Incorporation of novel MEMS tactile sensors into tissue engineered skin

Tactile sensation is important for the performance of daily tasks and prevention of injury. Full thickness wounds of greater than 4cm diameter will not spontaneously heal. Tissue engineering can be used to replace the lost skin, but this skin will often fail to be reinnervated. This results in loss of tactile sensations. Here we have developed a novel, silicon based MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) sensor array that is capable of detecting tactile experiences of the tissue engineered skin. Tissue engineered skin with tactile experiences can also be useful in the replacement of animal testing in the pharmaceutical industry.