Reusable Biofabrication Containers for Lab-Bench Tissue Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tissue biofabrication techniques are complex, expensive, and require large, specialized equipment, making them difficult to implement and costly, with a need for low-cost, reusable, and lab-bench-friendly solutions.
Innovation Solution
A biofabrication system comprising reusable, lab-bench-scale components made of biocompatible materials that remain stable under autoclaving, including production containers, capture containers, platens, and bioreactors, which can be cleaned without damage and are configured for aseptic manipulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If expensive robotic bioprinters are used for tissue biofabrication, then manufacturing precision and reliability are improved, but device cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable microwell plates and single-use biofabrication components that eliminate the need for expensive, complex robotic bioprinters. These disposable components are pre-configured with microfluidic channels and cell culture wells, providing sufficient precision for tissue fabrication without requiring costly automated systems. The disposable nature maintains reliability while dramatically reducing device complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The biofabrication process is divided into discrete, modular steps using separate components: cell seeding in microwell plates, microtissue formation in bioreactors, and final assembly using manual or simple automated handling. This segmentation allows each step to be optimized independently with simple, low-cost equipment rather than requiring one complex system to perform all functions with high precision.
2Loss of substance
If reusable biofabrication components are used, then cost and waste are reduced, but cleaning and sterilization become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The reusable components are designed with specific material properties and geometric parameters that enable effective sterilization. The smooth surfaces, controlled pore sizes, and material compositions are optimized to withstand autoclaving, chemical sterilization, and other cleaning processes while maintaining their functional integrity. This allows components to be reused multiple times after standard sterilization procedures.
3Productivity
If large-footprint equipment is used for tissue biofabrication, then manufacturing capability is improved, but laboratory space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The biofabrication system uses nested components where smaller units fit within larger structures. Multiple microwell plates can be stacked or arranged in compact configurations, bioreactors can be placed within incubator chambers, and components can be nested during storage and transport. This nesting approach maintains high productivity by processing multiple samples simultaneously while minimizing the laboratory footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs universal, multi-functional components that can perform multiple operations. For example, micrawell plates serve as both cell culture vessels and microtissue fabrication molds, and bioreactors function as both culture chambers and perfusion systems. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate specialized equipment for each step, significantly reducing the overall laboratory space required while maintaining full tissue production capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A system with reusable components and methods are disclosed for culturing, forming, perfusing, and maintaining a perfusible-tissue construct. The system uses a production container comprising a floor, a wall extending from the floor, wherein the floor and wall define a production reservoir, a formation section defined in the floor, wherein the formation section comprises at least one well, and a grip extending outwardly from the formation section; wherein the production container is made of a biocompatible material that remains stable when autoclaved.