CellScale BioTester User manual

BioTester User Manual
BioTester
Biaxial Test System
User Manual
version 7.6

BioTester User Manual
Mechanical measurement and analysis of biomedical materials
CellScale provides scientific and medical researchers with turn-key systems for
measuring the mechanical properties of biomaterials.
Our focus is soft tissue –including skin, ligaments, blood vessels, heart valves,
sclera, membranes and scaffolds. We provide user-friendly software, an easy-to-
use patented attachment system, and effective data analysis tools.
Our foundation was laid at one of the world’s leading research institutions –the
University of Waterloo. We understand research and aim to provide effective
solutions at a reasonable price.
Explore our web site www.cellscale.com or contact us to learn more about our
measurement systems.
© 2017 CellScale. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced,
displayed, modified or distributed without the express prior written permission of the
copyright holder. For permission, contact CellScale Biomaterials Testing at
[e-mail].
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Canada N2L 5C6
Phone: [phone]

BioTester User Manual
Table of Contents
1. General Information............................................................................................................... 1
Environmental and Electrical Specifications.............................................................................. 1
System Assembly..................................................................................................................... 1
Power Connections................................................................................................................... 1
Safety Warnings ....................................................................................................................... 1
Approvals and Certification....................................................................................................... 1
Manual Operating Controls....................................................................................................... 2
Software ................................................................................................................................... 2
General Maintenance................................................................................................................ 2
2. Testing Terminology.............................................................................................................. 3
Multiphase Test Cycles............................................................................................................. 3
Phases, Cycles, and Test Sequences....................................................................................... 4
Test Phases: The Smallest Unit of Testing ............................................................................... 5
Control Modes .......................................................................................................................... 5
Control Functions...................................................................................................................... 6
3. System Overview .................................................................................................................. 7
System Components................................................................................................................. 7
Software Overview.................................................................................................................... 8
Output Files and Data Structures.............................................................................................. 9
4. Setting Up & Starting a Test.................................................................................................10
Overview..................................................................................................................................10
Step 1: Start a New Test..........................................................................................................10
Step 2: Reset the Actuators.....................................................................................................11
Step 3: Move the Actuators to a Specified Size........................................................................12
Step 4: Zero the Load Cells (occasionally)...............................................................................12
Step 5: Modify Testing Parameters (optional) ..........................................................................13
Step 6: Mount the Specimen....................................................................................................15
Step 7: Execute the Test..........................................................................................................17
Step 8: Terminate the Test Prematurely (optional)...................................................................17
5. Additional Settings................................................................................................................18
Configuring Output Data Files..................................................................................................18
Advanced System Settings Dialogue.......................................................................................19
Range Limits............................................................................................................................21
Configuring the Live Charting Graphs......................................................................................22
6. Reviewing Test Results........................................................................................................24

BioTester User Manual
Overview..................................................................................................................................24
Selecting Images.....................................................................................................................25
Image Playback Options..........................................................................................................25
Image Tracking: Overview .......................................................................................................26
Image Tracking: The Points Display Option .............................................................................28
Image Tracking: The Displacement Option ..............................................................................29
Image Tracking: The Strains Option.........................................................................................30
Data Overlay............................................................................................................................31
Exporting Tracked Data...........................................................................................................32
Exporting Images and Movies..................................................................................................33
Importing and Analyzing Non-BioTester Images......................................................................33
7. System Hardware Settings...................................................................................................34
Controller.................................................................................................................................34
Camera....................................................................................................................................34
Load Cells................................................................................................................................35
Actuators and Motors...............................................................................................................35
Temperature............................................................................................................................36
External Sync Pulse.................................................................................................................37
8. System Calibration and Advanced Tools..............................................................................38
Load Cell Calibration................................................................................................................38
Snap Image Feature................................................................................................................40
Adjusting the Camera Position and Image Magnification .........................................................41
Update Firmware .....................................................................................................................43
9. Troubleshooting....................................................................................................................44
10. Appendix A: Initial System Setup..........................................................................................45
Tools........................................................................................................................................45
Fasteners & Parts....................................................................................................................45
Unpack System........................................................................................................................46
Remove the BioTester from the shipping container ..............................................................46
Attach Camera Mast................................................................................................................47
Place Fluid Chamber on Riser Stage.......................................................................................49
Install Camera Lens.................................................................................................................50
11. Appendix B: Software Installation.........................................................................................51
12. Appendix C: Install Load Cells / Perform Camera and Gooseneck Alignment ......................57
Attach the Load Cells to the Goosenecks ................................................................................57
Attach the Load Cell Brackets to the Actuators........................................................................61
Attach the Goosenecks to the Actuators..................................................................................62

BioTester User Manual
Stow Cables and Plug in the Load Cells ..................................................................................65
Attach the Temperature Probe.................................................................................................67
Attach the Knob to the Pull Rod...............................................................................................67
Turn on the BioTester..............................................................................................................67
Launch the LabJoy Software....................................................................................................68
Perform Camera Alignment......................................................................................................71
Perform Vertical Gooseneck Alignment....................................................................................74
Perform Transverse and Axial Gooseneck Alignment..............................................................76
Install Actuator Covers.............................................................................................................80
Perform Load Cell Calibration..................................................................................................80
13. Appendix D: Mechanical Grip Usage....................................................................................81
Installing Grips.........................................................................................................................81
Sample Mounting.....................................................................................................................82
Changing Grip Springs.............................................................................................................84
14. Appendix E: Fixed Focal Length Lens..................................................................................86
Install Camera Lens.................................................................................................................86
Adjusting Camera Position and Image Magnification ...............................................................87
15. Appendix F: Protocol for Tying and Cutting Sutures for Biaxial Testing ................................89

BioTester User Manual
1
1.General Information
The BioTester is a precision test instrument specifically designed for the measurement and
analysis of small biological specimens. The system includes a compact biaxial test station and an
integrated software interface to run and analyze test results. The system is intended for indoor
use only.
Environmental and Electrical Specifications
Electrical Input
100-240VAC, 50-60Hz
Current Rating
2.5 Amp
Environmental Conditions
Maximum Operating Temperature 25ºC
0% - 95% Relative Humidity
Installation Category
Category II
Pollution Degree
Degree 2
Maximum Altitude
2000m
Data Connections
1 –USB 3.0 for camera/PC communication
1 –USB for controller/PC communication
System Assembly
The BioTester unit requires some assembly. See Appendix A and C.
Power Connections
Connect power supply into properly grounded 100-240VAC power source to ensure safe
operation. Ensure that the power cord is easily accessible at all times. The use of an
Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) is recommended to protect against data loss.
The mains supply voltage fluctuations should not exceed 10% of the nominal supply voltage.
Safety Warnings
This equipment must be used in accordance with the procedures outlined in this manual to
prevent injury and/or damage.
System Alert
The plastic covers must remain on this unit at all times to prevent injury and/or damage.
This equipment must not be disassembled by the user or modified in any way.
Approvals and Certification
This product conforms to EN61010-1:2001 and EN61326-1.

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Manual Operating Controls
There are a few manual controls on the unit. The camera housing contains two adjustment knobs
that are used for fine adjustment of the horizontal camera position, and the camera lens has
focus, zoom, and iris rings which can be set by the user.
BioTester Tip: Setting Camera Controls
The camera housing knobs are used to ensure that the specimen is centered in the field
of view. The iris is usually left 100% open; the brightness of the images is better
adjusted by changing the camera gain and exposure in the software settings.
There are two switches on the front of the unit, one for powering the controller and the LED
lighting, and the second for powering the heating element.
The front of the unit also contains a pull rod which is used to raise and lower the specimen stage
and fluid chamber. This rod is spring-loaded so that the chamber can be held at any height. To
raise or lower the stage, lift the rod and then pull or push.
Software
LabJoy software is included and is required to run the BioTester. 2 x USB ports are required for
data connections. Windows 7 or higher is required to run LabJoy.
General Maintenance
Clean the system as needed with mild soap and water or alcohol based cleaning solutions.
BioTester Tip: Removing the fluid chamber
The fluid chamber can be removed by resetting (fully retracting) the actuators followed
by carefully lifting and twisting the chamber. This is best accomplished when the
chamber is emptied (a large syringe works well).

BioTester User Manual
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2.Testing Terminology
The BioTester is designed to apply biaxial forces to soft tissue specimens (deforms by more than
1% in vivo) with an in-plane dimension of 3 - 15 mm. This includes biological material such as eye
tissue, heart valves, pericardium, joint capsules, large blood vessels, scaffolds, and polymers.
Multiphase Test Cycles
In order to properly characterize and test a specimen, it is often necessary to load it to different
degrees and at different rates. There are three main reasons for doing this:
Preconditioning - The goal of preconditioning is to restore a specimen to its physiological or
in vivo state. During the process of specimen storage and preparation, a specimen may
swell, dry out, have its material fibers realign, or its molecules reorganize. It may take multiple
preconditioning cycles for a specimen to be restored to its natural state.
Reproducing Physiological Conditions During Testing - By applying various loads and
load rates, natural expansion and contraction of a specimen can be reproduced (for example,
the pulse pressure in an organ). In as much as the physiological conditions can be recreated,
the specimen can be tested in a more realistic state.
Varying Test Conditions - Variable loads and rates allow you to create a variety of test
profiles to best study your specimen.

BioTester User Manual
4
Phases, Cycles, and Test Sequences
As the following diagram demonstrates, each application and release of load on the specimen is
called a test cycle. The same test cycle can be repeated multiple times to achieve a certain goal
(preconditioning, physiological conditioning, or testing); this is called a test set. Finally, a test
sequence is made up of multiple test sets.
The above example describes the following:
•The entire diagram presents a full test sequence.
•Within that sequence, there are two test sets: the first set applies preconditioning to the
specimen; the second set executes the actual test on the specimen.
•Within the first set (preconditioning), two identical test cycles are implemented to bring
the sample to a satisfactory in vivo state.
•Finally, the second set (testing) is made up of three cycles.

BioTester User Manual
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Test Phases: The Smallest Unit of Testing
The test phase is the smallest unit of the test specification. There are five phases within a cycle.
Each phase serves a specific purpose:
Preloading- Preloads are applied to bring a test
to a well-defined starting point. Because the
dimensions of a specimen may change as a
result of a loading cycle (stretching of fibers,
viscoelastic effects, plastic deformation, or
localized material failure at the attachment
points), the preload adjustment compensates for
any of these changes in specimen geometry.
Stretching - During the stretch phase, a
deformation is applied to the specimen. The
deformation can be specified either in terms of
force applied or displacement achieved.
Holding - The deformation can be held for a given duration. The duration for which it is
held is dependent on the nature of the testing.
Recovering - The recovery phase is the time during which the force being applied to
the specimen is removed. The duration of the recovery time is configurable and
dependent on the nature of the testing.
Resting - Finally, the rest phase is the time between the end of one cycle and the
beginning of the next. Some tests may specify a short recover time, while others may
specify a longer time. The duration is configurable and dependent on the nature of the
testing.
Control Modes
There are two control modes which define the basic approach to a given test: displacement
control and force control:
Under displacement control, the displacement of the specimen is predefined. The
BioTester stretches the specimen until the predefined displacement is achieved. The
force required to achieve the displacement is an output of the test. Several control
functions are available for displacement control.
Under force control, the force applied to the specimen is predefined. The BioTester
stretches the specimen until the predefined force is achieved. The displacement required
to achieve the force is an output of the test. Force control can only be applied as a step
function.