Sensors and Monitoring

Measurements made during tissue manufacturing may be used either as control parameters or for monitoring. For example, it may be desired to apply a prescribed displacement, i.e., to stretch, the tissue cyclically at a given frequency. Displacement would in this case be used as a feedback channel in the control system and would be input for an actuator. ST3’s advanced controls and software allow for control of several parameters as needed for your particular tissue manufacturing application. Monitoring measurements can be made continuously or in user-defined data acquisition patterns to monitor tissue response, maturation and release criteria. If/then commands and other software algorithms allow for the customization of the often long-term and multi-step tissue manufacturing process.

Manufacturing measurements often characterize either mechanical properties or biological activity. The ST3 team has extensive experience with both types of measurements. Sensors frequently used to measure mechanical properties include displacement, load, pressure, torque, rotation, inner and/or outer diameter, and strain. Biological activity and fluid monitoring may include temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, dissolved carbon dioxide, glucose, lactate and fluid sampling methods for measuring other nutrients, cytokines or biomaterial components.

Non-invasive measurements are critical for monitoring tissue manufacturing during culture. Many of the sensors above allow for tissue culture monitoring without impacting developing tissues. Chambers can also be designed for use with an endoscope or microscope for additional tissue characterization options.