Biomanufacturing System, Method, and 3D Bioprinting Hardware in a Reduced Gravity Environment
AssigneeTechshot, Inc.
InventorsJohn C. Vellinger, Eugene Boland, Michael A. Kurk, Krystal Milliner, Nester Samuel Logan, Carlos Chang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method, apparatus, and system are provided for the printing and maturation of living tissue in an Earth-referenced reduced gravity environment such as that found on a spacecraft or on other celestial bodies. The printing may be three-dimensional structures. The printed structures may be manufactured from low viscosity biomaterials.
Claims47
A method of culturing a printed tissue in a bioreactor in a reduced gravity environment comprising the steps of:
- providing a reduced gravity environment;
- providing one or more bioreactors in said reduced gravity environment;
- printing one or more tissues into said one or more bioreactors;
- providing one or more perfusions to said one or more printed tissues;
- providing one or more electrical stimulations to said one or more printed tissues;
- and
- providing one or more mechanical stimulations to said one or more printed tissues.
A method of culturing a printed tissue in a bioreactor in a reduced gravity environment comprising the steps of:
- providing a reduced gravity environment;
- providing one or more bioreactors in said reduced gravity environment;
- printing one or more tissues into said one or more bioreactors;
- providing an intake manifold and an outlet manifold, each one of the intake manifold and the outlet manifold having one or more ports;
- providing one or more perfusions to said one or more printed tissues through said one or more ports of said intake manifold;
- providing one or more electrical stimulations to said one or more printed tissues by contact with at least one of said intake manifold and said outlet manifold;
- and
- providing one or more mechanical stimulations to said one or more printed tissues by moving at least one of said intake manifold and said outlet manifold.
A bioreactor for receiving a printed tissue comprising:
- a housing defining a volume therein;
- a print platform within said volume of the housing;
- an intake manifold and an outlet manifold positioned in said volume of said housing;
- wherein each one of said intake manifold and said outlet manifold includes one or more ports;
- and
- at least one first air trap in fluid communication with said one or more ports of at least one of said intake manifold and said outlet manifold.
A bioreactor for receiving a printed tissue comprising:
- a housing having a volume having one or more manifolds therein adapted to engage a printed tissue;
- said one or more manifolds having at least one of
- a plurality of perfusion ports;
- one or more electrical stimulation devices;
- and
- a mechanical stimulation device connected thereto;
- one or more air traps in fluid communication with said volume defined by said housing.
A method of culturing a printed tissue in a bioreactor in a reduced gravity environment comprising the steps of:
- providing a reduced gravity environment;
- providing one or more bioreactors in said reduced gravity environment;
- printing one or more tissues into said one or more bioreactors;
- providing one or more perfusions to said one or more printed tissues;
- and
- removing air from said one or more bioreactors.
A method of culturing a printed tissue in a bioreactor in a reduced gravity environment comprising the steps of:
- providing a reduced gravity environment;
- providing a printed tissue in a housing of a bioreactor in the reduced gravity environment;
- recirculating fluid to said printed tissue;
- and
- removing air from the fluid recirculating to said printed tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.