ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a synopsis of instrumentation issues related to bioreactor system design, including thematic bioreactor categories, mechanical/electrical actuation, sensor-based monitoring, and environmental control. It addresses those general areas of need, with realization that a specific bioreactor may deviate considerably from the base bioreactor designs, instrumentation, and control options. The chapter addresses tissue-stimulation role of bioreactor instrumentation as represented by mechanical actuation and electrical/electromagnetic excitation. It presents an aggregate component architecture that lays out superset of these system components, or building blocks, with goal of identifying the sensing and control needs that are relevant within this overall design space. The chapter provides the types of environmental and tissue parameters that are tracked with bioreactor-based sensors. The need for bioreactors that support the development of more complicated 3D tissue structures, possibly with layered or encapsulated tissues, coupled with the need for cell and tissue production at a much greater scale in order to create tissue constructs that are clinically useful.
