Directional acceleration vector-driven displacement of fluids (DAVD-DOF)

Abstract

Centrifugal analyzer and method for staining biological or non-biological samples in microgravity, wherein the method utilizes an increase in weight of a fluid sample as a function of g-load, to overcome cohesive and frictional forces from preventing its movement in a preselected direction. Apparatus is characterized by plural specimen reservoirs and channels in a slide, each channel being of differing cross-section, wherein respective samples are selectively dispensed, from the reservoirs in response to an imposed g-factor, precedent to sample staining. Within the method, one thus employs microscope slides which define channels, each being of a differing cross-section dimension relative to others. In combination therewith, centrifugal slide mounting apparatus controllably imposes g-vectors of differing magnitudes within a defined structure of the centrifuge such as a chip array.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0007] In the past, the inventors herein have patented a device for the staining of biological samples in microgravity aboard a spacecraft, known as the centrifuge operated slide stainer. This device and technology was developed in response to the need for real-time analysis of crew member blood samples and microbiological monitoring of samples obtained from the environmental systems of a spacecraft. That method and associated apparatus, hereinafter COSS, appear in U.S. Pat. No. 6,008,009, dated Dec. 28, 1999, entitled Centrifuge-Operated Specimen Staining Method and Apparatus, inventors Mark S. F. Clarke and Daniel L. Feeback. Further study of the need for analysis of biological samples during space flight suggested that a greater range of sample types and staining protocols would have to be accommodated by any staining technology selected for flight. This was due not only for medical operations reasons and environmental monitoring, but also for the anticipated increased requirement for analysis of biological samples obtained from science experiments conducted aboard the established International Space Station. In order to accommodate such an increase in demand, the possibility of miniaturizing the COSS technology was investigated so that a greater range of samples and staining protocols could be accommodated with no, or less, impact on crew time, solid waste production and upmass than that of the aforesaid technology. The need for real-time analysis of biological samples during space flight is exemplified by the requirement for a differential white cell count DWCC, a critical medical diagnostic tool which can be used to distinguish between various conditions that induce alterations in the total number and type of white blood cells produced by the human body. For example, a DWCC can be used to distinguish between bacterial or viral infections, in the differential diagnosis of an allergic reaction or to detect the presence of myeloproliferative disorders or leukemia. Microgravity exposure during space flight results in hemodynamic changes in crew members, which in turn impacts the production of white blood cells. Heretofore, no data are available to establish the “normal baseline” for white blood cell production in microgravity. Without first knowing the extent to which microgravity exposure impacts white blood cell production, or secondly the proper “microgravity baseline” for a normal healthy crew member in space, it is quite possible that a bacterial or viral infection may be overlooked or misdiagnosed, or that a potentially much more serious problem, such as leukemia, may be attributed to a bacterial or viral infection in a particular crew member. In addition, the requirement for microbiological screening of both medical and environmental samples during space flight, which can only be accomplished by utilizing specific staining techniques for microbe identification, is a second example of the need for real-time analysis capabilities using standard staining techniques on-orbit. At present, it is impossible to perform a DWCC while aboard a space craft. Whole blood smears have been produced in microgravity, but as yet it has remained impossible to perform a DWCC without returning the blood smear to Earth. Due to the limited life span of such smears, it is impossible to make a definitive statement with regard to the effect of microgravity exposure upon white blood cell profiles based on such samples. Until real-time performance and analysis of a DWCC can be achieved aboard the space craft, critical crew health information thus remains unobtainable.

[0008] In a terrestrial setting, a differential white cell count is obtained by preparing a blood smear on a glass slide, fixing the cells in the smear to the surface of the slide, staining the cells with a histochemical stain followed by washing the slide in a clean buffer solution prior to viewing under the microscope where a “differential” white blood cell count is made by morphological criteria. The protocol outlined above is a simple and universally used technique to perform a DWCC. However, this technique requires the use of liquid buffer solutions, including fixatives and dye solutions. While this technique is performed easily on Earth, the problems associated with liquid handling in microgravity make such a task nearly impossible. Past attempts at solving this problem have included several “cell stainers” which were tested by NASA or its contractor personnel but have since proved unsuitable for use in microgravity. The first attempt was a slide stainer which flew aboard Sky Lab. This device proved very cumbersome, required large volumes of buffer solutions and had limited use due to precipitate formation in the staining solutions which blocked the intricate tubing arrangement required to apply the staining solutions to the blood smear. A second attempt was based upon an airtight chamber design which contained a blood smear slide, into which buffer solutions and/or staining solutions were introduced using a vacuum system. System operation relied upon a series of one-way and two-way valves in order to achieve an efficient vacuum into which the staining solutions were introduced by hypodermic syringe. The original technology used a hand-held squeeze bulb to create the vacuum which proved inadequate. A later version incorporated mechanical pumps to provide both vacuum production and syringe emptying. The hand-operated version of this technology, although shown to work on the ground and which passed initial testing aboard the KC-135 parabolic aircraft, did not fulfill its potential and has since been shelved as a viable solution to slide staining on-orbit, not least because of its requirement for substantial crew interaction and crew time.

THE PRIOR ART

[0009]

INVENTOR	PAT. NO.	DATE	TITLE
R. Hughes et al.	3,352,280	1967	Centrifugal Apparatus For Slide
			Staining
van Duijn	4,192,250	1980	Valve-Centrifuge
Peterson et al.	4,225,558	1980	Fluid sample test apparatus and
			fluid sample cell for use therein
Eberle	4,612,873	1986	Centrifuge chamber for
			cytodiagnostic investigation of
			epithelial cells contained in a
			sample
Molina et al.	Article*	1990	Applied Microbiology Gram
			Staining Apparatus
Kopf-Sill	5,160,702	1992	Analyzer with improved rotor
			structure
Nilsson et al.	5,286,454	1994	Cuvette
Hayes	5,589,400	1996	Method of distributing material
			onto a microscope slide of a
			large cytology sample chamber
Kelley et al.	5,679,154	1997	Cytology Centrifuge Apparatus
Clarke et al.	6,008,009	1999	Centrifuge-operated specimen
			staining method and apparatus
*Applied and Environmental Microbiology, March 1990, p 601-606

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0010] In the present technology, termed Directional Acceleration Vector-Driven Displacement of Fluids DAVD-DOF the same end point, namely sequential filling and emptying of a staining chamber, is achieved using a network of reservoirs and connecting tubes created on a single slide. However, unlike the earlier COSS technology, fluid displacement is achieved by utilizing the weight of the fluid itself, rather than a weighted plunger, to force the fluid through a network of channels between fluid reservoirs. Selective emptying of separate fluid reservoirs is achieved by altering the cross-sectional area of the channel which connects the reservoirs. As cross-sectional area of the channel decreases, the g-force required to bring about fluid displacement through the channel is increased. This approach reduces the overall size of the equipment required to perform a staining protocol in microgravity as well as reducing the amount of staining reagent required from approximately 3 milliliters per reagent in the original COSS technology to less than 20 microliters in the DAVD-DOF technology. As the staining protocol is carried out in a centrifuge at g-levels above 1× g, the problems associated with liquid handling in microgravity, such as air/liquid mixing and bubble formation do not occur. This is due to the fact that a liquid is much heavier than air in the increased acceleration field produced by its rotation in a centrifuge, thereby producing a clear and defined liquid/air interface, an attribute common to both the original COSS and present DAVD-DOF technologies. The technology described herein is thus based upon the concept that fluids, in this case, staining reagents used for biological sample analysis, can be transferred from one reservoir to another through a connecting tube/channel by applying a gravity vector or acceleration vector in the direction of the required movement. This concept is essentially different from the original COSS device, U.S. Pat. No. 6,008,009. That system utilizes a weighted plunger designed to force fluid from one container to another at a constant level of hypergravity maintained in a standard swing-bucket centrifuge. This arrangement allows the sequential filling and emptying of a staining chamber containing a microscope slide on which a biological sample is mounted. In this centrifugal analysis, the principle of invention is stated as optimizing defined dimensional channels of a specimen slide to effect controlled movement of specimen fluids therein by defined g-forces.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] FIG. 1 depicts schematically the G-Force required to displace 50 microliters of fluid down equilength channels of different cross-sectional areas. These values were determined through manual experimentation in which fluid was displaced between two reservoirs connected via a capillary tube (i.e. a hypodermic needles of known cross-sectional area) using a centrifuge to apply hypergravity g-vectors of increasing intensity, in a direction aligned with the length of the capillary tube, to cause fluid displacement. The results of these experiments validate that there exists an inverse relationship between the cross-sectional area of a capillary tube and the g-force which must be applied to cause fluid displacement through the capillary tube. This simple effect, utilizing an increase in weight of a fluid as a function of g-load to overcome the cohesive and frictional forces preventing its movement in a particular direction is the basis of the DAVD-DOF technology, See FIG. 1.

[0012] In the experiments, the results of which are summarized in FIG. 1, a reservoir containing 50 microliters of fluid was connected to a second empty reservoir via a hypodermic needle of known cross-sectional area and placed in a centrifuge, with the full reservoir disposed closest to the central spindle of the centrifuge and the capillary tube aligned perpendicularly to the central spindle (i.e., the direction of maximum g-load generated by centrifugal rotation). At 1× g, the surface tension (i.e. cohesive forces of the liquid itself and the frictional forces between the liquid and walls of the reservoir and the needle) prevented the liquid from passing through the needle as a consequence of its own weight. As the RPM of the centrifuge, and hence g-force placed on the liquid was increased, however, the weight of the liquid also increased. When the weight of the liquid was great enough to overcome the forces preventing it from passing down through the needle in the direction of the acceleration vector (i.e. the surface tension of the liquid and the frictional forces between the fluid and the sides of the tube), the liquid was displaced from the full reservoir, through the needle, to the second reservoir. By varying both the internal diameter of the needle and the revolutions per minute (RPM) of the centrifuge and hence g-force on the constant volume of liquid, in this case 50 microliters, the inverse relationship between the cross-sectional area of a capillary tube and the g-force was established. See FIG. 1.

[0013] To test the concept that the DAVD-DOF principle works at the scale envisioned for creating an array of fluid reservoirs and connecting fluid channels on a microscope slide, microchannels and reservoirs were constructed on a commercially available microscope slide coated with a 10 micron thick Teflon® mask, FIGS. 4A and 4B. The Teflon® mask initially formed a series of wells 28 on the surface of the glass slide, FIG. 4A. A 60 micron wide channel 29 was created between the two wells by removing the Teflon® masking material with a razor blade FIG. 4B. An access channel 30 of approximately 1 mm width and a vent channel 31, sixty microns wide, was created in order to load Reservoir 32 with fluid. A similar vent channel 33, sixty microns wide, allows air displacement from Reservoir 34 when fluid is displaced by the DAVD-DOF principle from Reservoir 32. A glass cover-slip was then glued to the surface of the Teflon® mask, to create a device, a typical cross-section of which is presented in FIG. 2D. Using the large access channel 30, reservoir 32 was completely filled with a colored liquid without fluid entering reservoir 34 through the 60 micron thick connecting channel 29. When this slide was then centrifuged at a g-level of approximately 22× g, the colored liquid was displaced from reservoir 32 into reservoir 34 via the connecting 60 micron channel 29.

[0014] In the embodiment represented by FIGS. 4A and 4B, channel 29 connecting reservoir 32 to reservoir 34 is approximately 60 microns across and 10 microns deep. The micron sized dimensions of channel 29 are designed to negate the effects of capillary action. At this scale (i.e. the micro-fluidic scale, in which the cross-sectional area of the channel is less than 1000 square microns), the surface tension of the fluid in reservoir 32 at the entrance to channel 29 is the over-riding force, rather than the capillary action forces generated by channel 29. Hence, fluid does not enter channel 29 until additional forces are applied to overcome this surface tension. At higher g-values, however, the weight of the fluid applied in a particular direction overcomes the surface tension effect at the entrance of the channel 29, allowing fluid to enter channel 29 and to flow to reservoir 34. Access channel 30, by contrast, is approximately 1 mm in width and 10 microns deep. Such larger dimensions facilitate the filling of reservoir 32, in part, by capillary action.

[0015] FIGS. 2A and 2E are diagrammatic representations of an embodiment a staining apparatus created on a glass microscope slide utilizing the DAVD-DOF principle. A series of fluid reservoirs connected by channels of different cross-sectional dimensions are created on the surface of a glass microscope slide, FIG. 2A. This pattern of inter-connected reservoirs and corresponding channels can be created on the slide by either etching of the surface of the glass slide itself and bonding a layer of glass to the etched surface of the slide, FIG. 2B, cutting a mask out of a uniformed thickness sheet of inert material, such as Teflon®, which is then sandwiched and bonded between two layers of glass, FIG. 2C, or etching away of an inert material, such as Teflon® or polycarbonate, previously applied and bonded to the surface of the glass slide as a uniform thickness layer followed by bonding a glass layer to the etched surface, FIG. 2D. Alternatively, the same arrangement can be accomplished by either excimer laser-cutting or photolithography of a predetermined pattern of reservoirs and connecting tubes to create a sheet of inert material of uniform thickness which is then sandwiched and bonded between two layers of glass, FIG. 2C. In FIG. 2E, glass layers 62 and 64 have been bonded to the etched or lithographed surface(s) of the slide using, for example, UV-activated adhesive or electrostatic bonding, thereby creating a sealed array of fluid reservoirs and connecting tubes of defined dimensions with an open-faced staining reservoir 8. Fluid is then dispensed into the fluid reservoirs using a micro-needle and displacement volumetric pipette via their respective access ports 6, displaced air exiting through their respective air vents 7. The sample, e.g. isolated cells, blood smear or tissue section, is first attached onto one surface of a standard 22 mm square glass cover-slip 66 which is then placed sample side down over the staining chamber. The cover-slip is then attached to the surface of the glass slide with air-activated adhesive, such as methyl acrylate, pre-applied to the surface of the slide surrounding the staining chamber. The adhesive is protected from hardening by a gas-impermeable membrane which is removed immediately prior to placement of the cover-slip. This arrangement is the final step in producing a sealed inter-connected array of fluid reservoirs and connecting tubes of different cross-sectional dimensions on the slide.

[0016] The slide is then placed on a centrifuge consisting of a flat spinning disc as in plan FIG. 3A. Sequential fluid displacement from the reservoirs, in the depicted configuration all reservoirs contain an equal volume of liquid, into the staining chamber is achieved by incrementally increasing the RPM/g-force produced by the spinning disc centrifuge or SDC.

[0017] Where the text and/or figures indicate equal volume of reservoirs and/or equal length of channels, alterations in volumes and/or lengths may be incorporated without derivation from the spirit of this invention.

[0018] Principle of Operation:

[0019] In FIG. 2A, each fluid reservoir 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of slide 15 has an access port 6 through which a known volume of fluid can be dispensed into the reservoir using a micro-volumetric displacement pipette. As discussed previously in relation to FIGS. 4A and 4B , the dimensions of access ports 6 are sufficiently large (e.g., approximately 1 mm wide by 10 microns deep) to facilitate the filling of reservoirs 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, in part, by capillary action. Air displaced from the reservoirs during fluid filling exits via the air vent channels 7. By way of example, a biological sample such as a blood smear or a cell culture is attached to a microscope slide cover-slip, FIG. 2E, and the cover-slip is placed sample-side down, over the top of the staining chamber 8 which has been left uncovered. The cover-slip, with mounted sample downwards, is then bonded to the uncovered area of the etched surface of the slide, as previously described, thereby creating a completely sealed array of reservoirs and connecting channels. When g-force is applied to the slide 15 in the direction indicated in FIG. 2A, fluid tends to move in the direction of the g-vector. As a consequence, fluid will be displaced from the reservoirs 1-5 when the weight of the fluid in each reservoir overcomes the surface tension of the fluid itself and the friction forces between the fluid and the walls of both the reservoir and connecting channels. As G-force increases, sequential emptying of reservoirs 1 through 5 into the staining chamber 8 will occur. For example, if reservoirs 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are filled with equal volumes of fluid, reservoir 1 will empty into the staining chamber at the lowest g-force of any of the reservoirs 1-5 as that connecting channel 9, between the reservoir 1 and the staining chamber 8, has the largest cross-sectional area of the channels 9 through 13. As discussed previously in relation to FIGS. 4A and 4B, channels 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 have cross-sectional area's small enough (i.e., less than 1000 square microns) that liquid movement by capillary action along these channels is prevented by the surface tension of the fluid itself. It is only when a gravitational vector of a high enough g value is orientated along the channel that the surface tension forces at the entrance of the channel are overcome and the liquid is forced through the channel into the reaction chamber.

[0020] This principal prevails hereinafter. As fluid displacement occurs under hypergravity conditions, liquid/air mixing is precluded during fluid displacement, due to the large differential between the weight of the fluid and the weight of the air under such hypergravity conditions which ensures a highly discrete air-liquid interface and prevents the formation of gas bubbles that may otherwise produce air locks in the channels and chamber/reservoirs. Furthermore, each reservoir is equipped with vents that allow air to escape as fluid enters the reservoir. These vents prevent the formation of bubbles and air locks in channels due to increased air pressure in the respective reservoirs. In FIG. 2a, for example, staining chamber 8 is vented by vents 7′ and the waste reagent reservoir 17 is vented by vents 7″. When the g-force required to empty the reservoir 1 is achieved, the centrifuge is slowed to a minimal revolution rate for a pre-determined time in order for the fluid to be in contact with the sample in the staining chamber 8. After this pre-determined period of time, micro-valve 14, supplied with electric current via electric contacts 18 on the side of the slide 15, is opened in channel 16 and the centrifuge is spun up again to a g-force below that required for emptying of reservoir 1. The large cross-sectional area of exhaust channel 16, at least 5 times that of channel 9, ensures a rapid emptying of the staining chamber 8 into the waste reagent reservoir 17 at a relatively low g-force compared to that required for emptying of the fluid reservoirs 1-5. The micro-valve 14 is then closed and g-force is increased until emptying of reservoir 2 is achieved, at which time the g-force is again lowered to a nominal value to allow the fluid to react with the sample in staining chamber 8. After a pre-determined period of time the g-force is again increased; the micro-valve 14 is again opened to allow emptying of staining chamber 8. This cycle is repeated until all five reservoirs have been sequentially emptied into the staining chamber 8 and then collected in the waste reagent reservoir 17, leaving an appropriately treated sample in the staining chamber. As both sides of the staining chamber are made from optical quality glass the sample, contained in its staining chamber can be directly viewed under the microscope as would be a normal microscope slide.

[0021] FIG. 3A and 3B are diagrammatic representations of a first embodiment of the spinning disc centrifuge for use with the DAVD-DOF slide depicted in the schematics of FIGS. 2A-E.

[0022] Controllable g-force in a single plane is achieved by using a rotating disc on which the slide 23 is positioned so that the fluid reservoirs on the slide are disposed closest to the central spindle 21 of the centrifuge FIG. 3A. A microprocessor 19 and a power supply 20 for micro-valve operation are housed within the spinning disc nearest the central spindle 21 to reduce any effects of hypergravity upon the electronic components. Power is supplied to microprocessor 19 from power supply 20 via solid state electrodes 26. Power, required for opening and closing of the micro-valve on the slide is supplied to the micro-valve via solid state electrodes 22 emanating from the microprocessor 19. Slides 23 are immobilized in the centrifuge by recesses 24 in the surface of the spinning disc and a restraining disc 25, FIG. 3B, is secured over the central spindle 21, to ensure that the slides are not displaced during centrifugation and that the direction of the g-vector is constant with regard to orientation of the slide. Centrifuge RPM, and hence g-force, is controlled by the microprocessor unit 19 that controls a variable speed electric motor, allowing accurate modulation of g-force by controlling motor RPM. In this fashion, the micro-processor unit communicates with the micro-valve on the slide and the centrifuge motor in order to control the required changes in g-force at the appropriate times during the staining protocol i.e. low rpm when the micro-valve is opened in order to empty the staining chamber; incremental increases in g-force for sequential fluid reservoir emptying when the micro-valve is closed. Although any micro-valve device could be used, one viable micro-valve that has been found suitable operates on the principle of a micro-force array which expands into the connecting channel when an electric current is applied to the array, thereby blocking the channel.

[0023] FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrammatic representations of a second embodiment of the spinning disc centrifuge for use with a silicon wafer micro-array which utilizes the present DAVD-DOF principle. FIGS. 5A and 5B are described below.

[0024] A DAVD-DOF microarray 35 is secured in place by clamps 35 a attached to a ¾ volume spheroid 36. This spheroid is free to rotate 180 degrees in the vertical plane about a supporting axle 37 attached to a rotating cog-ring 38. Cog ring 38 is free to rotate 360 degrees in the horizontal plane. This composite structure is supported in a spinning disc centrifuge 47 which rotates about central spindle 45 drive shaft 51 assembly, at a predetermined rate to produce a g-vector of a defined level in the direction indicated by the arrow 46. By altering the orientation of the microarray 35 relative to the direction of the g-vector 46, fluid movement between reservoirs can be achieved in three dimensions by aligning the channel connecting said reservoirs to the direction of the g-vector 46. As shown in FIG. 5A and supporting cutaway FIG. 5C, movement of the spheroid 36 in the vertical plane is achieved by activation of a screw drive 39 engaged to an integral cog 48 located on the supporting axle 37. The screw drive is powered by a power supply 40 located on the surface of the rotating cog ring 38 and orientation in the vertical plane is controlled by a programmable microprocessor 41 also located on the surface of the same rotating cog ring 38. By engaging the screw drive with the integral cog 48 on the supporting axle 37 for a predetermined period of time, the orientation of the microarray in the vertical plane can be accurately controlled in one degree increments. The orientation of the microarray 35 relative to the g-vector 46 in the horizontal plane is controlled by a second drive cog 49 and a freely rotating support cog 50 sandwiched between upper and lower layers of the spinning disc centrifuge 47. The drive cog 49 is powered by a second screw drive 42 also located on the upper surface of the spinning disc centrifuge 47. Rotation of the rotating cog ring 38 through 360 degrees in one degree increments is achieved by engaging the screw drive 42 with the drive cog 49 for a predetermined period of time. See FIG. 5B. The drive cog 49, in turn, is engaged to the rotating cog-ring 38 in which the ¾ spheroid 36, upon which the microarray 35 rests, is supported. The screw drive 42 is activated by a power supply 43 and controlled by a programmable microprocessor 44 located on the surface of the spinning disc centrifuge 47. By using a predetermined combination of independent rotational movements of both the rotating cog-ring 38 and the ¾ spheroid 36, the microarray 35 can be placed in any orientation relative to the g-vector 46 in three dimensions. This ability allows connecting channels between fluid reservoirs created on the surface of the microarray 35 to be aligned with the g-vector 46 and hence bring about fluid movement in this direction along the channel. The ability to rate the microarray in the vertical plane allows a microarray consisting of multiple layers, see FIG. 6, connected by channels 53 between the layers, to be employed. FIG. 6 presents a cross section of a DAD-DOF microarray, such as those presented in FIGS. 2B, 2C, and 2D, in which a 3-dimensional microarray has been created by sandwiching a 3-dimensional inert layer 54, created using photolithography techniques, between two glass layers 55 using and adhesive bond 56. Fluid movement between layers is achieved by rotating the microarray so that the channel connecting the separate layers is aligned to the direction of the g-vector. This has the advantage of allowing the complete volume of the microarray for purposes of sample processing and/or reagent storage rather than some portion on a single surface of the microarray.

[0025] As previously discussed in relation to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the spinning disc centrifuge can be equipped with a microprocessor to automate control of centrifuge RPMs and to automate actuation of micro-valves upon each of the respective microarray devices. In the embodiment presented in FIG. 5A, the programmable microprocessor 44 can be used to control the 360 degree rotational positioning of the cog-ring and the 360 degree positioning of the ¾ spheroid, in addition to controlling centrifuge RPMs and micro-valve actuation. Communication between microprocessor 44 and the cog ring screw drive 42 could be accomplished by solid state electrodes 60 mounted upon the spinning disc centrifuge 47. Transmitter/receiver 62 communicates with miniature transmitter/receiver 64, mounted upon the cog-ring, and miniature transmitter/receiver 66, mounted upon the ¾ spheroid, to control positioning of the ¾ spheroid, and actuation of microarray micro-valves, respectively. Transmitter/receiver 62 receives power from power supply 63 via solid state electrodes 65 and is controllable connected to microprocessor 44 by solid state electrodes 61 mounted upon the spinning disc centrifuge 47. Although not indicated in FIG. 5A to avoid congestion within the figure, transmitter/receiver 64 receives power from power supply 40 and is controllably connected to microprocessor 41 by solid state electrodes mounted upon the cog-ring 38. Microprocessor 41 controls actuation of screw drive 39 by solid state electrodesmounted upon the cog-ring 38, as well. Furthermore, transmitter/receiver 66 receives power from power supply 68 and controls actuation of microarray micro-valves by solid state electrodes mounted upon the ¾ spheroid 36.

[0026] The DAVD-DOF technology described here is a preferred means of displacing fluids from one location to another without the production of air bubbles in the solution. As such, this approach overcomes one of the central problems associated with any liquid handling in microgravity, namely air/liquid mixing. In addition, this approach allows the displacement of fluid volumes which at 1× g would form only as a liquid droplet due to surface tension effects. The direct advantage of this technology is that it provides a means of biological sample processing, utilizing staining techniques fully validated in terrestrial laboratories, as the staining protocols and liquid reagents utilized with the DAVD-DOF slide apparatus are identical to those used on Earth in reference laboratories. The DAVD-DOF slide technology is small, lightweight, versatile, i.e. any staining protocol, standard or otherwise, may be accommodated by this technology, uses small reagent volumes, produces no solid or liquid waste apart from the slide itself, requires little crew-time for operation and is modular in design. These characteristics, plus the totally automated function of the device once the slide has been placed in the centrifuge, make the DAVD-DOF slide technology very attractive for use aboard ISS for crew health and environmental systems monitoring as well as for scientific research among various scientific disciplines.

Claims

1 In real-time centrifugal analysis for the staining of fluid samples in microgravity, a method of directional acceleration, vector driven displacement of the samples for sequential filling and emptying of a staining chamber: as applied to at least one slide, sequentially filling and emptying fluid samples in a slide staining chamber by incrementally increasing an applied g-force through a network of supply reservoirs and discrete connecting channels formed on said one slide, wherein displacement of the fluid samples depends upon volume and weight of the fluid therein, and as the preselected cross-sectional area of a given discrete channel is modified relative to other channels, the g-force required for sample fluid displacement therethrough is controllably activated, whilst simultaneously air is exhausted from the staining chamber, thereby reducing the size of the equipment required as well as quantity of staining reagent, thus producing a clear and defined liquid/air interface.

2 The method of claim 1 including an initial step of emptying at least one separate fluid-filled supply reservoir of the slide by utilizing the volume and weight of fluid in a given reservoir at a particular g-level to overcome surface tension of the fluid and frictional forces between the fluid and walls of the connecting channels.

3 The method of claim 2 wherein an added step of collecting waste reagent from the staining chamber in one waste reagent reservoir of the slide comprises applying a g-force below that required for emptying other reagent reservoirs.

4 The method of claim 2 wherein an added step of sequentially emptying a series of fluid filled supply reservoirs into a separate supply reservoir, comprises increasing volume and weight of fluid sample contained in a given reservoir, whilst maintaining constant the cross-sectional area of the connecting channel, as well as maintaining constant the applied g-force.

5 The method of claim 4, wherein the added step of collecting waste reagent from the staining chamber in one waste reagent reservoir of the slide comprises applying a g-force below that required for emptying other connected reagent reservoirs.

6 The method of claim 1 wherein an added step of sequentially emptying of a given supply reservoir into a separate supply reservoir comprises maintaining the volume and weight of the liquid constant, whilst decreasing the cross-sectional area of its connecting channel and simultaneously increasing the applied g-force.

7 The method of claim 6 including an added step of collecting waste reagent from the staining chamber simultaneously passing same to a waste reagent reservoir of the slide by applying a g-force below that required for emptying other connected reagent reservoirs.

8 The method of claim 3, 5, or 7 including the added step of controlling the flow of waste reagent to a waste reagent reservoir by means of a micro-valve to selectively block the channel connecting the staining chamber and the waste reservoir.

9 The method of claim 1 including transferring by channel connection a given fluid sample from one supply reservoir to another, precedent to transfer of said fluid sample to a staining chamber, by applying a controlled gravity vector in the transfer direction of required movement, whilst avoiding creation of air bubbles in sample solution.

10 The method of either claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 9 wherein the fluid samples are of biological composition.

11 The method of either claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 9 wherein the fluid samples are of non-biological composition.

12 Centrifugal analyzer for real-time centrifugal analysis of biological or non-biological fluid samples in microgravity, wherein directional acceleration of the samples is imposed by vector driven displacement of said samples, comprising: a) a specimen microscope slide, a network of specimen slide supply reservoirs therein and at least one common staining chamber thereon with discrete connecting channels, each channel defining a conduit of variant cross-section from channel to channel, said conduits interconnecting respective supply reservoirs with said staining chamber; b) a source of variable centrifugal force applied to respective slides wherein as the cross-sectional area of one channel decreases, or increases, relative to another, the g-force required for sample fluid displacement in a given channel may be altered from increased to decreased, and vice versa.

13 The centrifugal analyzer of claim 12 including a control means to increase and/or decrease the g-forces required for sample displacement through connecting channels.

14 The centrifugal analyzer of claim 12 including a programmed control means to increase and/or decrease the g-forces required for sample displacement through connecting channels.

15 The centrifugal analyzer of claim 12 including a manually operated control means to increase and/or decrease the g-forces required for sample displacement through connecting channels.

16 The centrifugal analyzer of claim 12 including a waste reagent reservoir connected to an outlet of said staining chamber, the cross section of its connecting channel being greater than that of other respective channels connecting supply reservoirs to the staining chamber.

17 The centrifugal analyzer of claim 12, 13, 14, or 15, including a waste reagent reservoir defined by the slide in exhaust vector connection with the staining chamber, whereby as the cross section of a given channel is altered in dimension relative to the cross sections of others, the control means is accordingly altered to effect g-forces required for sample displacement.

18 Apparatus according to claim 12, 13, 14, or 15 whereby a given channel of the slide defines a conduit of uniform cross section which is altered in area relative to that of others and said control means is responsive accordingly, to modify the displacement by selectively altering g-forces required for fluid sample displacement.

19 The centrifugal analyzer of claim 12 wherein plural supply reservoirs are interconnected by a microchannel capillary tube, each said reservoir including a separate air vent for air displacement therefrom.

20 Apparatus according to claim 16 or 17 wherein a micro-valve within the outlet channel of said staining chamber is used to control flow between said staining chamber and said waste reagent reservoir.

21 A spinning disc centrifuge, for use in real-time centrifugal analysis for the staining of fluid samples in micro-gravity, comprising: a) a rotating disc; b) a first means within said disc to receive and restrain micro-array slides in a fixed position; c) a second means within said disc to orient said receiving and restraining means relative to the direction of gravitational force caused by rotation; said first and second means having independent connection to each other.

22 A spinning disc centrifuge, as recited in claim 21, wherein said means to orient said receiving and restraining means is a cog ring, mounted within said disc, capable of rotating plus or minus 360 degrees within the same plane as said rotating disc.

23 A spinning disc centrifuge, as recited in claim 22, wherein said means to receive and restrain micro-array slides is a ¾ spheroid, capable of rotating plus or minus 360 degrees about a supporting axle attached centrally within said cog ring.

24 A spinning disc centrifuge, as recited in claim 22, further comprising: a) a drive cog, disposed between the upper and lower surfaces of said rotating disc centrifuge, with gear teeth that engage gear teeth on the outer perimeter of said cog ring; b) a cog ring drive motor, mounted upon surface of said rotating disc, that engages said drive cog; whereby as said cog ring drive motor is engaged, said drive cog is rotated and incremental rotation of said cog ring results.

25 A spinning disc centrifuge, as recited in claim 22, wherein the cog ring is rotated by a motorized drive, power supply, and control means mounted to said rotating disc.

26 A spinning disc centrifuge, as recited in claim 23, further comprising: a) an integral cog located on the supporting axle of said ¾ spheroid; b) a spheroid drive motor, mounted upon surface of said cog ring, that engages said integral cog, whereby as said spheroid drive motor is engaged, said integral cog is rotated and incremental rotation of said ¾ spheroid results.

27 A spinning disc centrifuge, as recited in claim 23, wherein said ¾ spheroid is rotated by a motorized drive, power supply, and control means mounted to said supporting cog ring.

28 A spinning disc centrifuge, as recited in claim 21, further comprising: a) a microprocessor controller, mounted upon said disc in operative connection with; b) a power supply, mounted upon said disc and supplying power to said microprocessor controller; c) a control means by which said microprocessor controller communicates with the controller for the variable speed motor of the centrifuge; whereby said microprocessor may control the rotational speed of the centrifuge's variable speed motor, thus allowing accurate modulation of g-force by controlling motor RPM.

29 A spinning disc centrifuge, as recited in claim 28, further comprising: a) a control means by which said microprocessor communicates with said cog ring drive motor; whereby said microprocessor may control the rotational position of said cog ring.

30 A spinning disc centrifuge, as recited in claim 29, further comprising: a) a control means by which said microprocessor communicates with said ¾ spheroid drive motor; whereby said microprocessor may control the rotational position of said ¾ spheroid.

31 A spinning disc centrifuge, as recited in claim 28, in which said control means are miniature radio transmitter/receivers, one transmitter/receiver mounted upon said rotating disc, a second transmitter/receiver within the controller for the centrifuge's variable speed motor.

32 A spinning disc centrifuge, as recited in claim 29, in which said control means are solid state electrodes mounted upon said rotating disc connecting said first microprocessor with said cog ring drive motor.

33 A spinning disc centrifuge, as recited in claim 30, in which said control means, are miniature radio transmitter/receivers, one transmitter/receiver mounted upon said rotating disc, a second transmitter/receiver mounted upon said cog ring.

34 A spinning disc centrifuge, as recited in claim 28, further comprising: 1) a control means whereby the micro-valve(s) within each micro-array can be actuated by said microprocessor.

35 A spinning disc centrifuge, as recited in claim 34, in which said control means are solid state electrodes mounted upon said rotating disc connecting said microprocessor said micro-valve leads upon said micro-array.

36 A spinning disc centrifuge, as recited in claim 34, in which said control means are miniature radio transmitter/receivers, one transmitter/receiver mounted upon said rotating disc, a second transmitter/receiver mounted adjacent to solid state electrodes connecting said second transmitter/receiver to micro-valve leads upon said micro-array.

37 A spinning disc centrifuge, as recited in claims 21, further comprising a means by which to preclude displacement of the slides during centrifugation and to provide that g-force remains constant with respect to the orientation of the slide.

38 A spinning disc centrifuge, as recited in claims 21, in which the means to preclude displacement of the slides during centrifugation comprises a restraining disc, secured over the central spindle, that rotates with said rotating disc.