US 12,441,050 B2
System for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional structures and method for same
Simon Travis Beyer, Richmond (CA); Konrad Walus, Vancouver (CA); Tamer Mohamed, Richmond (CA); and Anas Amjad Mohammad Bsoul, Vancouver (CA)
Assigned to ASPECT BIOSYSTEMS LTD., Vancouver (CA)
Filed by ASPECT BIOSYSTEMS LTD., Vancouver (CA)
Filed on Aug. 28, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/239,047.
Application 18/239,047 is a division of application No. 17/359,266, filed on Jun. 25, 2021, granted, now 11,738,501.
Application 17/359,266 is a division of application No. 14/898,036, granted, now 11,046,930, issued on Jun. 29, 2021, previously published as PCT/CA2014/050556, filed on Jun. 13, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/834,420, filed on Jun. 13, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2024/0190065 A1, Jun. 13, 2024
Int. Cl. B29C 64/106 (2017.01); B29C 64/209 (2017.01); B29C 70/00 (2006.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 50/02 (2015.01); C12M 1/26 (2006.01); C12M 3/00 (2006.01); C12M 3/06 (2006.01); C12N 5/00 (2006.01); C12N 11/04 (2006.01); B29K 105/00 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 64/106 (2017.08) [B29C 64/209 (2017.08); B29C 70/00 (2013.01); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); C12M 21/08 (2013.01); C12M 23/16 (2013.01); C12M 33/00 (2013.01); C12N 5/0068 (2013.01); C12N 11/04 (2013.01); B29K 2105/0058 (2013.01); B29K 2105/0061 (2013.01); B33Y 50/02 (2014.12); C12N 2513/00 (2013.01); C12N 2533/30 (2013.01)] 27 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A printhead for printing a three-dimensional (3D) structure from at least one first material, at least one hydrogel shell material and at least one hydrogel core material, the printhead comprising:
an orifice (222) for dispensing the materials;
at least three inlets for receiving materials in fluid communication with respective microfluidic channels arranged within the printhead, each microfluidic channel comprising a fluid inlet, the microfluidic channels comprising two first channels for receiving and directing the at least one first material, two second channels (508) for receiving and directing the at least one hydrogel shell material, and a third channel (226), which is a focussing channel, joining together with each of the first channels at a first intersection point (228) to form a dispensing channel (220) which extends to the orifice, the two second channels intersecting at a second intersection point (510) and joining together to form the third channel (226) which extends to the first intersection point;
the microfluidic channels further comprising a fourth channel (506) for receiving and directing the at least one hydrogel core material, the fourth channel joining together with the two second channels (508) and the third channel (226) at the second intersection point (510),
wherein the second channels and the third channel have larger diameters than the fourth channel, whereby flow of the at least one hydrogel shell material from the two second channels forms a coaxial sheath around the at least one core material in the third channel upon printing.