Figure 2. System for producing cyclical mechanical stretch

A: Schematic of a well from the 6 well Flexercell plates. Vacuum force draws the periphery of the well downwards and exerts a biaxial strain on confluent cells above the Flexercell base. B: Pattern of cyclical (1 Hz) mechanical stretch exposed to confluent lamina cribrosa (LC) cells. The stretch profile contains a dicrotic notch that is similar to the waveform in the pulsating central retinal artery. This was maintained for 24 h (86,400 cycles).