Patent ID: 7410792

Claim:
A bioreactor for conditioning tissue, comprising: (a) a bioreactor chamber, the bioreactor chamber including at least one device for holding tissue; (b) actuation system including at least one primary mover for applying a mechanical conditioning to the tissue; (c) a plurality of sensors including at least one sensor for measuring the applied mechanical conditioning and at least one sensor for measuring a tissue response to the applied mechanical conditioning and at least one sensor for measuring environmental conditions in said bioreactor chamber; (d) a microprocessor control system in communication with the actuation system and plurality of sensors for controlling the applied mechanical conditioning and for monitoring response of the tissue; (e) wherein the microprocessor control system provides real time monitoring and control of conditioning for the tissue within the bioreactor chamber; and (f) wherein the microprocessor control system is able to programmably adjust or alter conditioning parameters for the tissue within the bioreactor chamber including mechanical and environmental conditioning parameters based on variations of the mechanical response and sensed conditions of the tissue and bioreactor conditions as measured by the plurality of sensors using a programmed process, the programmed process incorporating data concerning the tissue within the bioreactor chamber.