CAMBRIDGE TECHNOLOGY INC. Series 400 - Force Transducer System

Circa Late 1990's to Early 2000's (ESTIMATED)

A high-precision laboratory instrument primarily used for physiological and materials science research. It is used in conjunction with a cable connected Sensor Head (not included)—a precision transducer designed to convert small mechanical forces into electrical signals.

Use Cases:

• Muscle Physiology: Measuring contractile properties of skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle fibers.

• Materials Science: Testing mechanical properties like stiffness, surface adhesion, and deformation in hydrogels, nanowires, and spider silk.

• Medical Research: Characterizing muscle loss in mouse tumor models for cancer research.

• Robotics & Biomechanics: Providing high-precision feedback for delicate movements or monitoring structural stress.

Historical Significance:

This system was a pioneer in high-resolution, low-compliance force measurement. It utilized a unique variable displacement capacitor design based on fused silica beams, offering vastly superior thermal stability and resolution (down to 10 nanonewtons) compared to standard semi-conductor strain gauges of its time.

(H-10cm x W-22cm x D-22.5cm)