MODELLING AND FABRICATION OF A MECHANICAL CELL STIMULATOR

In the field of tissue engineering, mechanical cell stimulators are widely used to simulate forces in natural body environments, or to accelerate the growth of tissue. Simulation of the natural body environment, in vitro, enables researchers to understand the effect of different disturbance on cells, independently. For tissue such as the cartilage, which grows relatively slow in a mature natural body environment, a cell stimulator can be used to speed up the growth of tissue. This paper presents a novel design of planar mechanical cell stimulator which is able to provide mobility of four. The stimulator was fabricated from polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) thin plates using advanced micromilling material-removal process with an accuracy of ±3 μm and a surface roughness of 120 nm. The kinematic model of the stimulator is developed and corresponding performance is simulated.