Cellxercise Machine
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Background
Musculoskeletal injuries—especially to tendons and the meniscus—require lab-based mechanical stimulation to support tissue regeneration. Current systems like the ShellPa Pro mainly apply tension, use costly disposables, and lack flexibility and effective sterilization.
Our project addresses these limitations by developing a new cell loading machine that applies both tension and compression in a sterilizable, incubator-safe environment, advancing tissue engineering in a more versatile and cost-effective way.
Final Product
The Biomechanical Culture Reactor integrates six core components: a SMAC linear actuator, precision-machined aluminum baseplate, linear rail carriage system, modular clamp interface (for both tension and compression), a real-time force feedback load cell, and a nutrient-compatible petri dish system. All components are designed to operate seamlessly inside a 37°C, high-humidity incubator environment.
The system applies cyclic tension or compression—up to 20N at 1 Hz—to tissue samples using programmable control. Tension clamps grip collagen strips for tendon research, while compression clamps hold puck-shaped meniscus samples. Both clamp types are modular and designed for easy sterilization and quick swapping between experiments. A removable lift plate facilitates easy access to specimens and nutrient solution replacement without disturbing alignment. Quick-release IMAO fasteners allow tool-less disassembly of the actuator and gantry. The use of high-precision linear rails minimizes friction, ensuring accurate load readings from the ATO 5kg load cell.
To ensure a sterile environment, all machined parts are aluminum or stainless steel, compatible with alcohol wiping and future autoclaving. The system is controlled through LabVIEW with custom UI for frequency, strain, and cycle count input. Compared to commercial systems like ShellPa Pro, this design offers enhanced modularity, dual-mode loading, reusable clamps, and a more user-friendly maintenance approach—making it a robust and cost-effective platform for musculoskeletal tissue research.
