Development of a novel intra-vaginal transducer with improved dynamic response.

Limitations of standard clinical pressure transducers have hampered our ability to provide reliable measurements of intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) during physical activities. To overcome these limitations, a novel intravaginal transducer (IVT) capable of accurate, reliable, and continuous IAP measurements during normal activity was developed. The design was validated through comparison with standard clinical pressure transducers in both bench top and clinical tests. The IVT demonstrated an improved dynamic response when compared to a standard rectal balloon catheter. Additionally, the radially symmetric design allows for accurate measurement within non-fluid-filled tissue cavities and simple placement within the vaginal canal. This is an advantage over sensor-tipped transducers which are only reliable in fluid-filled compartments. The IVT design presented here is preliminary to a wireless version that will allow for IAP measurement during activities outside the clinic.

Design and characterization of a modified T-flask bioreactor for continuous monitoring of engineered tissue stiffness.

Controlling environmental conditions, such as mechanical stimuli, is critical for directing cells into functional tissue. This study reports on the development of a bioreactor capable of controlling the mechanical environment and continuously measuring force-displacement in engineered tissue. The bioreactor was built from off the shelf components, modified off the shelf components, and easily reproducible custom built parts to facilitate ease of setup, reproducibility and experimental flexibility. A T-flask was modified to allow for four tissue samples, mechanical actuation via a LabView controlled stepper motor and transduction of force from inside the T-flask to an external sensor. In vitro bench top testing with instrumentation springs and tissue culture experiments were performed to validate system performance. Force sensors were highly linear (R(2) > 0.998) and able to maintain force readings for extended periods of time. Tissue culture experiments involved cyclic loading of polyurethane scaffolds seeded with and without (control) human foreskin fibroblasts for 8 h/day for 14 days. After supplementation with TGF-beta, tissue constructs showed an increase in stiffness between consecutive days and from the acellular controls. These experiments confirmed the ability of the bioreactor to distinguish experimental groups and monitor tissue stiffness during tissue development.