Movable Mixing Element for Gentle Bioink Homogenization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluid supply container couplers for bioink mixing in bioprinting fail to achieve homogeneous mixing without damaging living cells, presenting a conflict between gentle mixing for cell integrity and vigorous mixing for adequate mixing results.
Innovation Solution
A fluid mixing unit with a movable mixing element extending between lock sections, featuring a receiving room and internal fluid passage, allowing for efficient mixing by alternating fluid flow directions through a movable mixing element with guided fluid paths, ensuring cell viability and homogeneous mixing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gentle mixing is used to maintain cell integrity, then cell viability is improved, but mixing homogeneity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing element is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position in response to pressure differentials created by alternating plunger actuation. This dynamic movement enables the mixing element to traverse the receiving room and interact with both fluid streams, achieving homogeneous mixing without requiring continuous high-shear forces that would harm cells
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing process employs periodic alternation between actuating the first plunger and the second plunger. This periodic action creates oscillating pressure differentials that move the mixing element back and forth through the receiving room, continuously renewing the mixing interface between the two fluid streams while maintaining gentle overall mixing conditions that preserve cell viability
2Manufacturing precision
If vigorous mixing is used to achieve homogeneous mixing, then mixing homogeneity is improved, but cell integrity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing element serves as an intermediary structure between the two fluid streams. Instead of directly forcing the two viscous bioink streams to mix through high-shear confrontation, the mixing element mediates the interaction by being moved by pressure differentials and in turn directing fluid flow alternately through its internal passage, achieving mixing through a gentler indirect mechanism that preserves cell integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces traditional mechanical mixing mechanisms (such as static mixers or high-speed agitation) with a pressure-driven dynamic system. The mixing is achieved through pressure differentials created by plunger actuation that move the mixing element, substituting high-shear mechanical mixing with a lower-shear pressure-driven flow alternation system that is gentler on living cells
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosure refers to a fluid mixing unit (1), comprising a connector (2) with a first lock section (3) configured to provide a leak-free connection with a first fluid supply container (4) and a second lock section (5) configured to provide a leak-free connection with a second fluid supply container (6), the connector (2) having a receiving room (7) formed between the first lock section (3) and the second lock section (5). The receiving room (7) is respectively sealed against the lock sections (3, 5). The fluid mixing unit (1) further comprises a mixing element (8) extending from the first lock section (3) into the second lock section (5) and through the receiving room (7), the mixing element (8) having an internal fluid passage (9) configured to provide a fluid communication between the first lock section (3) and the second lock section (5), the mixing element (8) being movable in a direction back and forth between the first and the second lock section (3, 5). Further, a method of mixing fluids is provided.