BioDent is a product family of Reference Point Indenters for bench-top laboratory testing of tissue material properties.
Introducing BioDent Hfc
BioDent Hfc is the first of many products in the BioDent product family. The H stands for “hard tissue” because the BioDent H is optimized for testing hard/calcified tissues. The fc stands for “force control” which means the user selects a force to indent the tissue with and the instrument measures the distance the probe travels into the tissue. BioDent Hfc is widely used for bone applications, with applications in teeth starting to evolve.
Why Do I Need BioDent Hfc?
It is generally understood that bone material properties are an important contributor to whole bone strength. However, no life science tools have been available to easily measure these properties in the laboratory – often causing the data to be left out of research. Also, no tools have previously been available to measure the bone material properties in patients – resulting in lack of understanding of their true importance in fracture risk assessment. BioDent Hfc, the first product based on a new technology called Reference Point Indentation, enables laboratory researchers to easily measure the contribution of material properties to whole bone strength.
How Does BioDent Hfc Work on Bone?
BioDent uses a microscopic wire Test Probe to push on the bone material at the micrometer level. The Test Probe is sheathed inside a small cannula Reference Probe which establishes a reference point on the sample. The distance the Test Probe moves, relative to the Reference Probe, tells you how much the bone material “gives way” when pushed on at controlled force. In result, BioDent Hfc tells you about how good (or bad) the bone material is, or the contribution of material properties to whole bone strength.
What Do BioDent Hfc Outputs Measure?
Bone is comprised of many material components at both the micro and nano length scale. BioDent probes at the micro length scale in order to provide a robust measure across all material components in the bone. In short, BioDent Hfc measures the contribution of material properties to whole bone strength.
How Do BioDent Hfc Measures Relate to Bone Mass or Bone Structure?
Whole bone strength is determined by three measures: bone mass, bone structure, and bone material properties. BioDent Hfc is a measure of bone material properties, an independent contributor to whole bone strength.
•Bone mass, commonly referred to as bone mineral density, tells you how much bone material there is.
•Bone structure, commonly referred to as architecture or geometry, tells you how the bone material is stacked together.
•BioDent Hfc provides a measure of the bone material properties, which tells you how good the bone material is.
How Easy Is it to Use BioDent Hfc?
Like every scientific instrument there is some training needed to use BioDent, however unlike many scientific instruments, no technical background is necessary. Active Life provides all training material with the instrument, sufficient to get a non-technical life scientist up and running in a matter of hours.
What Samples Can I Test with BioDent Hfc?
BioDent Hfc can measure calcified tissues such as bone and teeth. The instrument is designed for both ex vivo and in vivo testing modes. Several ex vivo protocols are available for testing a variety of animals, bones, and research models. In vivo protocols are currently under development at Active Life.
Can BioDent Hfc Measure Soft Tissues / Will Active Life Offer a System that can Measure Soft Tissues?
BioDent Hfc is optimized for testing calcified tissues, so it is not ideal for measuring soft tissues. Active Life is developing a system optimized for soft tissue testing. If you are interested in becoming an early product evaluator, please contact us and tell us what you’re interested in.
