Title :
Use of a force-fiber technique for micromechanical measurements of the active force and stiffness of single heart cells
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Biomed. Eng., Johns Hopkins Univ., Balitmore, MD, USA
Abstract :
A description is presented of the development and use of a force-fiber technique to monitor the contractile and mechanical properties of single heart cells. The technique is implemented with an optical-fiber-based force probe coupled to a piezoelectric actuator. Measurements of cellular force with both deflection and null-balance feedback type systems are described. Potential applications of this technique include characterization of the rheological properties of single cells, measurements of cell adhesion, study of kinetics of crossbridge cycling, and excitation-contraction coupling
Keywords :
biological techniques and instruments; biomechanics; cardiology; cellular biophysics; elasticity; active force; cell adhesion; crossbridge cycling kinetics; excitation-contraction coupling; force-fiber technique; micromechanical measurements; piezoelectric actuator; rheological properties; single heart cells; stiffness; Force feedback; Force measurement; Heart; Mechanical factors; Micromechanical devices; Optical coupling; Optical feedback; Piezoelectric actuators; Probes; Rheology;
Conference_Titel :
Bioengineering Conference, 1989., Proceedings of the 1989 Fifteenth Annual Northeast
Conference_Location :
Boston, MA
DOI :
10.1109/NEBC.1989.36775
