Direct measurement of contraction force in human cardiac tissue model using piezoelectric cantilever sensor technique

A proof-of-concept method for measuring cardiac tissue contraction force using an in-house-developed piezoelectric cantilever sensor system is demonstrated. Contracting forces of 7.2-16.6 mu N (n = 5) were measured from a human cardiac tissue construct. Beating cardiac tissue constructs were monitored in-situ under a microscope during the contraction force measurements. Development of the measurement method allows very low forces such as the ones that appear in biological small scale systems to be determined.