A multi-helix extrusion device and a 3D printer

Abstract

The present invention discloses a multi-helix extrusion device and a 3D printer. The multi-helix extrusion device includes a barrel, and at least one partition is provided inside the barrel. The partition is used to evenly divide the interior of the barrel to form at least two cavities. The barrel of the present multi-helix extrusion device is installed on the print head of the 3D printer. Each cavity stores slurry and is connected to an output channel. By driving the barrel to rotate through a driving mechanism, the output channels are driven to rotate and discharge materials. The output channels are circumferentially distributed around the rotation axis of the barrel, so that the slurries are wound around each other to form a multi-helix structure. Finally, a scaffold with a multi-helix structure is formed through layer-by-layer stacking printing. Compared with the current single-layer structure, double-layer structure, core-shell structure and other scaffold structures, the scaffold with a multi-helix line structure has better mechanical properties and better toughness. This invention relates to the technical field of 3D printing scaffolds for treating bone tissue defects.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of 3D printing scaffolds for treating bone tissue defects, and particularly to a multi-helix extrusion device and a 3D printer. Background Art

[0002] 3D printing of degradable ceramic scaffolds is a new method for treating large-area bone tissue defects. Compared with autologous bone transplantation and allogeneic bone transplantation, it has the characteristics of controllable structure, fast production, wide source and no host rejection reaction. After being implanted into the body, it can fill bone tissue defects, restore the integrity of the patient's tissue structure, and more importantly, promote the formation of new bone tissue and new blood vessels, and finally achieve the regenerative repair of damaged bone tissue.

[0003] In modern medicine, 3D printing technology is often used to prepare bone repair scaffolds due to its advantages such as simple operation, high precision of printed scaffolds, and controllable printing process. By completing the modeling of the scaffold structure to be printed in 3D design software, importing it into the computer of the 3D printing device, and going through steps such as layer-by-layer printing, fixing, drying, and sintering, the required bone transplantation scaffold can be obtained. Currently, the structural design of 3D printing scaffolds mainly focuses on single-layer structures, double-layer structures, core-shell structures, and hollow (porous) structures.

[0004] Current common 3D printing scaffold structures, such as single-layer structures, multi-layer structures, and porous structures, although having simple preparation processes and convenient slurry preparation, all have certain disadvantages. For scaffolds with single-layer or double-layer structures, their slurries are mainly mechanically mixed, and the advantageous properties of different slurries are compromised; scaffolds with core-shell structures have made breakthroughs in fiber forms, but there is an order of contact with body fluids in the core-shell structure, and there are also differences in the degradation time and interaction with the host, and the core-shell interface has a certain impact on mechanical properties; hollow structures sacrifice mechanical properties to obtain a larger porosity; in addition, current cell-laden tissue scaffolds have high osteogenic activity, but their mechanical properties are much lower than the hardness of conventional bone.

[0005] Therefore, a suitable scaffold structure, as well as the corresponding extrusion device and printer for printing scaffolds, are very important. Summary of the Invention

[0006] An object of the present invention is to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art, and to provide a multi-helix extrusion device and a 3D printer, which can print scaffolds with multi-helix line structures to achieve improvements in mechanical properties, etc.

[0007] According to an embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, a multi - screw extrusion device is provided, including: a barrel, at least one partition is arranged inside the barrel, the partition is used for separating the interior of the barrel to form at least two cavities, the cavities are used for storing slurry, and each cavity is connected with an output channel; a driving mechanism, the driving mechanism is used for driving the barrel to rotate so as to drive each output channel to discharge materials by rotation, and each output channel is circumferentially distributed around the rotation axis of the barrel, so that the slurries output by each output channel are wound around each other to form a spiral structure.

[0008] The above - mentioned multi - screw extrusion device has at least the following beneficial effects: The barrel of this multi - screw extrusion device is installed on the print head of a 3D printer. At least one partition is arranged inside the barrel, and the partition separates the interior of the barrel to form at least two cavities. Each cavity stores slurry and is connected with an output channel. By driving the barrel to rotate through the driving mechanism, each output channel is driven to discharge materials by rotation. Since each output channel is circumferentially distributed around the rotation axis of the barrel, the slurries are wound around each other to form a multi - spiral structure. After layer - by - layer stacking and printing, a bracket with a multi - spiral structure of the line structure is finally formed. Compared with the current bracket structures such as single - layer structure, double - layer structure and core - shell structure, the bracket with a multi - spiral line structure has better mechanical properties and better toughness.

[0009] For the multi - screw extrusion device according to the embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, the multi - screw extrusion device further includes a barrel cover, and the barrel cover is detachably connected to one end of the barrel to close the cavity.

[0010] For the multi - screw extrusion device according to the embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, the driving mechanism includes a driving component and a transmission component. The transmission component is in transmission connection with the driving component and the barrel cover. The driving component is used for driving the transmission component to act, and drives the barrel cover and the barrel to rotate through the transmission component.

[0011] For the multi - screw extrusion device according to the embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, the transmission component includes a first transmission wheel and a second transmission wheel. The first transmission wheel is connected to the barrel cover, the second transmission wheel is in transmission cooperation with the first transmission wheel, and the driving component can drive the second transmission wheel to rotate.

[0012] For the multi - screw extrusion device according to the embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, the first transmission wheel and the second transmission wheel are bevel gears.

[0013] For the multi - screw extrusion device according to the embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, the first transmission wheel is connected with a support rod, the second transmission wheel is connected with a rotating shaft, and the rotating shaft is horizontally supported on the support rod.

[0014] The multi - screw extrusion device according to the embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, the drive assembly includes a slider, a slide bar and a connecting rod. One end of the connecting rod is rotatably connected to the second transmission wheel, and the other end of the connecting rod is rotatably connected to the slider. The slider can perform linear reciprocating motion along the slide bar to drive the connecting rod to act, and then drive the second transmission wheel to rotate.

[0015] The multi - screw extrusion device according to the embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, the drive assembly further includes a driving member for driving the slider to slide, and the driving member is a cylinder.

[0016] The multi - screw extrusion device according to the embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention, the multi - screw extrusion device includes a pressurizing member for applying pressure to the cavity to extrude the slurry out of the output channel.

[0017] According to the embodiment of the second aspect of the present invention, a 3D printer is provided, which includes the above - mentioned multi - screw extrusion device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the drawings:

[0019] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of the multi - screw extrusion device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 is a simple plane structure diagram of the multi - screw extrusion device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 3 is a plane structure schematic diagram of the barrel according to the embodiment of the present invention, which has a partition;

[0022] Figure 4 is a partial structural schematic diagram of the bracket with a double - helix structure of the line structure according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 5 is a plane structure schematic diagram of the barrel according to the embodiment of the present invention, which has three partitions;

[0024] Figure 6 is a partial structural schematic diagram of the bracket with a triple - helix structure of the line structure according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Reference numerals: barrel 10, cavity 11, barrel cover 20, partition 30, output channel 40, drive mechanism 50, drive assembly 51, slider 511, slide bar 512, connecting rod 513, transmission assembly 52, first transmission wheel 521, second transmission wheel 522, support rod 523, rotating shaft 524, rotating wheel 525, first slurry 100, second slurry 200, third slurry 300. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] This section will describe in detail specific embodiments of the present invention. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings. The function of the accompanying drawings is to supplement the description in the text part of the specification, enabling people to intuitively and vividly understand each technical feature and the overall technical solution of the present invention. However, it should not be construed as a limitation on the protection scope of the present invention.

[0027] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that for orientation descriptions, such as the orientations or positional relationships indicated by up, down, front, back, left, right, etc., are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. This is only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, it should not be construed as a limitation on the present invention.

[0028] In the description of the present invention, the meaning of "several" is one or more, the meaning of "multiple" is two or more. Understandings such as "greater than", "less than", "exceeding", etc. do not include the recited number, and understandings such as "above", "below", "within", etc. include the recited number. If there is a description of "first" and "second", it is only for the purpose of distinguishing technical features and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the quantity of the indicated technical features or implicitly indicating the sequence relationship of the indicated technical features.

[0029] In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise clearly defined, words such as "set", "installed", "connected", etc. should be understood in a broad sense. Those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meanings of the above words in the present invention in combination with the specific content of the technical solution.

[0030] Refer to Figures 1 to 6 , an embodiment of the present invention provides a multi - screw extrusion device, including a barrel 10. At least one partition 30 is provided inside the barrel 10. The partition 30 is used to evenly divide the interior of the barrel 10 to form at least two cavities 11. The cavities 11 are used to store slurry, and each cavity 11 is connected with an output channel 40; a driving mechanism 50. The driving mechanism 50 is used to drive the barrel 10 to rotate so as to drive each output channel 40 to rotate and discharge materials. Each output channel 40 is circumferentially distributed around the rotation axis 524 of the barrel 10, so that the slurries output by each output channel 40 are wound around each other to form a spiral structure.

[0031] The barrel 10 of the multi-helix extrusion device in this embodiment is installed on the print head of a 3D printer. At least one partition 30 is provided inside the barrel 10. The partition 30 divides the interior of the barrel 10 to form at least two cavities 11. Each cavity 11 stores slurry and is connected to an output channel 40. By driving the barrel 10 to rotate through a driving mechanism 50, the output channels 40 are driven to rotate and discharge materials. Since the output channels 40 are circumferentially distributed around the rotation axis 524 of the barrel 10, the slurries are wound around each other to form a multi-helix structure. After layer-by-layer stacking and printing, a bracket with a multi-helix structure of the line structure is finally formed. Compared with the current single-layer structure, double-layer structure, core-shell structure and other bracket structures, the bracket with a multi-helix line structure has better mechanical properties and better toughness.

[0032] It can be understood that the number of partitions 30 can be set as needed. Specifically, referring to Figure 3 , there is 1 partition 30, which divides the interior of the barrel 10 to form 2 cavities 11. In this way, when the barrel 10 rotates, the slurries output by the output channels 40 (the first slurry 100 and the second slurry 200 respectively) are wound around each other to form a double-helix structure. Referring to Figure 4 ; referring to Figure 5 , there are 3 partitions 30, and the included angle between two adjacent partitions 30 is 120°. The interior of the barrel 10 is divided to form 3 cavities 11. In this way, when the barrel 10 rotates, the slurries output by the output channels 40 (the first slurry 100, the second slurry 200 and the third slurry 300 respectively) are wound around each other to form a triple-helix structure. Referring to Figure 6 ; when the number of partitions 30 is set to n (n≥3), the interior of the barrel 10 is divided to form n cavities 11, and the included angle between two adjacent partitions 30 is 360° / n. When the barrel 10 rotates, the slurries output by the output channels 40 are wound around each other to form an n-helix structure. Therefore, according to the number of partitions 30 set, the number of lines forming the helix structure can be set.

[0033] Specifically, the output channels 40 connected to each cavity 11 can specifically adopt pipes or needle tubes.

[0034] The bracket with a multi-helix line structure has the following advantages: (1). Due to the helix structure of the bracket, various slurries can be independently controlled, and their release performance and the performance of promoting bone and blood vessel growth can be separately regulated; (2). Due to the multi-helix structure of the printed line, there is an internal interlocking mechanism (node and internal friction mechanism) during the process of being subjected to external loads. It can not only withstand larger external loads, but also has good compressibility, enabling the improvement of mechanical properties in terms of physical structure and having better toughness; (3). On this basis, this structure can also achieve separate regulation and comparative research on antibacterial drug loading, metal ion addition and other influencing mechanisms, which is a great innovation to the current design concept of 3D printed bone repair bracket structures.

[0035] It is understandable that the specific composition of the slurry in each barrel 10 can be set as needed, and the compositions of the slurries can be set to be the same or different. Specifically, it can include: bioceramics (hydroxyapatite, calcium phosphate, calcium silicate), polymers (collagen, gelatin, various hydrogels such as GelMA), various biofunctional cells (osteogenic, angiogenic, collagen-forming, etc.), active molecules (bone growth-promoting BMP-2, blood vessel growth-promoting VEGF), etc. The diversification of the slurry is beneficial to the diversification of the functions of the stent. Therefore, the potential of the multi-helical stent is huge.

[0036] In this embodiment, the multi-helical extrusion device includes a pressurizing component (not shown), and the pressurizing component is used to apply pressure to the cavity 11 to extrude the slurry out of the output channel 40. Specifically, the pressurizing component uses a steam pump.

[0037] Of course, it is understandable that as an alternative, the pressurizing component can use an air pump, a piston or other structures as long as the extrusion of the slurry can be achieved.

[0038] In this embodiment, the multi-helical extrusion device further includes a barrel cover 20. The barrel cover 20 is detachably connected to one end of the barrel 10 to close the cavity 11 and prevent the slurry from spilling or volatilizing after loading. Specifically, the barrel 10 and the barrel cover 20 are connected by threads for easy disassembly. Different barrels 10 can be replaced as needed to print stents with different helical structures.

[0039] In some embodiments, the driving mechanism 50 includes a driving component 51 and a transmission component 52. The transmission component 52 is drivingly connected to the driving component 51 and the barrel cover 20. The driving component 51 is used to drive the transmission component 52 to act, and drive the barrel cover 20 and the barrel 10 to rotate through the transmission component 52.

[0040] In some of these embodiments, the transmission component 52 includes a first transmission wheel 521 and a second transmission wheel 522. The first transmission wheel 521 is connected to the barrel cover 20, and the second transmission wheel 522 is in driving cooperation with the first transmission wheel 521. The driving component 51 can drive the second transmission wheel 522 to rotate, and then drive the first transmission wheel 521 and the barrel cover 20 to rotate, and finally drive the barrel 10 to rotate.

[0041] Specifically, the first transmission wheel 521 and the second transmission wheel 522 are bevel gears. In this way, the transmission direction can be changed, so that the driving component 51 can be arranged along the length direction of the barrel 10 and the barrel cover 20, improving the space utilization rate.

[0042] In some embodiments, a support rod 523 is connected to the first transmission wheel 521, a rotating shaft 524 is connected to the second transmission wheel 522, the rotating shaft 524 is horizontally supported on the support rod 523, one end of the rotating shaft 524 is connected to the second transmission wheel 522, and the other end is connected to a rotating wheel 525.

[0043] In some embodiments, the driving assembly 51 includes a slider 511, a slide rod 512 and a connecting rod 513. One end of the connecting rod 513 is rotatably connected to the second transmission wheel 522, and the other end of the connecting rod 513 is rotatably connected to the slider 511. The slider 511 can perform linear reciprocating motion along the slide rod 512 to drive the connecting rod 513 to move, and further drive the second transmission wheel 522 to rotate. By the linear reciprocating movement of the slider 511 on the slide rod 512, the second transmission wheel 522 is driven to rotate in one direction, converting the linear motion into a rotational motion.

[0044] In some embodiments, the driving assembly 51 further includes a driving member for driving the slider 511 to slide. The driving member is specifically a cylinder, and the linear reciprocating motion of the slider 511 on the slide rod 512 is realized through the suction process of the cylinder on the piston.

[0045] The driving mechanism 50 of this embodiment uses gas as the power source, converts linear motion into rotational motion, has a simple structure, reduces the manufacturing cost, and improves the space utilization rate.

[0046] The embodiment of the present invention also provides a 3D printer, including the above multi-helix extrusion device. The printer including the above multi-helix extrusion device controls the multi-helix extrusion device to move and extrude the slurry in three dimensions of the X direction, Y direction and Z direction, realizing the printing and forming of a bracket with a multi-helix structure for the line structure.

[0047] The above has described the embodiments of the present invention in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention within the scope of knowledge possessed by those of ordinary skill in the art.

Claims

1. A multi-helix extrusion device, characterized in that, Comprising: A barrel, at least three partition plates are provided inside the barrel, the partition plates are used to partition the interior of the barrel to form at least three cavities, the cavities are used to store slurry, and each cavity is connected with an output channel; A driving mechanism, the driving mechanism is used to drive the barrel to rotate so as to drive each output channel to rotate and discharge materials, and each output channel is circumferentially distributed around the rotation axis of the barrel, so that the slurries output by each output channel are wound around each other to form a spiral structure; The multi-spiral extrusion device further includes a barrel cover, the barrel cover is detachably connected to one end of the barrel to seal the cavity; The driving mechanism includes a driving component and a transmission component, the transmission component is in transmission connection with the driving component and the barrel cover, the driving component is used to drive the transmission component to act, and drives the barrel cover and the barrel to rotate through the transmission component; The driving component is arranged along the length direction of the barrel and the barrel cover.

2. The multi-screw extrusion device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The transmission component includes a first transmission wheel and a second transmission wheel, the first transmission wheel is connected with the barrel cover, the second transmission wheel is in transmission cooperation with the first transmission wheel, and the driving component can drive the second transmission wheel to rotate.

3. The multi-screw extrusion device according to claim 2, wherein: The first transmission wheel and the second transmission wheel are bevel gears.

4. The multi-helix extrusion device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first transmission wheel is connected with a support rod, the second transmission wheel is connected with a rotating shaft, and the rotating shaft is horizontally supported on the support rod.

5. The multi-helix extrusion device according to claim 2, characterized in that: The driving component includes a slider, a slide rod and a connecting rod, one end of the connecting rod is rotatably connected with the second transmission wheel, the other end of the connecting rod is rotatably connected with the slider, and the slider can perform linear reciprocating motion along the slide rod to drive the connecting rod to act, thereby driving the second transmission wheel to rotate.

6. The multi-helix extrusion device according to claim 5, characterized in that: The driving component further includes a driving member, the driving member is used to drive the slider to slide, and the driving member is a cylinder.

7. The multi-screw extrusion device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The multi-spiral extrusion device includes a pressurizing component, the pressurizing component is used to apply pressure to the cavity to extrude the slurry out of the output channel.

8. A 3D printer, characterized in that: Including the multi-spiral extrusion device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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