Abstract

Cell cultivation is a promising remedy for damages of organism tissues. Since the experiments with cells in vivo are very complicated, many researchers are directing their efforts toward cultivation of cells in vitro to avoid this complexity. To achieve this goal, bioreactors are necessary to create the proper situation for cultivation of cells. One of the main requirements for such bioreactors is the ability to create stimulation of the cells. In this paper a number of the US patents and application for patents are reviewed with the emphasis on design and actuation methods. The review shows that three different approaches are mostly used for stimulation and actuation of bioreactors: mechanical, hydraulic and electromagnetic. In this article the core ideas of patents are studied and briefly explained by using illustration. At the end of the article, bioreactors which are developed by the authors are introduced.

Keywords: Cell, stimulation, bioreactor, mechanical actuation, hydraulic actuation, electromagnetic actuation, compression loading, stretch loading, shear stress, scaffold, cell culturing, proliferation, tissue, bone, cartilage, nutrition media, in vitro, US patent.