Mikrosystembasierte Zellkultivierung und Zellmanipulation zur Applikation mechanischer Reize auf Zellen

Die übergeordnete Fragestellung der vorliegenden Arbeit ist biomedizinischer Art und seit mehr als 150 Jahren anhängig: Wie verhalten sich Zellen unter definierter Belastung? In vivo ist die Beobachtung zellulärer Prozesse bisher nicht ohne invasive Methoden möglich. Das verlangt nach einer Lösung in vitro, welche die natürlichen Bedingungen adäquat nachahmt und gleichzeitig optimale Bedingungen für die Beobachtung und Beeinflussung der Prozesse bietet. Dass sich dafür Mikrosysteme mit einer angepassten Peripherie eignen, wird in dieser Arbeit nachgewiesen.The motivating question underlying this work is generated by life sciences, pending for more than 150 years: How do cells behave under defined load? In vivo it is not possible to monitor subsiding cellular processes without the use of invasive methods. This demands for a solution in vitro, which mimics natural conditions adequately and offers optimized conditions for observation and manipulation at the same time. For this purpose BioMEMS (Bio Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) for cell are suitable. By means of analysis of state of the art for conventional macro and for micro system based cell cultivation and manipulation, requirements from cells and from users of such systems are defined. A micro system with a cultivation camber, tube connectors, an integrated scaffold, an optical and a mechanical access and other components forms the backbone of the entire system. It is completed by peripheral modules for supply of cells under adequate environmental conditions, observation of cells and processes and manipulation of cells and technical components. This configuration is explained in detail by exemplary realizations. Cell cultivation outside an incubator is feasible, securing biocompatibility. Considerations of the application of stimuli on cells are founded on this newly developed infrastructure. Existing macroscopic and microscopic methods may be adapted to the system, realizations are suggested. The performance of the entire system is discussed with reference to results of technical and biological tests. As result of the documented developmental process now a system exists, which after integration of cell-specific loading methods can be used by life scientists conduce to answer questions on cellular behavior.Zusätzliche Dateien: - Tabelle 5: Mikrozellkultivierungssysteme - Anhang A5: Literatur Zelldetektio

BioMEMS for processing and testing of hydrogel-based bio-interfaces

A BioMEMS platform for development, processing and testing of hydrogels is presented. It is based on standard silicon micromachining including smart assembly and interconnection techniques. Hydrogel materials can be brought into the device by several methods. Material tests and functionalizations of the hydrogels can take place in the system as well as cell cultivation for biotests. First results are promising for easy and parallel testing of several materials / samples and for further biomedical applications

Specific I/O-devices for several handicapped and elderly

To fulfil the requirements of several user groups with the need of assistance in tourist activities and regions an assistance system was developed. The user frontend is realised by a handheld device combined with additional features matched to the user specifics. The system assures a optimal presentation of the needed information by a easy to learn and easy to use new gesture-based GUI. This and the additional specific I/O-devices and components provide the IT-Biocompatibility. These add-ons are adaptors for wireless transfer to hearing aids, vibro-tactile belts or accumulators and sensors for measuring of vital parameters

Development of assistance systems for user groups with specific handicaps – a challenge for the ergonomic design process

The goal to develop an assistance system for handicapped users with several impairments was successfully achieved. The design process as a whole lifecycle with iterative processes was shortened by several reasons. But this newly applied design process with underlying design rules given from mechatronic and biomedical products results into a usable system for the targeted groups as well as for other potential users. The main components of the design process were an intensive task analysis and determining of user profiles and user requirements

Down-scaling of a tourist assistance system to fulfil the needs of economical poor regions and providers of tourist offers

Derived from a complex tourist assistance system for users with special needs (e.g. disabled users with physical impairments) a down-scaled system was successful tested. It consists of a handheld device like the whole system but disclaims to a permanent online server access. The reducing of components was determined by a user-centred design process with an intense requirement analysis

The design of a tourist assistance system for several handicapped and elderly

By use of knowledge from biomedical engineering, ergonomics, information and communication technologies as well as from robotics and mechatronics an assistance system for several handicapped and elderly is in development. The aim of the project called TAS (Tourist Assistance System) was the development and exemplary assembly of an assistance system for people with impairments as an access support to previously bad or not reachable tourism offers. It was implemented into a chosen model region in Thuringia / Germany. One of the main principles in this project was to use, combine and adapt market available components of the abovementioned technical areas. In this paper the design process of the assistance system and its main components and functions are described