A biological 3D printing biological ink storage device and control method thereof

Abstract

The present invention discloses a biological 3D printing bio-ink storage device and a control method thereof, belonging to the fields of biological 3D printing manufacturing technology and mechanical manufacturing. The device comprises: a plurality of ink orifice plates, each having a plurality of ink storage holes arranged in a matrix; a plurality of orifice plate slots, each having a slot defined in a bottom plate thereof, into which the ink orifice plates are inserted, the plurality of orifice plate slots being arranged in the same plane and adjacent orifice plate slots being detachably connected; a plurality of lead screw stepper motors, the output ends of the lead screw stepper motors being transmission-connected to the orifice plate slots; a drawer-type storage rack for storing the plurality of orifice plate slots, the bottom ends of the plurality of orifice plate slots being slidably connected to the storage rack; a plurality of lead screw stepper motors fixed to the storage rack; and a controller, the controller being electrically connected to the lead screw stepper motors. The present invention can automatically complete the replacement and transfer of bio-ink, thereby improving the printing efficiency of complex artificial biological tissues.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the fields of biological 3D printing manufacturing technology and mechanical manufacturing, and more particularly to a biological 3D printing biological ink storage device and a control method thereof. Background Art

[0002] 3D printing technology (additive manufacturing technology) is a new type of mechanical manufacturing technology developed in recent years. Unlike traditional manufacturing methods that continuously remove materials to obtain finished products, in the 3D printing manufacturing process, materials are continuously added to obtain finished products. Therefore, 3D printing has the advantages of being able to manufacture complex structures and personalized customization. In recent years, the combination of 3D printing technology and biomedicine has developed the emerging field of biological 3D printing.

[0003] Bio-3D printing involves the use of 3D printing to create personalized biological functional structures, such as skin, kidneys, and hearts, by combining biomaterials like hydrogels and biological units like cells, DNA, and proteins, in accordance with requirements such as biomimetic morphology, biological functions, and cell growth microenvironments. The use of bio-3D printing technology to construct complex biological tissues has two main purposes: to create in vitro models for pathological research or drug screening, and to construct organs suitable for human transplantation.

[0004] Artificial biological tissues produced through 3D bioprinting not only need to possess complex microstructures similar to those of natural biological tissues, but also require a variety of different cells to express genetic information, proliferate, differentiate, and assemble into biological tissues. To ensure that the artificial biological tissues possess functions similar to those of natural biological tissues, the printed cell concentrations and cell types vary in different regions of the artificial biological tissues. Therefore, when using a 3D bioprinter to print complex tissues and organs, the bio-ink required for printing should include different types and concentrations of specific biological cells, different types of biomaterials, and growth factors. However, currently commercial multi-cartridge 3D bioprinters do not have the sufficient number of nozzles required to print a complex artificial biological tissue or organ. Therefore, the ink cartridges must be manually replaced during the printing process to complete the printing of different regions of the artificial biological tissue. This requires constant human control during the printing process, reducing the efficiency of 3D bioprinting of complex artificial biological tissues.

[0005] Therefore, how to provide an automated and conveniently controlled 3D printed bio-ink storage device and a method for conveniently controlling the same is an urgent problem that people in this field need to solve. Summary of the Invention

[0006] In view of this, the present invention aims to provide a biological 3D printing biological ink storage device and a control method thereof to at least solve one of the above-mentioned technical problems in the prior art to a certain extent.

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

[0008] A biological 3D printing biological ink storage device, comprising:

[0009] A plurality of ink orifice plates, each of which has a plurality of ink storage holes arranged in a matrix;

[0010] There are multiple orifice plate slots, each of which has a slot in its bottom plate, and the ink orifice plate is inserted into the orifice plate slot. The multiple orifice plate slots are arranged in the same plane and the adjacent orifice plate slots are detachably connected.

[0011] A plurality of lead screw stepper motors, wherein the output ends of the lead screw stepper motors are transmission-connected to the orifice plate slots;

[0012] A drawer-type storage rack for storing a plurality of the orifice plate slots, wherein the bottom ends of the plurality of orifice plate slots are slidably connected to the storage rack;

[0013] A plurality of the lead screw stepper motors are fixed on the storage rack;

[0014] A controller is connected to the lead screw stepper motor via electrical signals.

[0015] Through the above technical solution, the ink orifice plate is inserted into the orifice plate slot, and the orifice plate slot can be pulled out or pushed in on the storage rack under the drive of the lead screw stepping motor.

[0016] Preferably, the system further includes an angle bracket connector and a lead screw drive assembly. The angle bracket connector is fixed to the bottom plate end of at least one of the orifice plate slots. The lead screw stepper motor output shaft is fixedly connected to the angle bracket connector through the lead screw drive assembly. The orifice plate slots with angle bracket connectors and ordinary orifice plate slots are staggered and fixed in a row and slide in layers on the storage rack, providing a large bio-ink storage capacity and convenient removal and insertion.

[0017] Preferably, the screw drive assembly includes a screw and a screw nut. The screw is rotatably connected to one side of the base plate of the orifice plate slot via an angle bracket connector and is arranged along its sliding direction. The output shaft of the screw stepper motor is in transmission connection with the screw. The screw nut is fixed to the angle bracket connector and threadedly connected to the screw. The output shaft of the screw stepper motor drives the screw to rotate, thereby driving the screw nut to move. The movement of the screw nut drives the angle bracket connector to push out or retract, thereby driving the orifice plate slot to push out or retract on the storage rack.

[0018] Preferably, there are multiple angle code connectors, which are correspondingly connected to one end of the bottom plate of the orifice plate slot arranged at intervals, so as to facilitate connection with the screw stepping motor and realize transmission between the screw stepping motor and the orifice plate slot.

[0019] Preferably, the system further comprises a motor mounting base, the motor mounting base being fixedly connected to the storage rack corresponding to one end of the angle bracket connector; the bottom end of the lead screw stepper motor is fixed to the motor mounting base; the angle bracket connector is provided with a mounting hole, and the lead screw nut is installed in the mounting hole. The motor is fixed to the storage rack, and the output shaft and the transmission assembly are used for transmission.

[0020] Preferably, the bottom end of the ink orifice plate is fixedly connected to an inserting plate, and the inserting plate can be inserted into the slot of the orifice plate slot. The ink orifice plate can be removed for easy replacement.

[0021] Preferably, the drawer-type storage rack is provided with a multi-layer sliding structure, and each layer of the sliding structure is slidably connected to a plurality of the orifice plate slots, so that the orifice plate slots can be pushed out or recovered.

[0022] Preferably, the sliding structure includes a slider, a linear guide, and a slot stopper. The slider is fixed to the bottom end of the base plate of the orifice plate slot. The linear guide is fixed to the rack, corresponding to the bottom end of each orifice plate slot, and slides with the slider. The slot stopper is fixed to the storage rack at each end of the linear guide. The orifice plate slot moves linearly on the linear guide. The slot stopper prevents the guide slider from exceeding the travel range during movement, causing the linear guide to fail.

[0023] Preferably, the system further includes a stepper motor driver, the controller being a programmable logic controller (PLC), and the stepper motor driver being signal-connected to the stepper motor and the PLC; and each ink storage hole of the orifice plate slot corresponds to a position information identifier compiled by the PLC. That is, the PLC has information corresponding to each ink storage hole compiled therein, thereby controlling the operation of the stepper motor driver and the corresponding stepper motor to deliver ink to the corresponding orifice plate slot.

[0024] The present invention also provides a control method for a biological 3D printing biological ink storage device, wherein the programmable logic controller is compiled with position information corresponding to each ink storage hole.

[0025] When printing with a bio-3D printing system, the programmable logic controller (PLC) first controls the positional information of each ink well, which is encoded within it. The stepper motor driver controls the movement of the lead screw stepper motor to push the corresponding ink plate out. The controller then directs the ink from the corresponding ink plate in each plate slot to enter the printing area.

[0026] It can be seen from the above technical solutions that, compared with the prior art, the present invention discloses a biological 3D printing biological ink storage device and a control method thereof, which has the following beneficial effects:

[0027] 1. The bio-ink storage device of the present invention has a simple design. The orifice plate slot is controlled by a lead screw stepper motor to slide on the frame, thereby realizing the advancement or recovery movement of the ink orifice plate, making it convenient to take out and recover the bio-ink.

[0028] 2. By synergizing with equipment such as a multi-cartridge 3D bio-printing system and a bio-ink transfer device, the type and concentration of printable bio-inks can be varied during the construction of complex artificial biological tissues, regardless of the number of printheads in the bio-3D printer. This allows the constructed complex artificial biological tissues and their functions to more closely resemble the shape and function of natural biological tissues. Furthermore, by compiling the positional coordinates of bio-inks of different types and concentrations in the bio-ink storage device, the bio-ink transfer device can be used to automate the replacement and transfer of bio-inks, thereby improving the printing efficiency of complex artificial biological tissues. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the provided drawings without paying any creative work.

[0030] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a biological 3D printing biological ink storage device of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 2 This is an isometric diagram of a single-layer structure of a biological 3D printed bio-ink storage device.

[0032] Figure 3 This is a front view of a single-layer structure of a biological 3D printed bio-ink storage device.

[0033] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the assembly of the orifice plate slot and the ink orifice plate.

[0034] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a hole plate slot with angle code connector.

[0035] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a common orifice plate slot.

[0036] Figure 7 This is a workflow diagram of the biological ink storage device provided by the present invention.

[0037] 1-Ink orifice plate; 2-Orifice plate slot; 3-Lead screw stepper motor; 4-Storage rack; 5-Motor fixing seat; 6-Slider; 7-Linear guide; 8-Slot limit block; 9-Lead screw nut;

[0038] 2a-orifice plate slot with angle connector; 2b-ordinary orifice plate slot;

[0039] 201-base plate; 202-corner connector; 203-first connecting plate; 204-second connecting plate; DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0041] See also Figures 1-6 The embodiment of the present invention discloses a biological 3D printing biological ink storage device, comprising:

[0042] A plurality of ink orifice plates 1, each of which has a plurality of ink storage holes arranged in a matrix;

[0043] Multiple orifice plate slots 2, each orifice plate slot 2 has a slot in the bottom plate 201, the ink orifice plate 1 is inserted into the slot of the orifice plate slot 2, the multiple orifice plate slots 2 are arranged in the same plane and the adjacent orifice plate slots 2 are detachably connected;

[0044] A plurality of screw stepper motors 3, wherein the output ends of the screw stepper motors 3 are transmission-connected to the orifice plate slots 2;

[0045] A drawer-type storage rack 4 for storing a plurality of orifice plate slots 2, wherein the bottom ends of the plurality of orifice plate slots 2 are slidably connected to the storage rack 4, and a plurality of lead screw stepper motors 3 are fixed to the storage rack 4;

[0046] The controller is connected to the screw stepper motor 3 via electrical signals.

[0047] Furthermore, it also includes an angle code connector 202 and a screw transmission assembly. The angle code connector 202 is fixed to the bottom plate end of at least one orifice plate slot 2; the output shaft of the screw stepper motor 3 is fixed and connected to the angle code connector 202 through the screw transmission assembly.

[0048] Furthermore, the screw transmission assembly includes a screw and a screw nut 9. The screw is rotated to connect to one side of the bottom plate 201 of the hole plate slot 2 through the angle code connector 202 and is arranged along its sliding direction. The output shaft of the screw stepper motor 3 is connected to the screw transmission. The screw nut 9 is fixed to the angle code connector 202 and is threadedly connected to the screw.

[0049] There are multiple angle code connectors 202, and the multiple angle code connectors 202 are correspondingly connected to one end of the bottom plate 201 of the orifice plate slots 2 arranged at intervals.

[0050] A slot is provided on the bottom plate 201 of the orifice plate slot 2. A first connecting plate 203 extends from the bottom end of the outer wall on one side of the orifice plate slot 2, and a second connecting plate 204 is fixedly connected to the middle of the outer wall on the other opposite side.

[0051] The first connecting plate 203 of the orifice plate slot 2a with the angled connector is fixedly connected to the second connecting plate 204 of the ordinary orifice plate slot 2b. The first connecting plate 203 of the ordinary orifice plate slot 2b is fixedly connected to the second connecting plate 204 of the orifice plate slot 2a with the angled connector. In one embodiment, the storage rack 4 has four layers, each storing five orifice plate slots. The orifice plate slots are fixedly connected by fastening bolts in the order of ordinary orifice plate slot 2b, ordinary orifice plate slot 2b, orifice plate slot 2a with the angled connector, ordinary orifice plate slot 2b, and orifice plate slot 2a with the angled connector.

[0052] The bottom end of the ink orifice plate 1 is fixedly connected with an inserting plate, which can be inserted into the slot of the orifice plate slot 2. The ink orifice plate 1 can be taken out, which is convenient for cleaning and replacement.

[0053] Furthermore, it also includes a motor fixing base 5, and the screw stepper motor 3 is fixed on the motor fixing base 5. The motor fixing base 5 is provided with a countersunk hole and is fixed to the storage rack 4 by using T-nuts and bolts. It is connected to the hole plate slot 2a with the angle code connector by tightening the bolts and nuts. The output end of the screw stepper motor 3 is axially connected to the screw, thereby transmitting the mounting hole on the angle code connector 202, and then driving the angle code connector 202 to slide on the storage rack 4.

[0054] Correspondingly, the drawer-type storage rack 4 is provided with a multi-layer sliding structure, and each layer of the sliding structure is slidably connected to a plurality of orifice plate slots 2 .

[0055] Furthermore, the sliding structure includes a slider 6, a linear guide rail 7 and a slot limit block 8. The slider 6 is fixed to the bottom end of the bottom plate 201 of the orifice plate slot 2; the linear guide rail 7 is fixed on the storage rack 4 corresponding to the bottom end of each orifice plate slot 2 and slides with the slider 6, and the slot limit block 8 is fixed on the storage rack 4 at both ends corresponding to each linear guide rail 7.

[0056] Furthermore, it also includes a stepper motor driver, the controller is a programmable logic controller, the stepper motor driver is connected to the screw stepper motor 3 and the programmable logic controller signal; each ink storage hole of the orifice plate slot 2 is correspondingly provided with a position information mark, and the programmable logic controller locates the position information mark.

[0057] See also Figure 7 The control system for the bio-ink storage device includes a lead screw stepper motor 3, a stepper motor driver, a programmable logic controller, and PC-side control software. The push-out or retraction motion of each layer of the bio-ink storage device is controlled by two lead screw stepper motors 3. The forward and reverse rotation of the lead screw stepper motors 3 is controlled by the programmable logic controller via the stepper motor driver, thereby controlling the push-out or retraction motion of each layer of the bio-ink storage device.

[0058] The PC-side control software not only controls the programmable logic controller (PLC) through communication signals, thereby controlling the movement of the bio-ink storage device, but also compiles the positional coordinates of each well of the ink well plate 1 and the bio-ink stored therein. Each well in the ink well plate 1 and its bio-ink content corresponds to a specific coordinate. Each bio-ink in the bio-ink storage device is named within the PC-side control software.

[0059] This embodiment provides a control method for a 3D bio-printing bio-ink storage device:

[0060] When printing using the biological 3D printing system, first use the PC-side control software to compile the position coordinates of each hole of the ink well plate 1 and the biological ink stored therein. Each hole in the ink well plate 1 and the biological ink loaded therein correspond to a specific coordinate, and each biological ink in the biological storage device is named in the PC-side control software; then, the PC-side control software is used to retrieve the biological ink needed for biological 3D printing, and the position coordinate information of the biological ink required for printing is transmitted to the programmable controller through communication control, thereby controlling the biological ink storage device, pushing out the ink well plate 1 at the location where the biological ink to be extracted is located, and transferring the required biological ink to the target position through the biological ink extraction and transfer device controlled by the same programmable controller; finally, the programmable controller drives the stepper motor driver, thereby controlling the movement of the lead screw stepper motor 3 to retract the biological ink storage device and complete the movement.

[0061] The present invention specifically provides the following embodiments for the 3D printing method of artificial biological tissue models:

[0062] Example 1:

[0063] The method for constructing a complex artificial biological tissue model using the printing system of the present invention includes the following steps:

[0064] First, the present invention also provides a control system for a bio-ink storage device, which also includes: a processor, a memory for storing computer programs, and PC-side control software.

[0065] When in use, the complex artificial biological tissue is first modeled through 3D modeling software to obtain an STL model file, and then the front-end system processes it to generate a printing path file and obtain the formed G code.

[0066] The bio-ink for printing specific complex artificial biological tissues is stored in the ink well plate 1, and the position coordinates of bio-inks of different types and concentrations are compiled using PC control software.

[0067] By programming the biological 3D printing system and utilizing multi-nozzle collaborative printing, different biological 3D printing nozzles loaded with different bio-inks are used to print different areas of complex artificial biological tissues. At the same time, when the area requiring printing of a specific type and concentration of bio-ink is completed, the program control is used to automatically clean the ink cartridge and nozzle of the biological 3D printing system, and a bio-ink extraction device is used to extract the specified bio-ink from a pre-compiled position to print specific areas of the artificial biological tissue. The above operations are repeated until the complex artificial biological tissue model is printed.

[0068] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", etc., indicating directions or positional relationships, are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are 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 direction, be constructed and operated in a specific direction, and therefore should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0069] In the present invention, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," "connect," "fixed," etc. should be understood broadly. For example, they may refer to fixed connection, detachable connection, or integration; mechanical connection or electrical connection; direct connection or indirect connection through an intermediate medium; internal communication between two components or interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention based on specific circumstances.

[0070] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, with each embodiment focusing on the differences from other embodiments. Reference can be made to the common and similar parts between the various embodiments. For the devices disclosed in the embodiments, since they correspond to the methods disclosed in the embodiments, the description is relatively simple, and the relevant parts can be referred to the method description.

[0071] The above description of the disclosed embodiments is intended to enable one skilled in the art to implement or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown herein but is intended to conform to the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A biological 3D printing biological ink storage device, characterized in that: include: A plurality of ink orifice plates, each of which has a plurality of ink storage holes arranged in a matrix; A plurality of orifice plate slots, each of which has a slot in its bottom plate, into which the ink orifice plate is inserted, wherein the plurality of orifice plate slots are arranged in the same plane and adjacent orifice plate slots are detachably connected; A plurality of lead screw stepper motors, wherein the output ends of the lead screw stepper motors are transmission-connected to the orifice plate slots; It also includes an angle code connector and a screw transmission assembly, wherein the angle code connector is fixed to the end of the bottom plate of at least one of the orifice plate slots; the output shaft of the screw stepper motor is transmission-connected to the angle code connector through the screw transmission assembly; A drawer-type storage rack for storing a plurality of the orifice plate slots, wherein the bottom ends of the plurality of orifice plate slots are slidably connected to the storage rack; and a plurality of the lead screw stepper motors are fixed on the storage rack; A controller, the controller being electrically connected to the lead screw stepper motor; the controller being a programmable logic controller, wherein position information corresponding to each ink storage hole is compiled therein; the ink storage hole of each orifice plate slot corresponds to the position information identifier compiled by the programmable logic controller; Also included is a stepper motor driver, the stepper motor driver being connected to the stepper motor and the programmable logic controller signal; Control method of a biological 3D printing biological ink storage device: When printing using a biological 3D printing system, the programmable logic controller can first control the position information of each ink storage hole compiled therein, control the movement of the lead screw stepper motor through the stepper motor driver, push out the corresponding ink orifice plate, and control the ink in the corresponding ink orifice plate in different orifice plate slots to enter the printing area.

2. A biological 3D printing biological ink storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The screw transmission assembly includes a screw and a screw nut. The screw is rotatably connected to one side of the bottom plate of the orifice plate slot through an angle code connector and is arranged along its sliding direction. The output shaft of the screw stepper motor is connected to the screw transmission. The screw nut is fixed to the angle code connector and is threadedly connected to the screw.

3. A biological 3D printing biological ink storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that: There are multiple angle code connectors, and the multiple angle code connectors are correspondingly connected to one end of the bottom plate of the orifice plate slots arranged at intervals.

4. A biological 3D printing biological ink storage device according to claim 2, characterized in that: It also includes a motor fixing seat, which is fixedly connected to the storage rack corresponding to one end of the angle code connecting piece; the bottom end of the screw stepper motor is fixed on the motor fixing seat; the angle code connecting piece is provided with a mounting hole, and the screw nut is installed in the mounting hole.

5. A biological 3D printing biological ink storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom end of the ink orifice plate is fixedly connected with an inserting plate, and the inserting plate can be inserted into the slot of the orifice plate slot.

6. A biological 3D printing biological ink storage device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The drawer-type storage rack is provided with a multi-layer sliding structure, and each layer of the sliding structure is slidably connected to a plurality of the orifice plate slots.

7. A biological 3D printing biological ink storage device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The sliding structure includes a slider, a linear guide rail and a slot limit block. The slider is fixed to the bottom end of the bottom plate of the orifice plate slot; the linear guide rail is fixed on the rack corresponding to the bottom end of each orifice plate slot and slides with the slider, and the slot limit block is fixed on the storage rack corresponding to both ends of each linear guide rail.

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