Kinetic Measurements of Viable Human Blood Cells
When white blood cells perform their normal functions, they
operate within the body under control of the immune system. Each
cell type has a specific function, and measurement of these
functions in vitro is difficult. Concepts envisioned by scientists
from both biological and engineering disciplines would allow a
replication of the in vivo environment of a blood vessel and be
able to monitor many hundreds of operating blood cells within that
environment. This is termed the kinetic environmental module and
is a high-tech environment in which is a close replication of a
closed blood vessel. Solutions can be infused or removed from the
cell and cells can be added or removed. Functioning cells within
the vessel can be monitored continuously as individual cells and
biochemical pathways monitored. While this sounds a relatively
simple task, it is enormously complex and requires many advanced
technologies, including laser beam-controlled signal measurement,
complex timing and signal identification, hydrodynamic systems,
and computer data analysis operations.
