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Rea DJ, Miller RS, Crucian BE, Valentine RW, Cristoforetti S, Bearg SB, Sipic Z, Cheng J, Yu R, Calaway KM, Eames D, Nelson ES, Lewandowski BE, Perusek GP, Chan EY. Single drop cytometry onboard the International Space Station. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2634. [PMID: 38528030 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46483-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Real-time lab analysis is needed to support clinical decision making and research on human missions to the Moon and Mars. Powerful laboratory instruments, such as flow cytometers, are generally too cumbersome for spaceflight. Here, we show that scant test samples can be measured in microgravity, by a trained astronaut, using a miniature cytometry-based analyzer, the rHEALTH ONE, modified specifically for spaceflight. The base device addresses critical spaceflight requirements including minimal resource utilization and alignment-free optics for surviving rocket launch. To fully enable reduced gravity operation onboard the space station, we incorporated bubble-free fluidics, electromagnetic shielding, and gravity-independent sample introduction. We show microvolume flow cytometry from 10 μL sample drops, with data from five simultaneous channels using 10 μs bin intervals during each sample run, yielding an average of 72 million raw data points in approximately 2 min. We demonstrate the device measures each test sample repeatably, including correct identification of a sample that degraded in transit to the International Space Station. This approach can be utilized to further our understanding of spaceflight biology and provide immediate, actionable diagnostic information for management of astronaut health without the need for Earth-dependent analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Rea
- DNA Medicine Institute (DMI), Bedford, MA, USA
- rHEALTH, Bedford, MA, USA
| | | | - Brian E Crucian
- Human Health and Performance Directorate, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | | | - Samuel B Bearg
- DNA Medicine Institute (DMI), Bedford, MA, USA
- rHEALTH, Bedford, MA, USA
| | - Zlatko Sipic
- DNA Medicine Institute (DMI), Bedford, MA, USA
- rHEALTH, Bedford, MA, USA
| | - Jamie Cheng
- DNA Medicine Institute (DMI), Bedford, MA, USA
- rHEALTH, Bedford, MA, USA
| | - Rebecca Yu
- DNA Medicine Institute (DMI), Bedford, MA, USA
- rHEALTH, Bedford, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Eugene Y Chan
- DNA Medicine Institute (DMI), Bedford, MA, USA.
- rHEALTH, Bedford, MA, USA.
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Hanson AM, Gilkey KM, Perusek GP, Thorndike DA, Kutnick GA, Grodsinsky CM, Rice AJ, Cavanagh PR. Miniaturized sensors to monitor simulated lunar locomotion. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 82:128-32. [PMID: 21329028 DOI: 10.3357/asem.2825.2011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Human activity monitoring is a useful tool in medical monitoring, military applications, athletic coaching, and home healthcare. We propose the use of an accelerometer-based system to track crewmember activity during space missions in reduced gravity environments. It is unclear how the partial gravity environment of the Moorn or Mars will affect human locomotion. Here we test a novel analogue of lunar gravity in combination with a custom wireless activity tracking system. METHODS A noninvasive wireless accelerometer-based sensor system, the activity tracking device (ATD), was developed. The system has two sensor units; one footwear-mounted and the other waist-mounted near the midlower back. Subjects (N=16) were recruited to test the system in the enhanced Zero Gravity Locomotion Simulator (eZLS) at NASA Glenn Research Center. Data were used to develop an artificial neural network for activity recognition. RESULTS The eZLS demonstrated the ability to replicate reduced gravity environments. There was a 98% agreement between the ATD and force plate-derived stride times during running (9.7 km x h(-1)) at both 1 g and 1/6 g. A neural network was designed and successfully trained to identify lunar walking, running, hopping, and loping from ATD measurements with 100% accuracy. DISCUSSION The eZLS is a suitable tool for examining locomotor activity at simulated lunar gravity. The accelerometer-based ATD system is capable of monitoring human activity and may be suitable for use during remote, long-duration space missions. A neural network has been developed to use data from the ATD to aid in remote activity monitoring.
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De Witt JK, Perusek GP, Lewandowski BE, Gilkey KM, Savina MC, Samorezov S, Edwards WB. Locomotion in simulated and real microgravity: horizontal suspension vs. parabolic flight. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 81:1092-9. [PMID: 21197853 DOI: 10.3357/asem.2413.2010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The effect of reducing gravity on locomotion has been studied using microgravity analogues. However, there is no known literature comparing locomotion in actual microgravity (AM) to locomotion in simulated microgravity (SM). METHODS Five subjects were tested while walking at 1.34 m x s(-1) and running at 3.13 m x s(-1) on a treadmill during parabolic flight and on a microgravity simulator. The external load (EL) in AM and SM was provided by elastomer bungees at approximately 55% (low) and 90% (high) of the subjects' bodyweight (BW). Lower body joint kinematics and ground reaction forces were measured during each condition. Effect size and its 95% confidence interval were computed between gravitational conditions for each outcome variable. RESULTS In AM, subjects attained approximately 15-21 degrees greater hip flexion during walking and 19-25 degrees greater hip flexion during running. Hip range of motion was greater in AM during running by approximately 12-17 degrees. Trunk motion was 4 degrees less in SM than AM during walking. Peak impact force was greater in SM than in AM during walking with a low EL (SM = 0.95 +/- 0.04 BW; AM = 0.76 +/- 0.04 BW) and contact times were greater in SM. CONCLUSIONS Subtle differences exist in locomotion patterns, temporal kinematics, and peak impact ground reaction forces between AM and SM. The differences suggest possible adaptations in the motor coordination required between gravitational condition, and potential differences in adaptations that are dependent upon if training occurs in actual or simulated microgravity.
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Affiliation(s)
- John K De Witt
- Wyle Integrated Science and Engineering Group, Houston 77058, USA.
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D'Andrea SE, Perusek GP, Rajulu S, Perry J, Davis BL. Jumping in simulated and true microgravity: response to maximal efforts with three landing types. Aviat Space Environ Med 2005; 76:441-7. [PMID: 15892541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exercise is a promising countermeasure to the physiological deconditioning experienced in microgravity, but has not proven effective in eliminating the ongoing loss of bone mineral, most likely due to the lack of high-impact forces and loading rates during in-flight activity. We wanted to determine lower-extremity response to high-impact jumping exercises in true and simulated microgravity and establish if 1-G force magnitudes can be achieved in a weightless environment. METHODS Jumping experiments were performed in a ground-based zero-gravity simulator (ZGS) in 1 G, and during parabolic flight with a gravity-replacement system. There were 12 subjects who participated in the study, with 4 subjects common to both conditions. Force, loading rates, jump height, and kinematics were analyzed during jumps with three distinct landings: two-footed toe-heel, one-footed toe-heel, and flat-footed. Gravity replacement loads of 45%, 60%, 75%, and 100% bodyweight were used in the ZGS; because of time constraints, these loads were limited to 60% and 75% bodyweight in parabolic flight. RESULTS Average peak ground-reaction forces during landing ranged between 1902+/-607 and 2631+/-663 N in the ZGS and between 1683+/-807 and 2683+/-1174 N in the KC-135. No significant differences were found between the simulated and true microgravity conditions, but neither condition achieved the magnitudes found in 1 G. CONCLUSION Data support the hypothesis that jumping exercises can impart high-impact forces during weightlessness and that the custom-designed ZGS will replicate what is experienced in true microgravity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan E D'Andrea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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Abstract
An axial extensometer able to measure global bone strain magnitudes and rates encountered during physiological activity, and suitable for use in vivo in human subjects, is described. The extensometer uses paired capacitive sensors mounted to intraosseus pins and allows measurement of strain due to bending in the plane of the extensometer as well as uniaxial compression or tension. Data are presented for validation of the device against a surface-mounted strain gage in an acrylic specimen under dynamic four-point bending, with square wave and sinusoidal loading inputs up to 1500 mu epsilon and 20 Hz, representative of physiological strain magnitudes and frequencies. Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) between extensometer and strain gage ranged from 0.960 to 0.999. Mean differences between extensometer and strain gage ranged up to 15.3 mu epsilon. Errors in the extensometer output were directly proportional to the degree of bending that occurs in the specimen, however, these errors were predictable and less than 1 mu epsilon for the loading regime studied. The device is capable of tracking strain rates in excess of 90,000 mu epsilon/s.
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Affiliation(s)
- G P Perusek
- NASA John H. Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field, 21000 Brookpark Road, Cleveland, OH 44135, USA.
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