# US 10,049,853 B2 · Method and apparatus for an imaging system of biological material > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,049,853 B2 - Document ID: US10049853B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/595,759 - Filed: 2017-05-15 - Published: 2018-01-25 - Granted: 2018-08-14 - Earliest claimed: 2014-01-13 - Applicants: Frederick A. Flitsch - Inventors: Frederick A. Flitsch - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10049853B2 ## CPC - H01J 37/06: Electron sources; Electron guns - B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing - G03F 7/0002: {Lithographic processes using patterning methods other than those involving the exposure to radiation, e.g. by stamping} - G03F 9/00: Registration or positioning of originals, masks, frames, photographic sheets or textured or patterned surfaces, e.g. automatically (G03F7/22 takes precedence; preparation of photographic masks G03F1/00; within photographic printing apparatus for making copies G03B27/00) - H01J 9/022: {of cold cathodes} - H01J 37/08: Ion sources; Ion guns - H01J 37/20: Means for supporting or positioning the object or the material; Means for adjusting diaphragms or lenses associated with the support - H01J 37/244: Detectors; Associated components or circuits therefor - H01J 37/248: Components associated with high voltage supply - H01J 37/317: for changing properties of the objects or for applying thin layers thereon, e.g. for ion implantation (H01J37/36 takes precedence) - H01J 37/3177: {Multi-beam, e.g. fly's eye, comb probe} - H01J 2237/1205: Microlenses - H01J 2237/20: Positioning, supporting, modifying or maintaining the physical state of objects being observed or treated - H01J 2237/303: Electron or ion optical systems - H01J 2237/304: Controlling tubes - H01J 2237/3174: Etching microareas - H01J 2237/31759: using near-field effects, e.g. STM - H01J 2237/31798: detecting pattern defects - Y10T 29/49004: including measuring or testing of device or component part - H01J: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS (spark-gaps H01T; electric arc lamps H05B31/00; particle accelerators H05H) - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING - G03F: PHOTOMECHANICAL PRODUCTION OF TEXTURED OR PATTERNED SURFACES, e.g. FOR PRINTING, FOR PROCESSING OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; MATERIALS THEREFOR; ORIGINALS THEREFOR; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED THEREFOR; (phototypographic composing devices B41B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; electrophotography, sensitive layers or processes therefor G03G) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The present invention provides apparatus for an imaging system comprising a multitude of chemical emitting elements upon a substrate. In some embodiments the substrate may be approximately round with a radius of approximately one inch. Various methods relating to using and producing an imaging system of chemical emitters are disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An imaging apparatus comprising: a first apparatus comprising a first substrate with a multitude of imaging elements arrayed thereupon, wherein the imaging elements are capable of emitting a chemical droplet from their structure to a surface in a vicinity of the first apparatus, wherein the imaging elements are microscale chemical droplet emitters formed upon the first substrate, and wherein there are more than 1000 imaging elements of the first apparatus; a support component for a second substrate to be processed by the imaging apparatus; an alignment feature and alignment apparatus to measure the alignment feature; and a processor operant to collect data from imaging apparatus components, process the data and control imaging apparatus components based on the data. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second apparatus comprising a third substrate with a microfluidic chemical processing element, wherein a channel from the microfluidic chemical processing element is in physical communication with an imaging element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a piezoelectric actuating device to raster the imaging apparatus. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The imaging apparatus of claim 3 wherein the rastering comprises at least ten steps within a distance separating two of the chemical emitters. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus of claim 1 wherein the chemical droplet also comprises a cell. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus of claim 1 wherein the imaging element uses electrostatics to discharge the chemical droplet. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus of claim 1 wherein the imaging element uses gas pressure to discharge the chemical droplet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus of claim 1 wherein the imaging element uses ultrasonics or physical impact to discharge the chemical droplet. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus of claim 1 wherein the imaging element uses thermal generation of bubbles to discharge the chemical droplet. ### Claim 10 An imaging apparatus comprising: an array of chemical emitters, wherein the chemical emitters comprise piezoelectric devices on a base layer, a microfluidic chemical processor which feeds material to the chemical emitters, and wherein there are more than 1,000 chemical emitters in the array; and electrical circuits connected to each of the chemical emitters, wherein the electrical circuits bias the piezoelectric devices based on data related to an model of a tissue to be formed. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The imaging apparatus of claim 10 wherein the electrical circuits that bias the photon emitters are fabricated in a CMOS processing flow. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The imaging apparatus of claim 11 wherein a cell is emitted by the chemical emitter. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The imaging apparatus of claim 12 wherein the number of photon emitters exceeds 10,000. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The imaging apparatus of claim 13 wherein the chemical emitters emit droplets that are about 50 microns in size. ### Claim 15 A method of forming a tissue comprising: placing a substrate within a cleanspace fabricator; printing cells upon the substrate to form the tissue, wherein the printing element comprises a piezoelectric crystal to emit chemical droplets containing a cell, and wherein there are more than 1000 chemical emitters in the printing element; maintaining a sterile environment around the substrate within the cleanspace fabricator while the cells of the tissue grow. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein no human contact occurs while the substrate is within the cleanspace fabricator. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16 wherein nourishment is supplied to the growing tissue through a tool pod which contains the substrate and receives chemical supply from a reservoir of growth media.