System and method for determining a force applied to or generated by a cell or tissue culture
AssigneeAndreas Dendorfer
InventorAndreas Dendorfer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Technologies and implementations for a system and method for determining a force applied to a cell or tissue culture is disclosed. The system and method may include an elastic element mounted in or suitable for mounting in a culture chamber. The elastic element may be adapted to be coupled with the cell or the tissue culture such that a force applied to the cell or the tissue culture leads to a deflection of the elastic element against a restoring force. A magnetic field sensor may be mounted outside said culture chamber. The magnetic field sensor may be adapted to detect a change of magnetic field attributable to a corresponding movement of a magnetic element upon deflection.
Claims24
A system for determining a force applied to or generated by a cell or tissue culture arranged in a culture chamber, the system comprising:
- a culture chamber;
- an elastic element arranged in said culture chamber, said elastic element being adapted to be coupled with said cell or tissue culture such that a force applied to or generated by said cell or tissue culture leads to a deflection of said elastic element against a restoring force thereof, and said elastic element forming or comprising a magnetic element arranged such as to be moved upon deflection of said elastic element;
- and
- a magnetic field sensor, which is mounted outside of said culture chamber and is separated from said elastic element by a separating wall of said culture chamber, said magnetic field sensor being adapted to detect a change of magnetic field attributable to a corresponding movement of said magnetic element upon deflection of said elastic element, wherein said elastic element comprises a rod or beam, said deflection amounts to a bending of said rod or beam, said rod or beam has a fixed end mounted to said culture chamber and a free end opposite to said fixed end, and said magnetic field sensor is arranged in proximity to said free end of said rod or beam and distally to said fixed end of said rod or beam.
A method for determining a force applied to or generated by a cell or tissue culture arranged in a culture chamber, the method comprising:
- providing said culture chamber;
- coupling an elastic element arranged in said culture chamber with said cell or tissue culture such that a force applied to or generated by said cell or tissue culture leads to a deflection of said elastic element against a restoring force thereof, said elastic element forming or comprising a magnetic element arranged such as to be moved upon deflection of said elastic element;
- and
- detecting a change of magnetic field attributable to a corresponding movement of said magnetic element upon deflection of said elastic element using a magnetic field sensor that is mounted outside of said culture chamber and is separated from said elastic element by a separating wall of said culture chamber, wherein said elastic element comprises a rod or beam, said deflection amounts to a bending of said rod or beam, said rod or beam has a fixed end mounted to said culture chamber and a free end opposite to said fixed end, and said magnetic field sensor is arranged in proximity to said free end of said rod or beam and distally to said fixed end of said rod or beam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.