Support and resources
Practical help throughout your MyoDish experiments.
SOPs and protocols
Find guidance for tissue preparation, routine culture, chamber care and data handling. We help you choose the right document for your tissue and system version.
Get technical help
Write to support@invitrosys.com. Include your system serial number, software version and a short description of the issue.
For chamber or sensor questions, please also include their version or a photo. For recording issues, a representative data file and the stimulation protocol help us investigate.
Software and documentation
Documents released for MyoDish users are available in the password-protected customer area. Your login details are provided with your system or on request. For files that match a specific system version, contact us.
- Control software and data export toolsRequest the version for your system
- MyoDish operating manualAvailable to users on request
- Stimulation protocols and schedule documentationGuidance for your experiment
- Essential Medium Heater, instructions for usePDF, 1.1 MB
- Customer areaManuals, software and protocols for users (login)
Common questions
What does one MyoDish platform include?
A platform accommodates eight separate culture chambers. Each chamber holds its own tissue preparation and medium, with an individual force signal. We can help you plan the number of platforms and the necessary laboratory equipment.
What do I need in my lab?
A vibratome, a CO2 incubator with an inner width of at least about 40 cm, a Windows computer with a powered USB hub, tissue adhesive and culture medium. See What you need in your lab.
Which species and tissues have been used?
Human ventricular and atrial slices, human atrial trabeculae, and ventricular tissue from rat, mouse, rabbit, pig, sheep and horse. Optimal cutting, loading and stimulation conditions differ between species and cardiac regions.
How long can tissue be cultured?
Human myocardial slices often remain contractile for many weeks; up to four months have been reported (Fischer et al., 2019). Many large-animal preparations are typically stable for about one to two weeks, and mouse slices are more demanding. Tissue source, preparation quality and culture conditions determine the achievable duration.
Which chamber variant should I choose?
The elastic load should match the size and strength of the preparation: very soft for engineered heart tissue, soft for atrial and right-ventricular tissue and for rodent left ventricle, standard for human and larger-animal left ventricle, and hard for nearly isometric conditions. See the chamber variants.
What preload is typical?
About 1 mN is a common starting value for adult myocardial slices; roughly 0.5–1.5 mN is used depending on tissue size, region and stiffness. Smaller or fragile preparations may need less.
How are slices stimulated?
MyoDish uses current-controlled, biphasic, charge-balanced field stimulation through graphite electrodes. A common starting point for adult slices is about 50 mA with 3 ms phases at 0.5–1 Hz. Conditions for charge-balanced stimulation are described by Sun et al., 2025.
Does the system automatically replace the medium?
No. Gentle rocking moves medium around the tissue. Medium changes are carried out separately, for example by replacing 0.8 ml of the about 2.4 ml with 0.9 ml of fresh, warmed medium every 24 hours.
Can several systems run on one computer?
Yes. Up to three systems are routinely operated from one Windows computer through a powered USB hub.
Can I measure on a microscope or combine force with calcium imaging?
A single chamber can be operated outside the incubator with the External Controller Unit and a Microscope Adapter. Optical mapping or Ca2+ imaging needs additional equipment; ECG or electrogram electrodes are not part of the standard system.
How is the signal converted into force?
Each chamber is supplied with a calibration value in arbitrary units per mN. Force is the change in sensor units divided by this value. The MyoDish Tester checks and updates the calibration.
Can I use engineered heart tissue or atrial preparations?
Published applications include engineered heart tissue and atrial myocardium. Suitable attachments and chamber configurations depend on your tissue format. Please contact us before planning the setup.
How do I order replacement chambers or electrodes?
Send us your system model and the chamber and sensor versions, or clear photos. This helps us check compatibility and supply the appropriate parts.
Email updates
Would you like to hear about software updates and new resources? Send us a request from the address you want to use. You can also contact us to stop receiving updates.
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Alternatively, write directly to sales@invitrosys.com.