Biaxial strain system for cultured cells
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for imparting biaxial strain to biological cells adhering to an elastic membrane, said apparatus comprising:
- a membrane support having a tubular passageway with an opening at one end and means for affixing such a membrane across said opening;
a cylinder, open and hollow, terminating at one end in a planar rim, said cylinder disposed inside said tubular passageway, such that said membrane support and said cylinder are on the same side of any such membrane affixed across said opening; and
actuating means coupled to said membrane support through a threaded connection and engaging said cylinder, whereby rotation of said actuating means along said threaded connection causes said cylinder to move longitudinally within said tubular passageway such that said planar rim protrudes through said opening to a degree corresponding to the degree of rotation and engages any such membrane affixed across said opening, thereby biaxially stretching a central portion of said membrane in a planar configuration across said planar rim.
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Abstract
Biological cells plated on an elastic membrane are placed under biaxial strain for purposes of observation by a device that includes a support with an opening over which the membrane is secured, a movable cylinder coaxial with the opening and fitting closely but movably within the opening, and an actuating member that stabilizes and controls the position of the cylinder relative to the opening. The actuating member is coupled to the support by a threaded connection while engaging the movable cylinder. The degree of membrane stretch is accurately controlled by the rotation of the actuating member.
43 Citations
14 Claims
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1. Apparatus for imparting biaxial strain to biological cells adhering to an elastic membrane, said apparatus comprising:
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a membrane support having a tubular passageway with an opening at one end and means for affixing such a membrane across said opening; a cylinder, open and hollow, terminating at one end in a planar rim, said cylinder disposed inside said tubular passageway, such that said membrane support and said cylinder are on the same side of any such membrane affixed across said opening; and actuating means coupled to said membrane support through a threaded connection and engaging said cylinder, whereby rotation of said actuating means along said threaded connection causes said cylinder to move longitudinally within said tubular passageway such that said planar rim protrudes through said opening to a degree corresponding to the degree of rotation and engages any such membrane affixed across said opening, thereby biaxially stretching a central portion of said membrane in a planar configuration across said planar rim. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. Apparatus for imparting equibiaxial strain to biological cells adhering to a plurality of elastic membranes, said apparatus comprising:
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a membrane support having a plurality of tubular passageways each with an opening at one end, and means for affixing such membranes thereto with one such membrane across each of said openings; a membrane stretching member comprising a plurality of cylinders, open and hollow, equal in number to said tubular passageways and arranged in an array complementary to said tubular passageways, each cylinder terminating at one end in a planar rim; and actuating means coupled to said membrane support through a threaded connection and engaging said membrane stretching member, whereby rotation of said actuating means along said threaded connection causes said cylinders to move longitudinally within said tubular passageways such that said planar rims protrude through said openings to a degree corresponding to the degree of rotation and engage any such membranes affixed across said openings, thereby equibiaxially stretching a central portion of each of said membranes in a planar configuration across said planar rims. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification