3D printing system for manufacturing artificial blood vessel and method for manufacturing artificial blood vessel using same
Inventors
AHN, Geun Seon • Kim, Min Kyung • Min, Kyung Hyun • Lee, In Gyu
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12030255-B2
Publication Date
2024-07-09
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention relates to a three-dimensional (3D) printing system for manufacturing an artificial blood vessel and a method for manufacturing an artificial blood vessel using the same, wherein a cylindrical support having a hollow 3D porous structure including a thermoplastic polymer is manufactured and vertically fixed, and a hydrogel divided into at least two sections is discharged into the support, thereby maintaining the structure and shape constantly even after printing and manufacturing an artificial blood vessel having a hollow multilayered structure. The 3D printing system for manufacturing an artificial blood vessel comprises: a rotatable support manufacturing unit which forms a hollow cylindrical support having a 3D porous structure by discharging a polymer to the outer circumference thereof through a first head; a first head which forms a hollow cylindrical support having a 3D porous structure by discharging a polymer to the support manufacturing unit; a support vertically holding the hollow cylindrical support manufactured through the first head; and a second head which discharges a hydrogel, divided into at least two sections, into the cylindrical support vertically held and fixed to the support.
Core Innovation
A 3D printing system is provided for manufacturing an artificial blood vessel. The system includes a support manufacturing unit that is rotatable and forms a hollow cylindrical support of a 3D porous structure when polymer is discharged to an outer circumferential surface through a first head. The first head forms the hollow cylindrical support of the 3D porous structure by discharging the polymer to the support manufacturing unit.
The system further includes a holder for vertically holding and fixing the hollow cylindrical support manufactured through the first head. A second head discharges hydrogel into the hollow cylindrical support vertically held and fixed on the holder. The hydrogel is divided into at least two sections for discharge into the hollow cylindrical support.
The disclosed system also includes pneumatic-cylinder-driven discharging and temperature control for both the polymer and the sectioned hydrogel, and defines a hydrogel sectioning and cross-section pattern relationship. The second head includes a temperature control unit that controls the temperature of the hydrogel sections, and the discharge unit splits the discharged hydrogel into at least two sections. The hydrogel divided into at least two sections is configured so that the cross section of the divided hydrogel has the same pattern when discharged into the hollow cylindrical support and charged in a second pneumatic cylinder.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim set contains 1 independent claim (clm-00001). Across the dependent claims provided, the main inventive features concentrate on formation of a hollow cylindrical 3D porous support using a rotatable support manufacturing unit and a first head, vertical holding and fixing of the support, hydrogel divided into at least two sections discharged into the vertically held support via a second head, and pneumatic-cylinder actuation and temperature control associated with the first and second heads, including a patterned cross-section constraint tied to sectioned hydrogel handling.
Rotatable hollow cylindrical 3D porous support formation via first head polymer discharge
A support manufacturing unit is rotatable and forms a hollow cylindrical support of a 3D porous structure when polymer is discharged to an outer circumferential surface through a first head; the first head forms the hollow cylindrical support of the 3D porous structure by discharging the polymer to the support manufacturing unit.
Vertical holder fixing of the hollow cylindrical support
A holder vertically holds and fixes the hollow cylindrical support manufactured through the first head.
Sectioned hydrogel discharge via second head into the fixed hollow cylindrical support
A second head discharges hydrogel, which is divided into at least two sections, into the hollow cylindrical support vertically held and fixed on the holder.
Pneumatic-cylinder actuation and temperature control for polymer discharge at the first head
The first head includes a first pneumatic cylinder that moves up and down and discharges polymer; a first discharge unit is actuated by lowering the pneumatic cylinder; and a temperature control unit controls the temperature of the discharged polymer.
Pneumatic-cylinder actuation and temperature control for divided hydrogel discharge at the second head
The second head includes a second pneumatic cylinder and a temperature control unit that controls the temperature of the hydrogel sections, and a discharge unit that splits the discharged hydrogel into at least two sections.
Vertical mobility of holder during hydrogel discharge from the second head
The holder moves vertically while the second head discharges a hydrogel that is divided into at least two sections.
Thermoplastic polymer definition for polymer discharge
The polymer comprises a thermoplastic polymer made from at least one selected from a group including lactide, caprolactone, glycolide, dioxanone, propylene, ethylene, vinylchloride, butadiene, methyl methacrylate, acrylic acid, 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate, carbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, and combinations thereof.
Patterned cross-section consistency for divided hydrogel between discharge into the support and charging in the second pneumatic cylinder
Hydrogel divided into at least two sections includes at least one selected from polymer gels, cells, growth factors, extracellular matrix, and combinations thereof, and a cross section of the hydrogel divided into the at least two sections has the same pattern when discharged into the hollow cylindrical support and charged in a second pneumatic cylinder.
The claim coverage centers on a 3D printing system that manufactures an artificial blood vessel by forming a hollow cylindrical 3D porous support via rotatable polymer discharge through a first head, vertically holding and fixing that support, and dispensing hydrogel divided into at least two sections through a second head into the fixed support. Provided dependent features further specify pneumatic-cylinder actuation and temperature control, a defined thermoplastic polymer composition, and a patterned cross-section relationship for the divided hydrogel between discharge into the support and charging in the second pneumatic cylinder.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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