Functionally Gradient Tissue Scaffold Design and Deposition Path Planning for Bio-additive Processes

A layer-based tissue scaffold is designed with heterogeneous internal architecture. The proposed layer-based design uses a bi-layer pattern of radial and spiral layer consecutively to generate functionally gradient porosity following the geometry of the scaffold. Medial region is constructed from medial axis and used as an internal geometric feature for each layer. The radial layers are generated with sub-region channels by connecting the boundaries of the medial region and the layer’s outer contour. Proper connections with allowable geometric properties are ensured by applying optimization algorithms. Iso-porosity regions are determined by dividing the sub-regions into pore cells. The combination of consecutive layers generates the pore cells with desired pore sizes. To ensure the fabrication of the designed scaffolds, both contours have been optimized for a continuous, interconnected, and smooth deposition path-planning. The proposed methodologies can generate the structure with gradient (linear or non-linear), variational or constant porosity that can provide localized control of variational porosity along the scaffold architecture. The designed porous structures can be fabricated using bio-additive fabrication processes.