Clean chamber technology for 3D printers and bioprinters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 3D printing and bioprinting technologies require expensive and limited clean room facilities to maintain sterility, which is a significant disadvantage for these additive manufacturing processes.
Innovation Solution
A clean chamber technology with a metallic frame, utilizing a HEPA or ULPA filter and an electrically powered fan to create a positive pressure environment, providing a laminar air flow and maintaining a sterile environment around the 3D printer or bioprinter without the need for clean room facilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a clean room facility is used to maintain sterility for 3D bioprinting, then the sterility and contamination control are improved, but the cost and facility availability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the clean environment requirement into two parts: a localized clean chamber (enclosure) around the print bed and a HEPA filtration system, rather than requiring a full clean room facility. This segmentation allows sterility to be achieved in the critical printing zone without the overhead of a complete clean room infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The HEPA filter acts as an intermediary between the external environment and the internal printing chamber, capturing particles and contaminants before they can enter the sterile zone. This intermediary device provides the necessary filtration without requiring a full clean room facility.
2Ease of manufacture
If a HEPA filter and fan system is used to create positive pressure, then the cost is reduced, but the ability to maintain sterility may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the pressure parameter inside the enclosure to be positive relative to the external environment. This positive pressure differential prevents unfiltered air from leaking into the chamber and ensures that filtered air flows outward through designated exhaust paths, maintaining sterility with a simpler and lower-cost system.
Solution Approach 2:
The fan system operates continuously to maintain the positive pressure differential and ensure continuous flow of filtered air through the chamber. This continuous action ensures that sterility is maintained throughout the printing process without interruption or degradation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows for sterile 3D bioprinting and cell culturing in standard laboratory facilities, ensuring a clean environment with high efficiency in filtering out contaminants and maintaining positive pressure, thus overcoming the need for expensive clean room setups.
Implementation Method 1
unfiltered air is drawn from outside into the chamber through a high efficiency filter such as a High-Efficiency Particulate Arresting (HEPA) filter, using an electrically powered fan, filtering out at least about 99% of particles and contaminants
Implementation Method 2
The filtered air is then blown preferably in a very smooth, laminar flow towards into the printing chamber and out through vents within the frame
Implementation Method 3
positive pressure can be created inside the printing chamber... maintaining positive pressure, thus overcoming the need for expensive clean room setups
Data Source
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AI summary
Clean chamber technology for 3D printers and bioprinters is described. An airtight chamber or enclosure is provided so that positive pressure can be created inside the chamber. Unfiltered air is sucked in from outside into the chamber through a high efficiency filter such as a HEPA filter, using an electrically powered fan or blower, filtering out at least about 99% of particles and contaminants. The filtered air is then pushed into a 3D printing area inside the chamber and out through vents within the frame of the chamber. The technology provides a clean environment for 3D bioprinting of human tissue models and organs and 3D cell culturing without requiring clean room facilities.