Multi-axial multi-port extruder for cell culture

A multi-axial multi-port extruder comprising

• a plurality of input ports coupled with an extruder body, the extruder body defining a plurality of fluid channels, wherein each fluid channel is fluidically coupled with a respective one of the plurality of input ports, the extruder body further defining a plurality of branch portions including a plurality of branches extending from each fluid channel of the plurality of fluid channels, wherein each branch portion of the plurality of branch portions includes a planar branch portion including a first channel split into two sub-channels having substantially the same internal dimension and each of the two sub-channels includes a second channel split into two additional sub-channels having substantially the same internal dimension;
• a plurality of outlet ports fluidically coupled with the plurality of branches, wherein one more than the number of planar branch portions extending from one fluid channel is equal to the number of outlet ports in the plurality of outlet ports to fluidically couple each input port of the plurality of input ports with each outlet port of the plurality of outlet ports;
• and
• a fluid chamber fluidically coupled with a substantially vertical fluid channel of the plurality of fluid channels and with an angled channel that is fluidically coupled with a different input port than the substantially vertical fluid channel, the fluid chamber defining a first chamber portion with a separating wall that physically separates the substantially vertical fluid channel from the first chamber portion,
• wherein the first chamber portion is an annular chamber defined between the extruder body and the separating wall, and
• wherein the angled channel coupled with the first chamber portion at an angle from horizontal from 30 degrees to 60 degrees and at an intersection that includes a fillet feature, at least a portion of the fillet feature extending above a top of the separating wall, the fluid chamber configured to introduce a first stream of fluid from the angled channel into the first chamber portion and around a second stream of fluid in the substantially vertical fluid channel, wherein the separating wall terminates at a bottom of the fluid chamber to permit contact between the first stream of fluid and the second stream of fluid as a co-axial fluid stream.

A method for simultaneously generating multiple hydrogel tubes containing a core of cell solution utilizing a multi-axial multi-port extruder, the method comprising:

• introducing a hydrogel solution and a cell solution to individual input ports of a multi-axial multi-port extruder, the multi-axial multi-port extruder including:
• a plurality of input ports coupled with an extruder body, the extruder body defining a plurality of fluid channels, wherein each fluid channel is fluidically coupled with a respective one of the plurality of input ports, the extruder body further defining a plurality of branch portions including a plurality of branches extending from each fluid channel of the plurality of fluid channels, wherein each branch portion of the plurality of branch portions includes a planar branch portion including a first channel split into two sub-channels having substantially the same internal dimension and each of the two sub-channels includes a second channel split into two additional sub-channels having substantially the same internal dimension;
• a plurality of outlet ports fluidically coupled with the plurality of branches, wherein one more than the number of planar branch portions extending from one fluid channel is equal to the number of outlet ports in the plurality of outlet ports to fluidically couple each input port of the plurality of input ports with each outlet port of the plurality of outlet ports;
• and
• a fluid chamber fluidically coupled with a substantially vertical fluid channel of the plurality of fluid channels and with an angled channel that is fluidically coupled with a different input port than the substantially vertical fluid channel, the fluid chamber defining a first chamber portion with a separating wall that physically separates the substantially vertical fluid channel from the first chamber portion, the angled channel coupled with the first chamber portion at an intersection that includes a fillet feature, at least a portion of the fillet feature extending above a top of the separating wall, the fluid chamber configured to introduce a stream of the hydrogel solution from the angled channel into the first chamber portion and around a stream of the cell solution in the substantially vertical fluid channel, wherein the separating wall terminates at a bottom of the fluid chamber to permit contact between the stream of the hydrogel solution and the stream of the cell solution as a co-axial fluid stream with the cell solution as a core;
• and
• introducing the co-axial fluid stream to a cross-linking solution to form hydrogel tubes.