Patent ID: 7857756

Claim:
A tool for performing biological, tissue engineering and/or medical procedures involving at least the placement of at least one constituent material at a target area within a body from a supply of the constituent material, comprising: a. at least one material dispenser, which dispenses constituent materials forming biocompatible scaffold material, said material dispenser being configured to include an opening, and being controlled by a computer-controlled location control device, such that said constituent material is deposited in a three-dimensional pattern or shape which three-dimensional pattern or shape defines a cell growth template within said body, and b. at least one imaging device, wherein the tool is sized and shaped to at least partially enter the body through an opening therein; and wherein each of the at least one material dispenser, comprises: i. a tip orifice defining an opening through which the material exits the dispenser, ii. at least one elongate feed channel having an inlet and a spaced outlet adjacent the tip orifice, the at least one feed channel having the constituent material therein and being sized and shaped so that the constituent material therein may flow through the at least one channel from the inlet to the outlet, and iii. a valve for controlling the flow of the constituent material through the outlet of the at least one feed channel, the valve being moveable between an open position, in which the constituent material is permitted to flow through the outlet, and a closed position, in which the constituent material is not permitted to flow through the outlet, and iv. an actuator operatively coupled to the valve for selectively moving the valve between the open position and the closed position.