A load cell , comprising: a body assembly comprising: a body element defining a measurement chamber having a closed end and an opposite open end, wherein the body element comprises a protruding member positioned within the measurement chamber and extending from the closed end toward the open end; and a base assembly secured at the open end of the body element , wherein the base assembly comprises: a base element ; and a sense die attached to the base element and aligned with the protruding member , wherein a top surface of the sense die supports a Wheatstone bridge circuit configured to generate a signal based at least in part on a force exerted by the protruding member on the sense die ; and characterized in that : the protruding member causes a stress in the sense die , and the stress in the sense die is correlated to a force; and the load cell is prestressed by the protruding member exerting a force on the sense die in a zero force condition, and the load cell is electronically calibrated to correlate a decrease in stress within the sense die to a pull force exerted on the load cell , and an increase in stress within the sense die to a push force exerted on the load cell . a body assembly comprising: a body element defining a measurement chamber having a closed end and an opposite open end, wherein the body element comprises a protruding member positioned within the measurement chamber and extending from the closed end toward the open end; and a base assembly secured at the open end of the body element , wherein the base assembly comprises: a base element ; and a sense die attached to the base element and aligned with the protruding member , wherein a top surface of the sense die supports a Wheatstone bridge circuit configured to generate a signal based at least in part on a force exerted by the protruding member on the sense die ; and characterized in that : the protruding member causes a stress in the sense die , and the stress in the sense die is correlated to a force; and the load cell is prestressed by the protruding member exerting a force on the sense die in a zero force condition, and the load cell is electronically calibrated to correlate a decrease in stress within the sense die to a pull force exerted on the load cell , and an increase in stress within the sense die to a push force exerted on the load cell . a base element ; and a sense die attached to the base element and aligned with the protruding member , wherein a top surface of the sense die supports a Wheatstone bridge circuit configured to generate a signal based at least in part on a force exerted by the protruding member on the sense die ; and characterized in that : the protruding member causes a stress in the sense die , and the stress in the sense die is correlated to a force; and the load cell is prestressed by the protruding member exerting a force on the sense die in a zero force condition, and the load cell is electronically calibrated to correlate a decrease in stress within the sense die to a pull force exerted on the load cell , and an increase in stress within the sense die to a push force exerted on the load cell . the protruding member causes a stress in the sense die , and the stress in the sense die is correlated to a force; and the load cell is prestressed by the protruding member exerting a force on the sense die in a zero force condition, and the load cell is electronically calibrated to correlate a decrease in stress within the sense die to a pull force exerted on the load cell , and an increase in stress within the sense die to a push force exerted on the load cell . <EOS>