Patent ID: 8857275

Claim:
An apparatus for measuring forces a cell exerts on its surroundings comprising: a first platform suspended across a first opening between two walls or anchor points, using first support legs, wherein the first platform is able to move horizontally in a first plane of the first opening; and a first piezoresistive strain sensor integrated into the first platform through at least two of the first support legs, wherein the first piezoresistive strain sensor is configured to measure strain induced in the first support legs when the first platform moves horizontally thereby measuring displacement of the first platform a second platform suspended across the first opening using second support legs, wherein the second platform is able to move horizontally in the first plane of the first opening; and a second piezoresistive strain sensor integrated into the second platform, wherein the second piezresistive strain sensor is configured to measure strain induced in the second support legs when the second platform moves horizontally thereby measuring displacement of the second platform; wherein: the first platform and the second platform are positioned within a threshold distance of each other; a cell is placed on each platform and an adherens junction is formed in a gap between the first platform and the second platform; and a change in force exerted between the first cell and the second cell is measured as a displacement by the first piezoresistive strain sensor and the second piezoresistive strain sensor.