Floating platform system for mechanical testing of gels and tissues
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate
InventorTyler TUTTLE
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Abstract
A mechanical testing system for deformable samples, such as gels or tissues, is disclosed. The system includes a container for holding a liquid, and a floatable platform configured to float on the liquid. The platform includes attachments for connecting to a deformable sample and a force sensor assembly. The system allows for the application of unidirectional tension to the sample and the measurement of the resulting force by the force sensor assembly. The design of the system minimizes off-target forces and sample vibration, and allows for submerged testing and simultaneous imaging of the sample. The system is particularly suitable for testing small, soft materials such as extracellular matrix polymers.
Claims20
A mechanical testing system, comprising:
- a container configured for holding a liquid, the container including a container-sample attachment for attachment to a first side of a deformable sample;
- and
- a floatable platform configured to be disposed within the container and configured to float when a liquid is placed within the container, wherein the floatable platform includes
- (i) a first attachment configured for attachment to a second side of the deformable sample, and
- (ii) a second attachment opposite the first attachment along an axial direction, the second attachment being configured for attachment to a force sensor assembly,
- wherein tension or compression applied to the deformable sample along the axial direction is measurable by the force sensor assembly.
A method for mechanically testing a deformable sample, the method comprising:
- mounting a first end of the deformable sample to a container-sample attachment within a container that holds a liquid in which the deformable sample is submerged;
- mounting a second end of the deformable sample to a floatable platform configured to float upon the liquid within the container;
- applying unidirectional tension to the floatable platform and therefore to the deformable sample;
- and
- measuring a force applied to the deformable sample while the deformable sample is submerged.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.