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MICROSCOPY STAGE CHAMBER FOR ISOLATED LUNG
Final Design of Lung Chamber
ABOUT
Current Method of Imaging (In-Vivo). Pink needle pumps in air, long clear tube pumps in saline solution.
The purpose of the Microscopy Stage Chamber is to facilitate and improve the process of collecting real-time imaging of a rat lung. Current methods, performed while the lung is still in the body, are ineffective and prevent the lung from being manipulated to provide the best possible image. The proposed chamber allows for the lung to be completely removed from the body and placed under a microscope in such a way as to have a clear and stable view of the lung’s surface. To be a viable alternative to current methods, the chamber must be able to mimic the conditions of the body by connecting the specimen to a perfusion system. This is accomplished by pumping a saline solution as a substitute to blood, and by providing appropriate air pressure through the trachea. The overall goal of taking images of the rat lung is to conduct further research on Interstitial Fibrosis. By analyzing images, the University of California San Diego (UCSD) Medical Research Center aims to determine how to prevent Interstitial Fibrosis.
OVERVIEW OF DESIGN
Side view of final design
The final design has been made to address the objectives for the Microscopy Stage imaging of a rat lung. The chamber contains three main components: the lung reservoir, drain reservoir, and the helper hands. The lung reservoir functions as a lung cradle to hold the lung during preparation and imaging. It also serves as a draining mechanism. The center of the lung reservoir, the lung cradle, can be rotated into two positions: sealed and draining positions. When the lung is initially integrated with the chamber, the lung cradle will be in the sealed position to have the lung submerged within a culture medium. After the microscope has been setup and imaging is to begin, everything is to be drained, so the lung cradle is rotated to the draining position. The lung reservoir also has overflow channels on two sides to prevent from any spilling. The drain reservoir is where all fluid is drained to, including culture medium and leaked saline solution. The drain reservoir is to be emptied after each use. The helper hands are to hold the tubes used to perfuse the lung and can be adjusted around most of the perimeter of the chamber. They also help keep the tubing completely steady, which will also keep the lung steady. The lung reservoir is fabricated using a 3D printer with ABS plastic while the lung reservoir is made of clear acrylic cut using a Lasercamm.
WHAT IS INTERSTITIAL FIBROSIS AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT YOU?
Lung at the end stage of Interstitial Fibrosis
You lace up your new running shoes, eager to break them in just as you had promised yourself for your New Year's Resolution. You embark on your journey down the pavement and are instantly met with a sharp chest pain. You eagerly gasp for air as you run, hoping all the pain will just disappear as you warm up but it doesn't. It just gets harder and harder to breathe. You've come to a complete stop but the breathing doesn't get any easier. Maybe you're just out of shape? Or maybe you have Interstitial Fibrosis. Interstitial Fibrosis, also known as Pulmonary Fibrosis, is a scarring of the tissue between the alveoli (terminal air sacs) causing the tissues in your lungs to stiffen. This reduces the elasticity of your lungs making it harder to breathe. According to Pulmonary-Fibrosis.net, in a study between 1988 and 1990, 67.2 females and 80.9 males per 100,000 inhabitants had the disease and the numbers are only continuing to grow.
To learn more about the disease, please refer to the following links:
http://www.pulmonary-fibrosis.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12&Itemid=21
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interstitial_lung_disease
To view the Executive Summary, click here.
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