Section 2: Use of the Cell Strain Instrument
Preparation of the Cell Strain Instrument
Before using the Stretch Unit, sterilize the unit
—
especially the chamber mounting area
—
using ethanol-immersed swabs.
System Operation
Operation of the Cell Strain Instrument is very straight forward and intuitive. Below are the
basic steps to use this instrument.
The step motor that moves the chamber brackets is
made to
operate 15 minutes continuously. It is not recommended to extend the use
of the motor
beyond 15 continuous minutes because of possibly overheating and
burning out the
motor.
►
Set-up the Stretch Unit and Control Unit
1. Connect the Stretch Unit to the Control Unit by the Motor Cable. This supplies electricity
to the Stretch Unit and enables the two units to communicate.
2. Connect the Control Unit to the power supply (240 V) by the Power Cable.
3. Turn on the Power Switch to start operation. The Power Switch will light up and the Stop
Button will flash.
BEWARE:
The Fan that cools the step motor will be rotating. Do not obstruct the fan
blades with any objects.
4. If the electrical system is operating properly, turn OFF the Power Switch.
5. Make sure that the microscope is level on the work bench and the Stretch Unit is level
on the microscope stage.
►
Start Cell Stretching
1. Make sure that the electrical/communications for the Stretch and Control Units are
properly set up.
2. Load the chambers into the Stretch Unit by inserting the pins on the bracket into the four
corners of the chamber.
The Power Switch must be OFF to freely rotate the
Chamber
Length Adjustment Knob.
3. Rotate the Chamber Length Adjusting Knob counterclockwise to create tension on the
chamber. The membrane at the bottom of the chamber should be taut.
4. Turn on the Power Switch.
