Cell Injury Controller II
The Cell Injury Controller II (CIC II) is an electronically controlled pneumatic device that will allow the study of morphologic, physiologic and biochemical responses of tissue cultured cells to trauma. The Cell Injury Controller has been designed for use with a patented, commercially available tissue culture system from Flexcell Int'l. Corp., Hillsborough, NC. Tissue cultures are grown in culturing wells having stretchable Silastic® membrane bottoms. The Cell Injury Controller regulates the flow of compressed gas to rapidly pressurize individual culture wells causing a radial stretch injury to the culture. Injury severity is determined by controlling the flow of gas in and out of the sealed culture well. The peak pressure is captured providing an accurate indicator of radial stretch. The CIC II accepts both the Flex I® 29.45cm2 culturing trays (used with the earlier CIC Model 94A) and the BioFlex® 57.75cm2 culturing trays. Depending on the cell type, the degree of injury, and the culture conditions the injured cells may die or repair. Therefore, the system can be employed to study the responses to trauma, including cell injury, repair, death or pharmacologic intervention.