Cell microsphere 3D printing nozzle

Abstract

The utility model discloses a 3D printing nozzle for cell microspheres. The 3D printing nozzle comprises a fixed plate, a moving device, a nozzle device and a needle sleeve device, wherein the moving device is fixed on the fixed plate; the spray head device is installed on the moving device and comprises a spray head fixing plate, a needle cylinder and a needle head installed on the needle cylinder, a spray head can move up and down under the driving of the moving device, and the needle head is installed on the spray head fixing plate; the needle sleeve device comprises a needle sleeve fixing plate and a needle sleeve, the needle sleeve fixing plate is fixed on the fixing plate, and the needle sleeve is fixed on the needle sleeve fixing plate. According to the utility model, through the mutual cooperation of the moving device, the spray head device and the needle sleeve device, the cell microspheres cannot be damaged or fall off due to the action of external force in the printing process, and the stable printing effect is ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of biological 3D printers, and particularly relates to a 3D printing nozzle for cell microspheres. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, the 3D printing technology of cell microspheres has attracted wide attention in the field of biomedicine. This technology can precisely control the positioning, shape and internal structure of cell microspheres, providing a new tool for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. 3D printing of cell microspheres is an advanced biofabrication technology that uses 3D printing technology to encapsulate cells in microspheres and stack them layer by layer according to a predetermined three-dimensional structure to construct complex tissue or organ models. In this process, the suction force, as a key parameter, has a significant impact on the distribution, morphology and survival state of cells in the microspheres.

[0003] According to the literature "Aspiration-assisted freeform bioprinting of pre-fabricated tissue spheroids in a yield-stress gel" and "Aspiration-assisted bioprinting for precise positioning of biologics", cell microspheres will be affected by forces such as surface tension, negative pressure adsorption force and interfacial resistance during the printing process. Therefore, there is a risk that cell microspheres will fall off at any time during the printing process, resulting in the inability to perform printing. And during the 3D printing process of cell microspheres, the suction force of the nozzle device plays a crucial role. During 3D printing, negative pressure generated by a specific device is used to adsorb cell microspheres on the printing needle and accurately place them at a predetermined position. The magnitude of the suction force directly affects the stability of cell microspheres and the accuracy of printing. If the suction force is too small, the cell microspheres may not be stably adsorbed on the printing needle, and at the same time, it cannot be ensured that they can be stably adsorbed on the printing needle during movement, resulting in printing failure; while if the suction force is too large, it may cause damage to the cells, affecting the survival and function of the cells. Therefore, it is necessary to design a special printing nozzle protection device to ensure that cell microspheres can be stably adsorbed on the printing needle with only a small suction force. Summary of the Utility Model

[0004] The purpose of the utility model is to provide a 3D printing nozzle for cell microspheres aiming at the deficiencies of the prior art, so as to solve the problems of unstable adsorption of cell microspheres and easy damage of cell microspheres in the prior art.

[0005] To achieve the above purpose, the utility model adopts the following technical solutions:

[0006] A cell microsphere 3D printing nozzle, comprising a fixing plate, a syringe, a nozzle fixing plate, a needle, a needle sleeve fixing plate, a needle sleeve and a first moving device. The fixed end of the first moving device is fixedly installed on the fixing plate, and the moving end of the first moving device is fixedly installed with a nozzle fixing plate. A through hole is dug in the vertical direction of the body of the nozzle fixing plate. The upper end of the syringe is fixedly installed in the through hole on the nozzle fixing plate, and the lower end of the syringe is connected with a needle. The bottom of the fixing plate is fixedly installed with a needle sleeve fixing plate at the height near the connection between the syringe and the needle below the syringe. A needle hole penetrating to the bottom of the needle sleeve fixing plate is provided at the position corresponding to the needle on the vertical direction of the body of the needle sleeve fixing plate. The needle sleeve is fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the needle sleeve fixing plate corresponding to the position of the needle hole. One end of the needle is fixedly connected to the bottom of the syringe, and the other end of the needle passes through the needle hole on the needle sleeve fixing plate and enters the needle sleeve, and moves in the vertical direction along with the moving end of the first moving device.

[0007] Specifically, the first moving device is a screw-type moving device, including a stepping motor, a screw fixing plate, a moving plate and a screw. There are two screw fixing plates, which are respectively fixedly installed on the fixing plate one above the other. The stepping motor is fixedly installed on the upper screw fixing plate, and the installation position of the lower screw fixing plate is above the needle sleeve fixing plate. The screw is rotatably installed between the two screw fixing plates in the vertical direction. The rotating shaft of the stepping motor is fixedly connected to the top of the screw. The moving plate is rotatably installed on the screw between the two screw fixing plates. The nozzle fixing plate is fixedly installed on the side of the moving plate. After the stepping motor is started, it drives the screw connected to the rotating shaft of the stepping motor to rotate, and then makes the moving plate move in the vertical direction along the screw.

[0008] Specifically, the first moving device is a slide table cylinder type moving device, including a slider and a slide table cylinder. The base of the slide table cylinder is fixed on the fixing plate, and the slider is slidably installed on the guide post of the slide table cylinder. The nozzle fixing plate is fixedly installed on the side of the slider; when the slide table cylinder is filled with positive pressure, the slider drives the nozzle fixing plate to move vertically downward, and when the slide table cylinder is filled with negative pressure, the slider drives the nozzle fixing plate to move vertically upward.

[0009] Furthermore, the cell microsphere 3D printing nozzle further includes a second moving device, which includes a connecting block and a moving rod. One end of the moving rod is fixedly connected to the plane motor lead screw, and the other end of the moving rod is fixedly connected to one side of the connecting block. The other side of the connecting block is fixedly connected to the top of the fixed block.

[0010] Even further, the cell microsphere 3D printing nozzle further includes a printing dish and an air pipe. The printing dish is placed directly below the needle, and the inside of the printing dish is divided into a culture area and a printing area by a partition; one end of the air pipe is fixedly connected to the air outlet of the air pump, and the other end is fixedly connected to the top of the syringe. During printing, the air pump provides positive pressure or negative pressure for the inside of the syringe through the air pipe.

[0011] Preferably, the length of the needle is greater than the length of the needle sleeve, the outer diameter of the needle is smaller than the inner diameter of the needle sleeve, and the needle and the installation axis of the needle sleeve are collinear.

[0012] Compared with the prior art, the utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0013] 1. During the printing process of the utility model, the needle can be stably in the printing environment, ensuring stable printing effect.

[0014] 2. Through the mutual cooperation of the moving device, the nozzle device and the needle sleeve device, when the cell microspheres are adsorbed by the needle, they do not require too much suction force and only need to be adsorbed at the bottom end of the needle, which avoids the cell microspheres being damaged due to excessive extrusion force when entering the needle due to too much suction force.

[0015] 3. Through the mutual cooperation of the moving device, the nozzle device and the needle sleeve device, during the printing process, after the needle sucks the cell microspheres, it enters the needle sleeve. At this time, due to the protection of the needle sleeve, the external force on the cell microspheres is reduced during the movement, which avoids damaging the cell microspheres. Description of the Drawings

[0016] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of a 3D printing nozzle for cell microspheres of the utility model.

[0017] Figure 2 It is a schematic structural diagram of the utility model when the first moving device is a screw-type moving device.

[0018] Figure 3 It is a schematic structural diagram of the utility model when the first moving device is a slide table cylinder-type moving device.

[0019] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the printing process of the utility model when the first moving device is a screw-type moving device.

[0020] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the printing process of the utility model when the first moving device is a slide table cylinder-type moving device.

[0021] In the figure: 1. Fixed plate; 2. Syringe barrel; 3. Nozzle fixed plate; 4. Needle; 5. Needle sleeve fixed plate; 6. Needle sleeve; 7. First moving device; 8. Stepper motor; 9. Screw fixed plate; 10. Moving plate; 11. Screw; 12. Second moving device; 13. Printing dish; 14. Air pipe; 15. Slide block; 16. Slide table cylinder; 17. Connecting block; 18. Moving rod. Detailed Embodiments

[0022] To facilitate the understanding of the present utility model, the present utility model will be described more comprehensively below with reference to the relevant drawings. Several embodiments of the present utility model are given in the drawings. However, the present utility model can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. On the contrary, these embodiments are provided to make the disclosure of the present utility model more thorough and comprehensive.

[0023] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present utility model belongs. The terms used herein in the specification of the present utility model are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present utility model. The term "and / or" used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the related listed items.

[0024] Embodiment 1

[0025] As Figure 1 shown, the present utility model provides a cell microsphere 3D printing nozzle, which includes a fixing plate 1, a syringe barrel 2, a nozzle fixing plate 3, a needle 4, a needle sleeve fixing plate 5, a needle sleeve 6 and a first moving device 7. The fixed end of the first moving device 7 is fixedly installed on the fixing plate 1, and the moving end of the first moving device 7 is fixedly installed with the nozzle fixing plate 3. A through hole is dug in the vertical direction of the plate body of the nozzle fixing plate 3. The upper end of the syringe barrel 2 is fixedly installed in the through hole on the nozzle fixing plate 3. The lower end of the syringe barrel 2 is connected with the needle 4. The fixing plate 1 is fixedly installed with a needle sleeve fixing plate 5 at the bottom below the syringe barrel 2 near the connection position of the syringe barrel 2 and the needle 4 at a height. A needle hole penetrating to the bottom of the needle sleeve fixing plate 5 is provided at the position corresponding to the needle 4 in the vertical direction of the plate body of the needle sleeve fixing plate 5. The needle sleeve 6 is fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the needle sleeve fixing plate 5 corresponding to the position of the needle hole. One end of the needle 4 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the syringe barrel 2, and the other end of the needle 4 passes through the needle hole on the needle sleeve fixing plate 5 and enters the needle sleeve 6, and moves in the vertical direction along with the moving end of the first moving device 7.

[0026] In this embodiment, as Figure 2As shown, the first moving device 7 is a screw-type moving device, including a stepper motor 8, a screw fixing plate 9, a moving plate 10, and a screw 11. There are two screw fixing plates 9, which are respectively fixedly installed on the fixing plate 1, one above the other. The stepper motor 8 is fixedly installed on the upper screw fixing plate 9, and the installation position of the lower screw fixing plate 9 is above the needle head sleeve fixing plate 5. The screw 11 is rotatably installed vertically between the two screw fixing plates 9. The rotating shaft of the stepper motor 8 is fixedly connected to the top of the screw 11. The moving plate 10 is rotatably installed on the screw 11 between the two screw fixing plates 9. A nozzle fixing plate 3 is fixedly installed on the side of the moving plate 10. After the stepper motor 8 is started, it drives the screw 11 connected to the rotating shaft of the stepper motor 8 to rotate, thereby causing the moving plate 10 to move vertically along the screw 11.

[0027] In this embodiment, the cell microsphere 3D printing nozzle further includes a second moving device 12. The second moving device 12 includes a connecting block 17 and a moving rod 18. One end of the moving rod 18 is fixedly connected to the planar motor lead screw, and the other end of the moving rod 18 is fixedly connected to one side of the connecting block 17. The other side of the connecting block 17 is fixedly connected to the top of the fixing plate 1.

[0028] In this embodiment, the cell microsphere 3D printing nozzle further includes a printing dish 13 and an air pipe 14. The printing dish 13 is placed directly below the needle head 4. The inside of the printing dish 13 is divided into a culture area and a printing area by a partition; one end of the air pipe 14 is fixedly connected to the air port of the air pump, and the other end is fixedly connected to the top of the syringe barrel 2. During printing, the air pump provides positive pressure or negative pressure for the syringe barrel 2 through the air pipe 14.

[0029] In this embodiment, to ensure that the needle head 4 can move smoothly within the needle head sleeve 6, the length of the needle head 4 is greater than the length of the needle head sleeve 6, the outer diameter of the needle head 4 is smaller than the inner diameter of the needle head sleeve 6, and the installation axes of the needle head 4 and the needle head sleeve 6 are collinear.

[0030] Working principle

[0031] As Figure 4 shown, Figure 4 In the figure, the schematic diagram at point a during printing shows the needle head 4 protruding from the needle head sleeve 6 to extract cells. The fixing plate 1 is fixed on the second moving device 12. A trachea 14 is installed at the top of the syringe barrel 2, and the other end of the trachea 14 is connected to an air pump. During printing, the air pump can provide positive pressure and negative pressure, that is, provide suction when adsorbing cells and cut off the suction when printing cells. The role of the printing dish 13 is to serve as a printing platform and at the same time provide a growth environment for cells to ensure their activity; at this time, the stepper motor 8 is turned on, the screw 11 rotates clockwise, the moving plate 10 drives the entire nozzle device to move vertically downward, the needle head 4 moves downward and protrudes from the needle head sleeve 6 by a certain distance, and at this time, the trachea 14 is provided with negative pressure by the air pump, and the cells are adsorbed at the bottom end of the needle head 4;

[0032] Figure 4 At position b, it is a schematic diagram of the needle 4 successfully adsorbing cells and entering the needle sleeve 6 during the printing process. At this time, the cells are successfully adsorbed at the bottom end of the needle 4. The stepping motor 8 is turned on, the screw 11 rotates counterclockwise, the moving plate 10 drives the entire nozzle device to move vertically upward, and the cells enter the needle sleeve 6 along with the needle 4. The second moving device 12 is driven by the planar motor to move the entire device to the designated position;

[0033] Figure 4 At position c, it is a schematic diagram of the needle 4 protruding from the needle sleeve 6 and entering the printing space for printing during the printing process. At this time, the entire device has moved to the designated position. The stepping motor 8 is turned on, the screw 11 rotates clockwise, the moving plate 10 drives the nozzle device to move vertically downward, and the cells protrude from the needle sleeve 6 along with the needle 4. At this time, the air pump provides positive pressure to cut off the suction force of the needle 4 on the cells, and the cells leave the bottom end of the needle 4 and enter the printing dish 13 to complete the printing. After that, the stepping motor 8 is turned on, the screw 11 rotates counterclockwise, the moving plate 10 drives the entire nozzle device to move vertically upward to return to the original position; finally, the planar motor drives the second moving device 12 to move the entire device back to Figure 4 the position shown at a in the figure for the next printing operation; continuously repeat the above operations until the printing is completed.

[0034] Example 2

[0035] In this example, the cell microsphere 3D printing nozzle structure is the same as that in Example 1, the difference is that:

[0036] As Figure 3 shown, the first moving device 7 is a slide table cylinder type moving device, including a slider 15 and a slide table cylinder 16. The base of the slide table cylinder 16 is fixed on the fixing plate 1, and the slider 15 is slidably installed on the guiding column of the slide table cylinder 16. The nozzle fixing plate 3 is fixedly installed on the side of the slider 15; when positive pressure is introduced into the slide table cylinder 16, the slider 15 drives the nozzle fixing plate 3 to move vertically downward, and when negative pressure is introduced into the slide table cylinder 16, the slider 15 drives the nozzle fixing plate 3 to move vertically upward.

[0037] Working principle

[0038] As Figure 5 shown, Figure 5At position a in the figure, it is a schematic diagram of the needle 4 protruding from the needle sheath 6 to extract cells during the printing process. The fixing plate 1 is fixed on the second moving device 12. One end of an air pipe 14 is installed at the top of the syringe 2, and the other end of the air pipe 14 is connected to an air pump. The air pump can provide positive pressure and negative pressure during printing, that is, provide suction when adsorbing cells and cut off the suction when printing cells. The function of the printing dish 13 is to serve as a printing platform and at the same time provide a growth environment for the cells to ensure their activity. At this time, the positive pressure is introduced into the slide cylinder 16, and the slider 15 starts to move. The slider 15 drives the entire nozzle device to move vertically downward. The needle 4 moves downward and protrudes from the needle sheath 6 by a certain distance. At this time, the negative pressure is provided by the air pump to the air pipe 14, and the cells are adsorbed at the bottom end of the needle 4.

[0039] Figure 5 At position b in the figure, it is a schematic diagram of the needle 4 successfully adsorbing cells and entering the needle sheath 6 during the printing process. At this time, the cells are successfully adsorbed at the bottom end of the needle 4. The negative pressure is introduced into the slide cylinder 16, and the slider 15 starts to move. The slider 15 drives the entire nozzle device to move vertically upward. The cells enter the needle sheath 6 along with the needle 4. The second moving device 12 is driven by the planar motor to move the entire device to the designated position.

[0040] Figure 5 At position c in the figure, it is a schematic diagram of the needle 4 protruding from the needle sheath 6 and entering the printing space for printing during the printing process. At this time, the entire device has been moved to the designated position. The positive pressure is introduced into the slide cylinder 16, and the slider 15 starts to move. The slider 15 drives the entire nozzle device to move vertically downward. The cells protrude from the needle sheath 6 along with the needle 4. At this time, the air pump provides positive pressure to cut off the suction of the needle 4 on the cells. The cells leave the bottom end of the needle 4 and enter the printing dish 13 to complete the printing. Then, the negative pressure is introduced into the slide cylinder 16, and the slider 15 drives the entire nozzle device to move vertically upward to return to the original position. Finally, the planar motor drives the second moving device 12 to move the entire device back to Figure 5 the position shown at position a in the figure to perform the next printing action; continuously repeat the above operations until the printing is completed.

[0041] It should be understood that the above description of the preferred embodiment is relatively detailed, and it should not be considered as a limitation to the protection scope of the patent of the present invention. Under the inspiration of the present invention, those of ordinary skill in the art can also make substitutions or deformations without departing from the protection scope defined by the claims of the present invention, and all fall within the protection scope of the present invention. The scope of protection claimed by the present invention shall be subject to the appended claims.

Claims

1. A cell microsphere 3D printing nozzle, characterized in that: The invention comprises a fixing plate (1), a syringe (2), a nozzle fixing plate (3), a needle (4), a needle cover fixing plate (5), a needle cover (6) and a first moving device (7), wherein the fixing end of the first moving device (7) is fixedly mounted on the fixing plate (1), the nozzle fixing plate (3) is fixedly mounted on the moving end of the first moving device (7), a through hole is dug in the vertical direction of the nozzle fixing plate (3), the upper end of the syringe (2) is fixedly mounted in the through hole on the nozzle fixing plate (3), the lower end of the syringe (2) is connected to the needle (4), and the bottom of the fixing plate (1) is below the syringe (2). A needle cover fixing plate (5) is fixedly installed at a height close to the connection between the syringe (2) and the needle (4); a needle hole is provided on the needle cover fixing plate (5) in the vertical direction corresponding to the position of the needle (4) and extending to the bottom of the needle cover fixing plate (5); a needle cover (6) is fixedly connected to the bottom surface of the needle cover fixing plate (5) corresponding to the position of the needle hole; one end of the needle (4) is fixedly connected to the bottom of the syringe (2); the other end of the needle (4) passes through the needle hole on the needle cover fixing plate (5) and enters the needle cover (6), and moves in the vertical direction along with the moving end of the first moving device (7).

2. A cell microsphere 3D printing nozzle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first moving device (7) is a screw-type moving device, comprising a stepping motor (8), a screw fixing plate (9), a moving plate (10) and a screw (11). The screw fixing plates (9) are composed of two pieces, one above and one below, which are fixedly mounted on the fixing plate (1). The stepping motor (8) is fixedly mounted on the upper screw fixing plate (9), and the lower screw fixing plate (9) is installed above the needle cover fixing plate (5). The screw (11) is installed to rotate in the vertical direction. Between the two screw fixing plates (9), the rotating shaft of the stepper motor (8) is fixedly connected to the top of the screw (11), the movable plate (10) is rotatably mounted on the screw (11) between the two screw fixing plates (9), and a nozzle fixing plate (3) is fixedly mounted on the side of the movable plate (10). After the stepper motor (8) is started, the screw (11) connected to the rotating shaft of the stepper motor (8) is driven to rotate, thereby causing the movable plate (10) to move in the vertical direction along the screw (11).

3. A cell microsphere 3D printing nozzle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first moving device (7) is a slide cylinder type moving device, comprising a slider (15) and a slide cylinder (16); the base of the slide cylinder (16) is fixed on the fixed plate (1); the slider (15) is slidably mounted on the guide column of the slide cylinder (16); and the side of the slider (15) is fixedly mounted with a nozzle fixing plate (3); when positive pressure is applied to the slide cylinder (16), the slider (15) drives the nozzle fixing plate (3) to move vertically downward; when negative pressure is applied to the slide cylinder (16), the slider (15) drives the nozzle fixing plate (3) to move vertically upward.

4. A cell microsphere 3D printing nozzle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second moving device (12) further comprises a connecting block (17) and a moving rod (18), one end of the moving rod (18) being fixedly connected to the planar motor lead screw, the other end of the moving rod (18) being fixedly connected to one side of the connecting block (17), and the other side of the connecting block (17) being fixedly connected to the top of the fixing plate (1).

5. A cell microsphere 3D printing nozzle according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also comprises a printing dish (13) and an air tube (14), wherein the printing dish (13) is placed directly below the needle (4), and the inside of the printing dish (13) is divided into a culture area and a printing area by a partition; one end of the air tube (14) is fixedly connected to the air port of the air pump, and the other end is fixedly connected to the top of the syringe (2), and during printing, the air pump provides positive pressure or negative pressure to the syringe (2) through the air tube (14).

6. A cell microsphere 3D printing nozzle according to claim 1, characterized in that: The length of the needle (4) is greater than the length of the needle cover (6), the outer diameter of the needle (4) is smaller than the inner diameter of the needle cover (6), and the mounting axes of the needle (4) and the needle cover (6) are colinear.

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