TY - JOUR

T1 - Bio-hybrid tactile sensor for the study of the role of mechanoreceptors in human tactile perception

AU - Cheneler, David

AU - Ward, Mike

AU - Anthony, Carl

PY - 2012/9

Y1 - 2012/9

N2 - In this paper, the design and fabrication of a bio-hybrid tactile sensor is described. The device is designed to sustain the viability of cell-cultures and biological tissues for sufficient time as to allow experimentation in ordinarily non-ideal conditions. This is achieved by ensuring the cells have sufficient nutrients, oxygen and heat. It has an open configuration and is equipped with a local conductivity sensor which is sensitive to variations in the ion concentrations in the extracellular matrix. This allows secondary messengers in the form of the ion output from the cells to be monitored whilst contact stresses are applied to the tissue surface. Initial experiments are also described whereby the local conductivity sensor is submerged in solutions of various concentrations of different salts commonly found in mammalian cells. The sensor response is modelled analytically using complex mapping which lead to expressions detailing the sensitivity of the sensor. At concentrations found in mammalian cells, it was found that the sensor can detect changes in concentration of potassium chloride in solution as small as 0.25 μM.

AB - In this paper, the design and fabrication of a bio-hybrid tactile sensor is described. The device is designed to sustain the viability of cell-cultures and biological tissues for sufficient time as to allow experimentation in ordinarily non-ideal conditions. This is achieved by ensuring the cells have sufficient nutrients, oxygen and heat. It has an open configuration and is equipped with a local conductivity sensor which is sensitive to variations in the ion concentrations in the extracellular matrix. This allows secondary messengers in the form of the ion output from the cells to be monitored whilst contact stresses are applied to the tissue surface. Initial experiments are also described whereby the local conductivity sensor is submerged in solutions of various concentrations of different salts commonly found in mammalian cells. The sensor response is modelled analytically using complex mapping which lead to expressions detailing the sensitivity of the sensor. At concentrations found in mammalian cells, it was found that the sensor can detect changes in concentration of potassium chloride in solution as small as 0.25 μM.

KW - Mechanoreceptor

KW - Cell culture

KW - Contact stress

KW - Skin

KW - MEMS

KW - Touch

KW - Conductivity sensor

KW - Complex mapping

U2 - 10.1016/j.mee.2012.03.009

DO - 10.1016/j.mee.2012.03.009

M3 - Journal article

VL - 97

SP - 297

EP - 300

JO - Microelectronic Engineering

JF - Microelectronic Engineering

SN - 0167-9317

ER -