US 11,766,538 B2
Systems and methods for manufacturing 3D printed medical devices
Jonathan E. Baxter, Fridley, MN (US); Kristin M. Johnson, Circle Pines, MN (US); Gregory N. Nesseth, Forest Lake, MN (US); and Jay T. Rassat, Otsego, MN (US)
Assigned to Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US)
Filed by Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US)
Filed on Jul. 29, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/389,226.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/059,867, filed on Jul. 31, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0032002 A1, Feb. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); A61M 25/00 (2006.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 40/00 (2020.01); B33Y 50/02 (2015.01); B33Y 80/00 (2015.01); B29C 64/118 (2017.01); B29C 64/295 (2017.01); B29C 64/209 (2017.01); B29C 64/393 (2017.01); B29C 64/336 (2017.01); B29L 31/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61M 25/0009 (2013.01) [B29C 64/118 (2017.08); B29C 64/209 (2017.08); B29C 64/295 (2017.08); B29C 64/336 (2017.08); B29C 64/393 (2017.08); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 40/00 (2014.12); B33Y 50/02 (2014.12); B33Y 80/00 (2014.12); A61M 2207/10 (2013.01); B29L 2031/7542 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An additive manufacturing apparatus comprising:
a heating block extending between a proximal side and a distal side and comprising a substrate inlet proximate the proximal side and a substrate outlet proximate the distal side, the heating block at least partially defining an interior volume to allow an elongate substrate to pass through the interior volume and through the heating block between the substrate inlet and the substrate outlet, wherein the heating block at least partially defines a first filament port in fluid communication with the interior volume, wherein the first filament port is different than the substrate inlet and the substrate outlet;
a first guide sheath coupled to the heating block and extending into the first filament port from an exterior of the heating block, the first guide sheath defining a lumen in fluid communication with the interior volume;
an outlet die located proximate the distal side of the heating block and at least partially defining the interior volume, wherein outlet die at least partially defines the substrate outlet for the elongate substrate, wherein the substrate outlet is adapted to be selectively adjusted to modify a size and/or shape of the substrate outlet, and wherein the outlet die defines one or more cutouts; and
a shutter defining an opening spaced longitudinally from the substrate outlet, wherein the shutter comprises a body portion and one or more fins movably coupled to the body portion such that the one or more fins are adapted to move relative to the outlet die to modify the size and/or shape of the substrate outlet, and wherein the one or more fins of the shutter are further adapted to move to modify a size and/or shape of the one or more cutouts of the outlet die.