Apparatus for tissue expansion using pulsatile motion

An in vitro apparatus for increasing the rate of expansion of tissue area and volume, comprising:

• a container having an interior space adapted to contain a cell culture medium,
• sliding mounts located at multiple locations in said interior space,
• sliding tensioners adapted to be attached to a tissue sample and slidably connected to said sliding mounts,
• rotating cams adapted to engage said tensioners and move said tensioners in said sliding mounts when said cams rotate, and
• a control mechanism that rotates said cams in unison,
• whereby rotation of said cams results in radial motion of said sliding tensioners, thereby resulting in increased tension on a sample when said sample is attached to said sliding tensioners and said tensioners are moved away from each other and in reduced tension on said sample when said sliding tensioners are moved toward each other;
• and
• a controller, operably connected to said control mechanism, wherein said controller causes said device to subject said tissue to stretching forces that alternatively increase and decrease to provide a series of stretch and relax phases during a period of tissue expansion without intervention of an operator.