System and method for determining a force applied to or generated by a cell or tissue culture
AssigneeAndreas Dendorfer
InventorAndreas Dendorfer
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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.
Claims16
A system for maintaining a cell or tissue culture, the system comprising:
- a culture chamber in which said cell or tissue culture is to be arranged;
- an elastic element 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;
- a sensor unit adapted to determine a signal representing at least one of an amount of said deflection of said elastic element and a force corresponding to said deflection, wherein the sensor unit comprises at least one magnetic field sensor;
- and
- a drive mechanism adapted for applying a force to said cell or tissue culture.
A method for applying a controlled force to a cell or tissue culture arranged in a culture chamber, comprising:
- providing said culture chamber;
- coupling an elastic element mounted 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;
- determining an amount of deflection of said elastic element, wherein the amount of deflection is determined by a sensor unit comprising at least one magnetic field sensor;
- applying, by a drive mechanism, a force to said cell or tissue culture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.