner aperture of the fourth print head;

[0026] The first print head, the second print head, the third print head and the fourth print head are all located inside the fifth print head.

[0027] In one embodiment, the first barrel and the second barrel are both filled with sacrificial material liquid, and the sacrificial material liquid can be converted from a gel state to a liquid state under specific conditions and then discharged.

[0028] In one embodiment, the second feed pipe, the fourth feed pipe and the fifth feed pipe are respectively connected to different printing material barrels.

[0029] The steps based on the above-mentioned method of using the 3D printing head are:

[0030] S1. Place the opening of the first barrel upward, add sufficient sacrificial material liquid, and install the end of the first adapter away from the first print head to the opening of the first barrel and keep it closed;

[0031] S2. Place the opening of the second barrel upward, add sufficient sacrificial material liquid, and install the end of the second adapter away from the third print head to the opening of the second barrel and keep it closed;

[0032] S3. Place the first barrel vertically, place the second barrel horizontally, and install the first barrel and the second barrel on the 3D printer device and fix them;

[0033] S4. Connect the rubber hoses of the second feed pipe, the fourth feed pipe and the fifth feed pipe to the corresponding 3D printing material barrels respectively;

[0034] S5. Preheat the liquid, perform a trial print, and check whether the print head and feed pipe are unobstructed;

[0035] S6. The 3D printing device pre-sets the line according to the actual needs of the surgery, runs the line on the printing table of the 3D printing device, prints and forms, and obtains an artificial blood vessel;

[0036] S7. Before the operation, the blood in the blood bag is tested, and the sacrificial material is dissolved in the blood and discharged through the artificial blood vessels, and then the transplantation operation can begin.

[0037] In one way, the number of barrels, feeding tubes and printing heads is increased, and the size of the fifth printing head is changed, so as to increase the number of branches in the artificial blood vessel or increase the number of layers of the inner tube.

[0038] The beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0039] 1. The print head design is relatively comprehensive, and can complete the printing of parallel structures of arteries and veins wrapped with vascular sheaths;

[0040] 2. The sacrificial material liquid is used to fill the tube during printing. Under certain conditions, the sacrificial material liquid can be converted from a gel state to a liquid state and then discharged, making the printed tube hollow, the blood vessel smoothness and structural stability are better, and the printed blood vessel is of higher quality;

[0041] 3. Print blood vessels through 3D printing technology to replace transplanted blood vessels, which is effective and convenient;

[0042] 4. It can print artificial blood vessels with complex structures and winding tortuous shapes, which better meet the actual surgical needs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] Figure 1 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of a 3D printing head according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 2 A front schematic diagram of a 3D printing head according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 3 A partial cross-sectional view of the main part of a 3D printing head according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 4 A partial cross-sectional view of a second adapter according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0047] Figure 5 A schematic cross-sectional view of a print head according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] In the figure: 1. second feed pipe; 11. second print head; 2. fourth feed pipe; 21. fourth print head; 3. first feed pipe; 31. first print head; 4. first barrel; 5. third feed pipe; 51. third print head; 6. second barrel; 7. fifth print head; 8. fifth feed pipe; 9. joint; 91. first adapter; 92. second adapter. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] The following is combined with Figure 1-5 The present invention is further described:

[0050] A 3D printing head, such as Figure 1-5As shown, the first barrel 4 is vertically arranged, the tube head of the second feed pipe 1 is an L-shaped metal tube, which is inserted on the first adapter 91 of the first barrel 4, penetrates from the left side and passes out from the bottom, the tube head of the second feed pipe 1 is integrally formed with the first adapter 91, and the bottom of the part of the tube head passing through the first adapter 91 is provided with a second print head 11, and a rubber hose is connected to the left side of the tube head, and the rubber hose is connected to the corresponding 3D printing material pipe, the first feed pipe 3 is a vertical pipe, the first feed pipe 3 is arranged in the vertical direction, and is penetrated inside the second feed pipe 1, the end of the first feed pipe 3 is coaxially arranged with the end of the second feed pipe 1, and a sufficient gap is left between the outer wall of the first feed pipe 3 and the inner wall of the second feed pipe 1, so that the second feed pipe 1 can transmit the printing material liquid, the first feed pipe 3 passes through the second feed pipe 1 and the first adapter 91 in sequence, and is connected to the first barrel 4, and a first print head 31 is provided at the bottom of the first feed pipe 3;

[0051] The second barrel 6 is arranged horizontally and is a transparent barrel. The tube head of the fourth feed pipe 2 is arranged on the second adapter 92 of the second barrel 6, penetrates from the top and passes out from the left side. The tube head of the fourth feed pipe 2 is integrally formed with the second adapter 92. A rubber hose is connected to the top of the tube head. The rubber hose is connected to the corresponding 3D printing material tube. The rubber hose can be fixed on the barrel wall of the first barrel 4. The part of the tube head passing through the left side of the second adapter 92 is vertically deflected downward, and a fourth print head 21 is connected to the end. The third feed pipe 5 is an L-shaped pipe. The left side of the third feed pipe 5 is coaxially arranged with the left side of the fourth feed pipe 2. There is a sufficient gap between the outer wall of the third feed pipe 5 and the inner wall of the fourth feed pipe 2 so that the fourth feed pipe 2 can transmit the printing material liquid. The right side of the third feed pipe 5 is connected to the second adapter 92, passes through the fourth feed pipe 2 and the second adapter 92 in sequence, and is connected to the second barrel 6. A third print head 51 is provided at the end of the left side of the third feed pipe 5;

[0052] The fourth print head 21 and the second print head 11 are externally sleeved with a fifth print head 7, the top of the fifth print head 7 is connected to the second feed pipe 1 and the fourth feed pipe 2, and there is a sufficient gap between the inner wall of the fifth print head 7 and the outer wall of the fourth print head 21 and the outer wall of the second print head 11, so that the fifth print head 7 can transmit the printing material liquid, and the left side of the fifth print head 7 is connected with a fifth feed pipe 8, and the fifth feed pipe 8 is connected to the corresponding 3D printing material pipe;

[0053] The outer aperture of the first print head 31 is smaller than the inner aperture of the second print head 11, and the first print head 31 is located inside the second print head 11; the outer aperture of the third print head 51 is smaller than the inner aperture of the fourth print head 21, and the third print head 51 is located inside the fourth print head 21; the sum of the outer aperture of the second print head 11 and the outer aperture of the fourth print head 21 is smaller than the inner aperture of the fifth print head 7; the first print head 31, the second print head 11, the third print head 51 and the fourth print head 21 are all located inside the fifth print head 7; the bottoms of the first print head 31, the second print head 11, the third print head 51 and the fourth print head 21 are all at the same horizontal height, and the bottom of the fifth print head 7 is higher than the bottoms of the other print heads; the first barrel 4 and the second barrel 6 are both filled with sacrificial material liquid, and the sacrificial material liquid can be converted from a gel state to a liquid state under certain conditions and then discharged.

[0054] Working principle: Five print heads print simultaneously, and artificial blood vessels are manufactured by 3D printing according to the set route. The outermost layer is the outer tube wall printed by the fifth print head 7, and the inside is the two branch tubes printed by the second print head 11 and the fourth print head 21. The sacrificial material tubes printed by the first print head 31 and the second print head 11 can be converted from a gel state to a liquid state under specific conditions, and then discharged, so that the two branch tube walls form a hollow structure. The printing line is designed according to the actual convergence needs to obtain the required artificial blood vessel structure, such as a parallel structure of arteries and veins wrapped in a vascular sheath. The number of branches can be increased by increasing the number of print heads.

[0055] The inner wall of the fifth print head 7 and the outer wall of the second print head 11 and the outer wall of the fourth print head 21 form a closed cavity, and the printing material of the fifth feeding tube 8 enters the cavity for printing to form the outermost structure of the artificial blood vessel;

[0056] Similarly, a separate and closed cavity can be formed between the inner wall of the second print head 11 and the outer wall of the first print head 31, and between the inner wall of the fourth print head 21 and the outer wall of the third print head 51, so that the printing materials of the second feeding tube 1 and the fourth feeding tube 2 can enter the corresponding cavities to form the internal branches of the artificial blood vessel.

[0057] The sacrificial material liquid printed by the first print head 31 and the third print head 51 can change the temperature and pH value under specific conditions to convert it from a gel state to a liquid state, and then be discharged. During printing, it is filled inside the branch tube. After printing is completed, the layer can be discharged after the artificial blood vessel is passed through water, and finally a hollow structure of the internal branch tube of the artificial blood vessel is formed.

[0058] The steps based on the above-mentioned method of using the 3D printing head are:

[0059] S1. Place the opening of the first barrel upward, add sufficient sacrificial material liquid, and install the end of the first adapter away from the first print head to the opening of the first barrel and keep it closed;

[0060] S2. Place the opening of the second barrel upward, add sufficient sacrificial material liquid, and install the end of the second adapter away from the third print head to the opening of the second barrel and keep it closed;

[0061] S3. Place the first barrel vertically, place the second barrel horizontally, and install the first barrel and the second barrel on the 3D printer device and fix them;

[0062] S4. Connect the rubber hoses of the second feed pipe, the fourth feed pipe and the fifth feed pipe to the corresponding 3D printing material barrels respectively;

[0063] S5. Preheat the liquid, perform a trial print, and check whether the print head and feed pipe are unobstructed;

[0064] S6. The 3D printing device pre-sets the line according to the actual needs of the surgery, runs the line on the printing table of the 3D printing device, prints and forms, and obtains an artificial blood vessel;

[0065] S7. Before the operation, the blood in the blood bag is tested, and the sacrificial material is dissolved in the blood and discharged through the artificial blood vessels, and then the transplantation operation can begin.

[0066] Among them, increasing the number of barrels, feeding tubes and printing heads and changing the size of the fifth printing head can increase the number of branches in the artificial blood vessel or increase the number of layers of the inner tube.

[0067] It will be clear to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made to the above embodiments without departing from the overall spirit and concept of the present invention. All of them fall within the protection scope of the present invention. The protection scheme of the present invention shall be subject to the claims attached to the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for using a 3D printing head, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: S1. Place the opening of the first barrel upward, add sufficient sacrificial material liquid, and install the end of the first adapter away from the first print head to the opening of the first barrel and keep it closed; S2. Place the opening of the second barrel upward, add sufficient sacrificial material liquid, and install the end of the second adapter away from the third print head to the opening of the second barrel and keep it closed; S3. Place the first barrel vertically, place the second barrel horizontally, and install the first barrel and the second barrel on the 3D printer device and fix them; S4. Connect the rubber hoses of the second feed pipe, the fourth feed pipe and the fifth feed pipe to the corresponding 3D printing material barrels respectively; S5. Preheat the liquid, perform a trial print, and check whether the print head and feed pipe are unobstructed; S6. The 3D printing device pre-sets the line according to the actual needs of the surgery, runs the line on the printing table of the 3D printing device, prints and forms, and obtains an artificial blood vessel; S7. Before the operation, the blood in the blood bag is tested, and the sacrificial material is dissolved in the blood and discharged through the artificial blood vessel, and then the transplantation operation can begin; in, The 3D printing head includes a second feeding tube and a fourth feeding tube, The second feed pipe is provided with a first feed pipe. The first feeding pipe is connected to the first barrel, The fourth feed pipe is provided with a third feed pipe. The third feeding pipe is connected to the second barrel, The ends of the second feeding tube and the fourth feeding tube are covered with a fifth print head. The fifth printing head is connected with a fifth feeding pipe; The first barrel and the second barrel are both provided with joints; in, The third feed pipe is connected to the second barrel through a second adapter, and the fourth feed pipe is passed through the second adapter; The first feed pipe is connected to the first barrel through a first adapter, and the second feed pipe is passed through the first adapter; The outer diameter of the first feeding pipe is smaller than the inner diameter of the second feeding pipe; The outer diameter of the third feeding pipe is smaller than the inner diameter of the fourth feeding pipe; The end of the first feeding pipe is coaxially arranged with the end of the second feeding pipe, and the end of the first feeding pipe is located inside the second feeding pipe; The end of the third feeding pipe is coaxially arranged with the end of the fourth feeding pipe, and the end of the third feeding pipe is located inside the fourth feeding pipe; The ends of the first feeding pipe, the second feeding pipe, the third feeding pipe and the fourth feeding pipe are respectively provided with a first printing head, a second printing head, a third printing head and a fourth printing head; The outer aperture of the first print head is smaller than the inner aperture of the second print head; The sum of the outer aperture of the second print head and the outer aperture of the fourth print head is smaller than the inner aperture of the fifth print head; The outer aperture of the third print head is smaller than the inner aperture of the fourth print head; The first print head, the second print head, the third print head and the fourth print head are all located inside the fifth print head; The working principle of the 3D printing head is as follows: five printing heads print at the same time, and artificial blood vessels are manufactured by 3D printing according to the set route. The outermost layer is the outer tube wall printed by the fifth printing head, and the inner part is the two branch tubes printed by the second printing head and the fourth printing head. The sacrificial material tubes printed by the first printing head and the second printing head can be converted from gel state to liquid state under certain conditions and then discharged, so that the two branch tube walls form a hollow structure. The printing line is designed according to the actual convergence needs to obtain the required artificial blood vessel structure; The inner wall of the fifth print head and the outer walls of the second print head and the fourth print head form a closed cavity, and the printing material of the fifth feeding tube enters the cavity for printing to form the outermost structure of the artificial blood vessel; Similarly, a separate and closed cavity can be formed between the inner wall of the second print head and the outer wall of the first print head, and between the inner wall of the fourth print head and the outer wall of the third print head, so that the printing materials of the second feeding tube and the fourth feeding tube can enter the corresponding cavities to form the internal branches of the artificial blood vessel; The sacrificial material liquid printed by the first print head and the third print head changes the temperature and pH value under specific conditions to convert it from a gel state to a liquid state, and then is discharged. During printing, it fills the inside of the branch tube. After printing is completed, the layer can be discharged after the artificial blood vessel is passed through water, and finally a hollow structure of the internal branch tube of the artificial blood vessel is formed.

2. The method for using the 3D printing head according to claim 1, characterized in that: By increasing the number of barrels, feeding tubes and printing heads and changing the size of the fifth printing head, the number of branch tubes in the artificial blood vessel or the number of layers of the inner tube can be increased.

3. The 3D printing head according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first barrel and the second barrel are both filled with sacrificial material liquid, and the sacrificial material liquid can be converted from a gel state to a liquid state; The second feeding pipe, the fourth feeding pipe and the fifth feeding pipe are respectively connected to different printing material barrels.

4. The 3D printing head according to claim 1, characterized in that: Increasing the number of feed tubes and print heads increases the number of internal branches.

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