Sealed Bioreactor Assembly With Movable Bioprinting End
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bioprinting systems face challenges in maintaining sterile conditions during the assembly and transfer of bioprinted materials, requiring complex constructions and multiple steps that can compromise the viability of living cells.
Innovation Solution
A method for assembling a single-use bioreactor with a movable biological material depositing end that allows bioprinting within a sealed enclosure, featuring a flexible top portion and side wall that can move along multiple directions, enabling bioprinting, cell culture, and maturation without displacing the printed material, thus maintaining sterile conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex construction with multiple components is used to maintain sterile conditions during bioprinting, then sterile conditions are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the bioprinting chamber and bioreactor into a single integrated sealed enclosure. The depositing end can move between bioprinting positions and culture positions within the same sealed space, eliminating the need for separate sterile transfer procedures and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining sterility throughout the entire process
Solution Approach 2:
The sealed enclosure serves multiple functions: it acts as both the bioprinting chamber and the bioreactor culture vessel. The same enclosed space is used for both depositing biological material and for subsequent cell culture/maturation, allowing one structure to fulfill multiple roles that traditionally required separate systems
2Adaptability or versatility
If the printed material is transferred to a separate bioreactor for cell culture, then cell culture functionality is improved, but the risk of contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bioprinting chamber and bioreactor are merged into a single sealed enclosure system. The depositing end can access different positions within the same sealed space - a bioprinting position for depositing material and a culture position for subsequent cell growth. This integration eliminates the need to open the system during transfer, maintaining sterile conditions throughout the entire process from printing to culture
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple assembly steps are required to set up the bioprinting system, then functionality is improved, but the time required for assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sealed enclosure is pre-configured with both the bioprinting chamber and bioreactor components integrated before use. The depositing end is pre-positioned to access both bioprinting and culture positions within the same sealed space, allowing the system to be ready for immediate use without requiring multiple sequential assembly steps during operation
4Device complexity
If the depositing end is fixed in position, then device simplicity is improved, but bioprinting flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The depositing end is designed to be movable within the sealed enclosure, capable of accessing different positions including bioprinting positions for depositing material and culture positions for subsequent cell growth. This dynamic positioning capability allows the same depositing end to perform multiple functions without requiring multiple fixed components, maintaining system simplicity while enhancing flexibility
Data Source
AI summary
A bioreactor allowing bioprinting inside an interior volume thereof is assembled to form a side wall extending upwardly from a base provided with a target support for the bioprinting. Once an adapter has been coupled to a bioreactor top portion to plug a corresponding aperture O4, a biological material depositing end may be maintained in an inserted state, extending through and/or being adapted to be fed via the aperture. A sealed enclosure, including the side wall and ports, is formed by a sealing operation to interconnect the base and the top portion. Bioprinting is done by driving from outside the depositing end, using variation of said volume, for delivering the biological material on the support and then, a culture and/or maturation phase of the printed tissue may start inside the enclosure, without displacement of the printed tissue.