Sorvall X4R Pro Centrifuge (Thermo Scientific)
Freeze Drying System (4.5 Liter Ice Capacity, Labconco)
This is a lyophilization tool that can freeze material solutions, then reduce surrounding pressure and add heat to allow the frozen solvents (such as water) in the material to sublime from the solid phase to gas. This system is necessary for several steps in the scaffold fabrication process, including (1) scaffold fabrication (in some cases), (2) preparation of hydrogels and microspheres as scaffold components, and (3) storage of tissue scaffolds in a way that retains the activity of growth promoting molecules. (Awarded by CFI)
Clean Bench (ESM, Envirco)
(https://www.envirco-hvac.com/products/index.aspx?prod=CleanBench_ESM) A work bench or similar enclosure that has its own supply of HEPA-filtered air. This Bench is able to provide a sterile environment for preparing biomaterial solutions and cell cultures in scaffold fabrication as well as other related activities. (Awarded by CFI)
Piezo Actuators and Their Controllers (P-753 and P-558, Physik Instrumente, Germany)
(https://www.physikinstrumente.com/en/) These actuators the capacity to produce motion with sub-nanometre accuracy, and constitutes an invaluable part of our laboratory infrastructure to carry out research in the areas of nano-positioning and nano-manipulation. Their features includes (1) the PI P753 actuator can be operated either horizontally or vertically, which is essential for our research; (2) the PI P753 and P-558 actuators have the comprehensive performance most appropriate to our research in terms of resolution, load capacity, and resonant frequency; and (3) the integration of parallel structure, capacitive sensors, and flexure guidance in the PI P753 and P-558 actuators provide us with compact structure, accurate motion generated, and frictionless guidance. (Awarded by NSERC)
Miniature Double Plane Mirror Interferometer (SP 2000-D, SIOS)
A tool for simultaneous linear and angular displacement measurements. It is an integrated system of an interferometer, a device for temperature compensation, a device for pressure compensation, an adjusting tilting device for sensor head, and INFAS control software and a laptop computer for data acquisition and analysis. This Interferometer possesses key features (1) simultaneously make non-contact linear and angular displacement measurements, (2) measure linear displacement of a range of 2000 mm with a resolution of 1 nm, and (3) measure angular displacement of a range of ±2 arcmin with a resolution of 0.01 arcsec. (Awarded by NSERC)
Precision Fluid Dispensing System (Asymtek/Nordson, USA)
A system that can dispense fluid in a controlled manner by employing different dispensing approaches including time-pressure, rotary screw, and positive-displacement. This System features the PC-based controller, capability of dispensing fluid by means of different valves and pumps, accurate X-Y-Z positioning system with a repeatability of ±025 mm, full temperature control of fluid delivery, and configurable for single- and dual-valve fluid dispensing. This system can be used in scaffold fabrication and/or electronics packaging. (Awarded by CFI)
Profile-Measurement System (CyberScan Vantage 50, Cyber Technologies, Germany)
A laser-based non-contact inspection system for measuring the object profiles. The sensor used in this system integrates a laser emitter and a laser receiver. As the sensor is controlled to move over the object being measured, the system collects a series of height measurements with a resolution of 1 mm, and then creates a profile of the object. The System is able to measure the profile of fluid/bioink formed on targets/printing stages. (Awarded by CFI)
Microbalance (CP-2P microbalance, Sartorius AG, Germany)
Used to measure the weight. The key features of this microbalance include a poly-range weighing capacity of 0.5/1/2 g with the corresponding repeatability of 0.001/0.002/0.003 mg, respectively. (Awarded by CFI)