Cell Tension Sensor
Project Overview
A Boston University biomedical engineering lab is studying the different elasticities of tissue cells and wanted a sleek, easy to use system that would streamline their process. Using a stepper motor and force sensor, our control box allows for precise motor movements and a large range of tensions that can be measured. This project is currently being implemented and is running tests on several different tissue cells.
My Role:
Hardware Development
Mechanical and electrical design through implementation. Specifics:
Schematic and electronics
An instrumentation amplifier is used to raise the small signal from the force sensor at the cell tissue to a readable voltage level. I picked op-amps designed to make this voltage range as large as they needed without sacrificing accuracy.Cables are covered in heatshrink to avoid short circuits.
Box creation
The box is designed to have relevant signal flows on one side of the box for ease of access, such as the USB and power connectors being next to one another. A slide off lid is used for quick access to internal components if necessary.
Teamwork
I worked with the biomedical lab at Boston University to identify what they needed from us, and always referenced them when changes in design/use were made. This ensured they receiveda product they could use right away and worked how they wanted.
Requirements
-
Large range of tensions to measure
-
Low noise
-
Arduino compatible
-
Design for ease of use
Highlights
The signal flow goes from computer, through the Arduino which controls the stepper motor. The cell tension is measured from a force sensor, flows into the instrumentation amplifier, to the Arduino and back out to their computer.
I designed the instrumentation amplifier used to measure cell tensions as an Arduino shield for a better form factor and ease of use.