User-friendly Interface for Electrical Cell-substrate Impedance Spectroscopy System

Abstract

We propose an electrical cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) system consisting of a low-cost compact analog front end (AFE) and a web-based user interface. Adopting a late-model oscilloscope reduces the cost and size of the AFE. The web server was installed on an embedded computer to control the AFE and user interactions. The proposed system frees up the space normally needed for a display and keyboard/mouse in existing systems, which is an advantage in crowded laboratories, and it also prevents malfunctions due to inadvertent user input. In addition, the system control and experimental status can be monitored via smart devices such as smartphones and tablets anytime and anywhere. The accuracy and precision of the impedance measurement, which is the basic function of the ECIS system, are verified through experiments. Biomedical engineers using the proposed system report benefits due to the saving of laboratory space, the reduced probability of malfunction, the potential to monitor the experiment anytime and anywhere, and the ability to share experimental results with remote colleagues.