Portable Microscope

To stain a specimen slide, one or more liquid reagents are injected via the dispenser into the slide staining device via a syringe port. The volume of a given reagent is determined by adjustable settings on the dispenser, so that when connected to the staining device, initiates a thin film over the slide. The dispensing device uses only a fraction of the reagents typically used in non-sealed environments. Medical grade polyvinyl alcohol sponges have been incorporated into the dispenser to provide additional fluid containment and retention during the staining procedure. Furthermore, the dispenser can recall excess reagent, minimizing reagent use until refill. The slide staining device is composed of an upper and lower section held together and aligned by use of Nd magnets. With the device open, a specimen slide is positioned upon a silicone gasket that sits within a recess in the lower section. When the device is closed, the silicone gasket in the upper section applies a seal to the slide forming a cavity that allows the slide to be exposed to reagents injected from the connected dispenser creating a stain through the use of capillary forces. Although originally designed for use in microgravity, the slide staining system also works in gravity environments. Numerous applications may exist for this technology, particularly in hematology and cellular biology. Other applications could be considered for academic research, veterinary field use, military, disaster stricken and remote environments or where fine control of fluid delivery, removal, and management is desired. The slide staining system is at technology readiness level (TRL) 8 (actual system completed and "flight qualified" through test and demonstration), and are now available to license. Please note that NASA does not manufacture products itself for commercial sale.

The technology utilizes four cutting-edge sensor technologies to enable minimally- or non-invasive analysis of various biological samples, including saliva, breath, and blood. The combination of technologies and sample pathways have unique advantages that collectively provides a powerful analytical capability. The four key technology components include the following: (1) the carbon nanotube (CNT) array designed for the detection of volatile molecules in exhaled breath; (2) a breath condenser surface to isolate nonvolatile breath compounds in exhaled breath; (3) the miniaturized differential mobility spectrometer (DMS) -like device for the detection of volatile and non-volatile molecules in condensed breath and saliva; and (4) the miniaturized circular disk (CD)-based centrifugal microfluidics device that can detect analytes in any liquid sample as well as perform blood cell counts. As an integrated system, the device has two ports for sample entry a mouthpiece for sampling of breath and a port for CD insertion. The breath analysis pathway consists of a CNT array followed by a condenser surface separating liquid and gas phase breath. The exhaled breath condensate is then analyzed via a DMS-like device and the separated gas breath can be analyzed by both CNT sensor array again and by DMS detectors.

The MOD platform technology represents a small, lightweight, and reproducible in vitro drug screening model that could inexpensively mimic different mammalian tissues for a multitude of applications. The technology is automated and imposes minimal demands for resources (power, analytes, and fluids). The MOD technology uses titanium isopropoxide to bond a microscale support to a substrate and uses biopatterning and 3D tissue bioprinting on a microfluidic microchip to eliminate variations in local seeding density while minimizing selection pressure. With the MOD, pharmaceutical companies can test more candidates and concentrate on those with more promise therefore, reducing R&D overall cost. This innovation overcomes major disadvantages of conventional in vitro and in vivo experimentation for purposes of investigating effects of medicines, toxins, and possibly other foreign substances. For example, the MOD platform technology could host life-like miniature assemblies of human cells and the effects observed in tests performed could potentially be extrapolated more readily to humans than could effects observed in conventional in vivo cell cultures, making it possible to reduce or eliminate experimentation on animals. The automated NASA developed technology with minimal footprint and power requirements, micro-volumes of fluids and waste, high throughput and parallel analyses on the same chip, could advance the research and development for new drugs and materials.

The miniature bioreactor system was developed to provide the capabilities for NASA to perform cell studies in space and then provide results back to investigators on Earth with minimal tools and cost. The miniature bioreactor system has the potential to also be used on Earth as a laboratory bench-top cell culturing system without the need for expensive equipment and reagents. The system can be operated under computer control to reduce the operator handling and to reduce result variations. The system includes a bioreactor, a fluid-handling subsystem, a chamber wherein the bioreactor is maintained in a controlled atmosphere and temperature, and control subsystems. The system can be used to culture both anchorage dependent and suspension cells (prokaryotic or eukaryotic cell types). Cells can be cultured for extended periods of time in this system, and samples of cells can be extracted and analyzed at specified intervals. The miniature bioreactor system for cell culturing has applications in pharmaceutical drug screening and cell culture studies.

Initially developed as a close quarters inspection tool capable of accessing hard to reach, tight, or visibly restricted, areas of satellites, the VIPIR system can be used to remotely inspect inaccessible locations such as behind a sheet of thermal blanketing material, into a satellites plumbing, or perhaps even deep inside the otherwise unreachable crevasses of a spacecraft bus. The VIPIR system incorporates a number of subassemblies for incredible operational freedom and capabilities for imaging and dissemination of componentry. VIPIR’s Video Borescope Assembly (VBA) is a flexible snake-camera capable of multidirectional articulations, making steering and control simple and intuitive for an operator. The VBA also includes at least one imaging sensor and lighting to see in dark, confined spaces. Real-time, high-resolution visual information can be fed back to an operator for live analysis. A reel system extends and retracts the VBA with the use of a spool, and includes position indicators for deployment tracking. The Tendon Management System (TMS), not unlike human tendons, utilizes pulleys and tensioners to articulate the VBA in the confined spaces. A seal system ensures the VBA is free of contamination. VIPIR underwent space-based testing on the ISS during the Robotic Refueling Phase 2 (RRM-2) mission designed to showcase and test several NASA advanced robotic satellite servicing technologies. During this mission, VIPIR demonstrated state-of-the-art near and midrange inspection capabilities. NASA’s VIPIR system is available for licensing to industry, and may be desirable to companies focused on satellite servicing, on-orbit assembly, and other applications requiring detailed inspection of assets in space.