Direct Measurement of Contraction Force in Human Cardiac Tissue Model Using Piezoelectric Cantilever Sensor Technique

Abstract

A proof-of-concept method for measuring cardiac tissue contraction force using an in-house-developed piezoelectric cantilever sensor system is demonstrated. Contracting forces of 7.2 to 16.6 μN were measured from a human cardiac tissue construct. Beating cardiac tissue constructs were monitored in-situ under a microscope during the contraction force measurements. Development of the measurement method allows very low forces such as the ones that appear in biological small scale systems to be determined.