Flexible Sterile Enclosure for 3D Bioprinting Needle Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for printing and culturing biological three-dimensional structures face challenges in maintaining sterile conditions during transfer to a bioreactor, as they require cumbersome and heavy equipment that is difficult to sterilize and move, limiting the reuse of printing systems and increasing complexity.
Innovation Solution
A sterile enclosure that allows the printing head to move easily in multiple directions without stressing or breaking the needle, reducing the need for a movable printing platform and enabling a less complex, smaller, and lighter printer setup, while allowing immediate reuse and simplifying the printing and culture process within a single container.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the container includes a printer or movable robotic arm to enable printing within the sterile enclosure, then the printing and culture process can be integrated in a single container, but the container becomes cumbersome, heavy, and difficult to sterilize and move
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the printer/robotic arm from the sterile enclosure, leaving only the needle adapter and flexible casing within the enclosure. The printing head (needle) passes through the flexible casing to deposit bioink, while the main printing mechanism remains outside the sterile environment. This separation allows the container to remain compact, lightweight, and easy to sterilize while still enabling integrated printing and culture functionality.
2Ease of operation
If the printing platform is made movable along vertical direction to enable printing, then printing flexibility is improved, but the system becomes more complex and requires larger motors due to increased resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the need for a movable printing platform by keeping the printer stationary outside the sterile enclosure. Instead, the flexible casing allows the needle to move freely in multiple directions without requiring the entire platform to be movable. This eliminates the need for large motors and complex movement mechanisms while maintaining printing flexibility through the compliant flexible enclosure.
3Reliability
If the sterile enclosure is made rigid and hermetically sealed to maintain sterility, then sterile conditions are maintained, but the enclosure becomes difficult to move and store after printing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible casing made of elastomeric material that can be hermetically sealed to maintain sterile conditions during printing and culture. After use, the flexible nature of the casing allows it to be easily collapsed, rolled up, or deformed for compact storage and transport. The flexible membrane with integrated needle adapter provides both sterility maintenance and ease of handling, eliminating the need for large rigid enclosures.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~7
AI summary
The invention concerns a sterile enclosure (2) and a method of printing and culturing a three-dimensional biological structure in the sterile enclosure. The sterile enclosure comprising: - a base wall (10), - a flexible side wall (8); the side wall forming with the base wall (10) a flexible casing (12) delimiting an interior chamber (14), - a fluid inlet port (22) and a fluid outlet port (24) which allow the circulation of a culture media, - a needle adapter (4) fixed to the flexible side wall (8), the needle adapter (4) holding a printing needle (6), the flexible casing protecting a biological three-dimensional structure against contamination and authorizing at the same time the move of the needle adapter (4) in three directions during a printing of a biological three-dimensional structure in the interior chamber.