{"id":370,"date":"2012-04-13T10:44:33","date_gmt":"2012-04-13T17:44:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/faculty.engineering.asu.edu\/jagan\/?page_id=370"},"modified":"2020-03-02T17:33:46","modified_gmt":"2020-03-02T17:33:46","slug":"high-resolution-biomems-force-sensors","status":"publish","type":"research","link":"https:\/\/faculty.engineering.asu.edu\/jagan\/research\/high-resolution-biomems-force-sensors\/","title":{"rendered":"High resolution BioMEMS force sensors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Accurate measurement of forces and displacements exerted by cells both in vivo<\/em> and in vitro<\/em> is an essential step in elucidating the link between cellular force transduction and function. Micromechanical sensors are especially suited for these studies because of their small size, which allows for easy interfacing with individual cells, and fine force\/displacement resolution that makes them capable of measuring very small forces\/displacements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Typically, force sensors that have high resolution have a limited force measurement range and vice versa. We have developed a set of displacement-based micromechanical force sensors that combine high resolution (50 pN)  with a large force measurement range (1 \u03bcN).  In addition, these sensors have a highly linear force\u2013displacement response over the entire measurement range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the key requirements for force sensors in biological studies is that they must be capable of operating in a liquid environment. This is often a major constraint for MEMS devices because the capillary forces that develop during the immersion and removal of these devices can cause extensive structural damage and compromise their functionality. To circumvent this problem, we have developed a novel technique\u00a0to insulate our\u00a0force sensors from capillary forces during their operation in\u00a0aqueous environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Scanning electron micrograph of the MEMS force sensor. An aluminum film holds the beams together and prevents damage when the force sensor is first immersed into liquid. A magnified view of the probe and the reference beam is shown on the right. In this particular case, a trench was made near the probe tip using focused ion beam milling to enable easier gripping of the axons.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related Publications<\/span><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

1. J. Rajagopalan and M. T. A. Saif, \u201cMEMS sensors and microsystems for cell mechano-biology,\u201d Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering <\/em>21, 054002, 2011 (pdf<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2.  J. Rajagopalan, A. Tofangchi and M. T. A. Saif, \u201cLinear, high-resolution bioMEMS force sensors with large measurement range,\u201d Journal of Microelectromechanical Systems<\/em> 19, 1380-1389, 2010 (pdf<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. J. Rajagopalan, A. Tofangchi and M. T. A. Saif, “Highly linear, ultra sensitive bio-MEMS force sensors with large force measurement range,” IEEE 23rd International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS),<\/em> 88-91,  2010 (pdf<\/a>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Accurate measurement of forces and displacements exerted by cells both in vivo and in vitro is an essential step in elucidating the link between cellular force transduction and function. Micromechanical sensors are especially suited for these studies because of their small size, which allows for easy interfacing with individual cells, and fine force\/displacement resolution that makes them capable of measuring very small forces\/displacements….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-370","research","type-research","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/faculty.engineering.asu.edu\/jagan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/research\/370","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/faculty.engineering.asu.edu\/jagan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/research"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/faculty.engineering.asu.edu\/jagan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/research"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/faculty.engineering.asu.edu\/jagan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/research\/370\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/faculty.engineering.asu.edu\/jagan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=370"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}