Micro-cavity-based force sensor
AssigneeUniversity Court of the University of St Andrews
InventorsMalte C. GATHER, Nils KRONENBERG, Philipp LIEHM
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Abstract
A system for measuring cellular forces exerted on a surface comprising: a deformable sensor that has a deformable surface adapted to deform on application of a cellular force, and an optical detector for optically detecting deformation of the surface.
Claims27
A system for measuring cellular forces exerted on a surface comprising:
- a deformable sensor that has a deformable surface adapted to deform on application of a cellular force, and an optical detector for optically detecting deformation of the surface.
A deformable sensor for measuring cell force comprising a resiliently deformable surface adapted to deform on application of a cellular force and an optical cavity that has a thickness that is a function of the cellular force applied to the deformable surface.
A method of fabricating a deformable sensor comprising:
- depositing a first semitransparent reflective layer, for example a metal such as gold, on a substrate;
- forming a layer of elastic/deformable/compressible material on the first semitransparent reflective layer, and depositing a second semitransparent reflective layer, for example gold on the layer of elastic/deformable/compressible material.
A method for measuring cellular forces exerted on a surface using a deformable sensor that has a deformable surface adapted to deform on application of a cellular force, and an optical cavity that has a thickness that is a function of the cellular force applied to the deformable surface, the method involving:
- transmitting light into the optical cavity when a cell is on the deformable surface;
- detecting light emitted from the optical cavity, and using the detected light to determine the cellular force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.