he DermiGen bioreactors impart static and oscillatory stimulation to a "skin like" sample in a unique air-to-nutrient media interface. Applications include investigating cell function and stimulating the growth and development of engineered tissues.  The device can also be used as a "test bed" for pharmaceutical and regenerative therapies. The DermiGen can apply either stress or strain using operator defined wave forms.

D70-1 DermiGen
The D70-1 system is configured as a single sample bioreactor system that is able to support a wide range of of cell and tissue growth experiments via user defined stimulating protocols.  The chamber's unique design provides an air/media interface to facilitate cell co-culture and the development of skin like products. The chamber provides media perfusion/flow along the underside of the construct while preventing it from migrating onto the topside.  Mechanical clamp grips with soft linings provide secure positioning of the sample. This chamber can accommodate a single sample with a maximum length of 45-70mm, 20mm width  and 0.1 to 2mm thickness. The instrument may be customized to specific research applications.

D70-4 DermiGen
The D70-4 DermiGenhas been designed as a multi-stimulator bioreactor system. The GrowthWorks Software/Controller operates four (4) independent D70-1 Stimulators to provide increased sample capabilites. As with the D70-1, these instruments may be customized for specific research applications.

GrowthWorks® Software & Control:
A fifth generation design, the GrowthWorks Software and Control platform includes advanced capabilities, such as multiple waveform control, data acquisition and multi-motor operation. The intuitive software runs on a Windows® laptop computer and features a simple user interface. User defined stimulation profiles are controlled by the software and are readily monitored using graphical displays. Integrated data acquisition routines capture and record data at user prescribed intervals. The GrowthWorks Software is configurable for running four stimulators while simultaneously monitoring up to 16 transducers, allowing the researcher maximum flexibility.

The GrowthWorks Control Hardware features an embedded Intel CPU, integrated data acquisition and integrated motor drives. Communications between the laptop and control hardware is transmitted over a standard network cable. Primary advantages of the TGT Laptop/Controller approach are reduced physical size and easy upgradability. As future Windows versions or higher performance Laptops become available, either can be replaced without any software or controller changes. This ensures the GrowthWorks control system will be an integral part of your research for many years to come.

GrowthApps Stiffness Measurement & Adaptive Control:
The GrowthApps modules provide added capability to GrowthWorks. The addition of the Stiffness Measurement & Adaptive Control Application enables the system to make real-time measurements of the sample stiffness during culture. Described inU.S. Patent 7,410,792 B2 Instrumented bioreactor with material property measurement capability and process-based adjustment for conditioning tissue engineered medical products., the Application measures the mechanical response of the tissue construct as it is being stimulated and conditioned. The stiffness measurements can be used as guidelines for bench marking progress during culturing or for modifying the stimulation profile. Based upon the measured response, the bioreactor system is then capable of altering the stimulation profile. This technology enables researchers to automatically culture the skin from initial seeding to an implantation-ready state with minimal operator intervention.

Click here to download a DermiGen Brochure (Adobe PDF 21kb)