In the field of tissue engineering, a bioreactor is a valuable instrument that mimics a physiological environment to maintain live tissues in vitro. Although bioreactors are conceptually relatively simple, the vast majority of current bioreactors (commercial and custom-built) are not fully adapted to current research needs. Designing the optimal bioreactor requires a very thorough approach to a series of steps in the product development process. These four basic steps are: (1) identifying the needs and technical requirements, (2) defining and evaluating the related concepts, (3) designing the apparatus and drawing up the blueprints, and (4) building and validating the apparatus. Furthermore, the design has to be adapted to the specific purpose of the research and how the tissues will be used. In the emerging field of bioreactor research, roadmaps are needed to assist tissue engineering researchers as they embark on this process. The necessary multidisciplinary expertise covering micromechanical design, mechatronics, viscoelasticity, tissue culture, and human ergonomics is not necessarily available to all research teams. Therefore, the challenge of adapting and conducting each step in the product development process is significant. This paper details our proposal for a roadmap to accompany researchers in identifying their needs and technical requirements: step one in the product development process. Our roadmap proposal is set up in two phases. Phase 1 is based on the analysis of the bioreactor use cycle and phase 2 is based on the analysis of one specific and critical step in the use cycle: conducting stimulation and characterization protocols with the bioreactor. A meticulous approach to these two phases minimizes the risk of forgetting important requirements and strengthens the probability of acquiring or designing a high performance bioreactor.
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e-mail: Mathieu.Viens@USherbrooke.ca
e-mail: Guillaume.A.Chauvette@USherbrooke.ca
e-mail: Eve.Langelier@USherbrooke.ca
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December 2011
Research Papers
A Roadmap for the Design of Bioreactors in Mechanobiological Research and Engineering of Load-Bearing Tissues
Mathieu Viens,
Mathieu Viens
PERSEUS Research Group Department of Mechanical Engineering
e-mail: Mathieu.Viens@USherbrooke.ca
Université de Sherbrooke 2500 boul Université
, Sherbrooke Québec J1K 2R1, Canada
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Guillaume Chauvette,
Guillaume Chauvette
PERSEUS Research Group Department of Mechanical Engineering
e-mail: Guillaume.A.Chauvette@USherbrooke.ca
Université de Sherbrooke 2500 boul Université
, Sherbrooke Québec J1K 2R1, Canada
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Ève Langelier
Ève Langelier
PERSEUS Research Group Department of Mechanical Engineering
e-mail: Eve.Langelier@USherbrooke.ca
Université de Sherbrooke 2500 boul Université
, Sherbrooke Québec J1K 2R1, Canada
Search for other works by this author on:
Mathieu Viens
PERSEUS Research Group Department of Mechanical Engineering
Université de Sherbrooke 2500 boul Université
, Sherbrooke Québec J1K 2R1, Canada
e-mail: Mathieu.Viens@USherbrooke.ca
Guillaume Chauvette
PERSEUS Research Group Department of Mechanical Engineering
Université de Sherbrooke 2500 boul Université
, Sherbrooke Québec J1K 2R1, Canada
e-mail: Guillaume.A.Chauvette@USherbrooke.ca
Ève Langelier
PERSEUS Research Group Department of Mechanical Engineering
Université de Sherbrooke 2500 boul Université
, Sherbrooke Québec J1K 2R1, Canada
e-mail: Eve.Langelier@USherbrooke.ca
J. Med. Devices. Dec 2011, 5(4): 041006 (11 pages)
Published Online: November 15, 2011
Article history
Received:
October 21, 2010
Revised:
October 7, 2011
Online:
November 15, 2011
Published:
November 15, 2011
Citation
Viens, M., Chauvette, G., and Langelier, È. (November 15, 2011). "A Roadmap for the Design of Bioreactors in Mechanobiological Research and Engineering of Load-Bearing Tissues." ASME. J. Med. Devices. December 2011; 5(4): 041006. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4005319
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