A bioprinting robotic system uses a robotic arm with a bioprinting tool to deposit bio-ink for tissue repair. It includes sensors, a 3D camera, and a head-mounted display for precise control and real-time feedback, ensuring accurate and safe bioprinting.
Background
The field of bioprinting technology is a subset of tissue engineering that utilizes 3D printing techniques to create complex, functional tissues and organs. This technology addresses the need for effective treatment of severe musculoskeletal injuries, such as volumetric muscle loss (VML), which can result from traumatic events, surgical resection, or sports injuries.
Traditional treatment methods, including free functional muscle transfer (FFMT) and prosthetic bracing, have significant limitations, such as high costs, complications, and the inability to fully restore muscle function and structure. Therefore, there is a critical need for advanced bioprinting solutions that can precisely and efficiently fabricate tissue constructs directly at the injury site, promoting rapid healing and functional recovery.
Current approaches to bioprinting, including manual handheld devices and autonomous robotic systems, face several challenges that hinder their effectiveness. Manual handheld bioprinters suffer from poor control due to user fatigue and hand tremor, leading to non-uniform deposition and inaccurate stacking of constructs. These devices also heavily rely on the user's expertise, making the procedure time-consuming and difficult, especially for large, complex 3D injuries. On the other hand, existing autonomous bioprinting systems are often bulky and lack sufficient degrees of freedom to print intricate structures on various anatomical surfaces. They also fail to provide real-time feedback and adjustments based on patient movement during surgery, compromising safety and precision. Moreover, these systems typically rely on qualitative visual assessments rather than quantitative evaluations of the printed constructs, limiting their ability to ensure the desired conditions for cell growth and tissue function. Thus, there is a pressing need for improved bioprinting systems that offer greater control, precision, and real-time evaluation capabilities.
Technology description
A bioprinting robotic system is an advanced medical technology designed for in situ deposition of bio-ink to repair volumetric muscle loss (VML). The system includes a robotic manipulator equipped with a bioprinting instrument featuring a housing, distance measurement sensor, light source, 3D point cloud camera, and a nozzle on a one-degree-of-freedom linear height control mechanism. The bio-ink, which can comprise materials like gelatin-methacryloyl (GeIMA) with insulin-like growth factor-1 and myoblast cells, is precisely deposited onto the injury site. The system integrates a head-mounted display (HMD) for visual guidance, an optical tracking system for real-time calibration, and a computing system that uses 3D point cloud data to design and display printing trajectories. This ensures accurate bioprinting, capable of operating in semi-autonomous and tele-bioprinting modes, and can perform both planar and spatial bioprinting with algorithms that correct and scale the surgeon’s movements for enhanced precision.
The bioprinting robotic system stands out due to its ability to combine high-precision 3D printing technology with real-time feedback and surgeon collaboration, addressing the limitations of both manual handheld and fully autonomous bioprinting devices. Unlike traditional methods that rely heavily on the surgeon's expertise and can be affected by muscle fatigue and hand tremors, this system uses a robotic manipulator to ensure steady and accurate bio-ink deposition. The integration of a 3D point cloud camera and optical tracking system allows for precise calibration and real-time adjustments, ensuring high fidelity in the printed constructs. Additionally, the semi-autonomous and tele-bioprinting modes enable enhanced control and flexibility, allowing for precise micromanipulation and remote operation. This blend of automation, real-time feedback, and surgeon involvement ensures both functional and cosmetic restoration of muscles, making it a significant advancement in the treatment of VML.
Benefits
- Precise in situ bioprinting for volumetric muscle loss treatment
- Real-time 3D point cloud data for accurate printing trajectories
- Integration of head-mounted display for visual guidance
- Optical tracking system for real-time calibration and registration
- Multiple operational modes including semi-autonomous and tele-bioprinting
- Algorithms for correcting and scaling surgeon's movements for enhanced precision
- Quantitative evaluation framework for bioprinting quality
- 3D visual measurement system for accurate filament thickness measurement
- Reduction in surgical complexity, time, and complications
- Capability to perform both planar and spatial bioprinting
Commercial applications
- Medical device manufacturing
- Robotic surgery systems
- Bioprinting services
- Tissue engineering solutions
- 3D printing hardware
