In vivo real-time recording of UV-induced changes in the autofluorescence of a melanin-containing fungus using a micro-spectrofluorimeter and a low-cost webcam

For the monitoring of bone regeneration processes, the instrumentation of the fixation is an increasingly common technique to indirectly measure the evolution of bone formation instead of ex vivo measurements or traditional in vivo techniques, such as X-ray or visual review. A versatile instrumented external fixator capable of adapting to multiple bone regeneration processes was designed, as well as a wireless acquisition system for the data collection. The design and implementation of the overall architecture of such a system is described in this work, including the hardware, firmware, and mechanical components. The measurements are conditioned and subsequently sent to a PC via wireless communication to be in vivo displayed and analyzed using a developed real-time monitoring application. Moreover, a model for the in vivo estimation of the bone callus stiffness from collected data was defined. This model was validated in vitro using elastic springs, reporting promising results with respect to previous equipment, with average errors and uncertainties below 6.7% and 14.04%. The devices were also validated in vivo performing a bone lengthening treatment on a sheep metatarsus. The resulting system allowed the in vivo mechanical characterization of the bone callus during experimentation, providing a low-cost, simple, and highly reliable solution.

Download Full-text

Real-Time In Vivo Imaging of Whole Islet Ca2+Dynamics Reveals Glucose-Induced Changes in Beta-Cell Connectivity in Mouse and Human Islets

Diabetes ◽

10.2337/db18-249-lb ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 67 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 249-LB

Author(s):

VICTORIA SALEM ◽

KINGA SUBA ◽

ALDARA MARTIN ALONSO ◽

PAULINE L. CHABOSSEAU ◽

ELENI GEORGIADOU ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Beta Cell ◽

Real Time ◽

In Vivo Imaging ◽

Human Islets ◽

Induced Changes

Download Full-text

Microelectrochemical Smart Needle for Real Time Minimally Invasive Oximetry

Biosensors ◽

10.3390/bios10110157 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 157

Author(s):

Daniela Vieira ◽

Francis McEachern ◽

Romina Filippelli ◽

Evan Dimentberg ◽

Edward J Harvey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Minimally Invasive ◽

Real Time ◽

Surface Area ◽

Electrochemical Detection ◽

Low Cost ◽

High Surface ◽

High Surface Area ◽

Brain Dysfunction ◽

The Brain

A variety of brain disorders such as neural injury, brain dysfunction, vascular malformation, and neurodegenerative diseases are associated with abnormal levels of oxygen. Current methods to directly monitor tissue oxygenation in the brain are expensive and invasive, suffering from a lack of accuracy. Electrochemical detection has been used as an invasiveness and cost-effectiveness method, minimizing pain, discomfort, and injury to the patient. In this work, we developed a minimally invasive needle-sensor with a high surface area to monitor O2 levels in the brain using acupuncture needles. The approach was to directly etch the iron from stainless steel acupuncture needles via a controlled pitting corrosion process, obtaining a high microporous surface area. In order to increase the conductivity and selectivity, we designed and applied for the first time a low-cost coating process using non-toxic chemicals to deposit high surface area carbon nanoparticle, catalytically active laccase, and biocompatible polypyrrole. The physicochemical properties of the materials were characterized as well as their efficacy and viability as probes for the electrochemical detection of PO2. Our modified needles exhibited efficient electrocatalysis and high selectivity toward O2, with excellent repeatability. We well engineered a small diagnostic tool to monitor PO2, minimally invasive, able to monitor real-time O2 in vivo complex environments.

Download Full-text

Development of a Quick Quantitative Real-Time PCR for the In Vivo Detection and Quantification of Peach latent mosaic viroid

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-07-10-0512 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 95 (2) ◽

pp. 137-142 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Olivier Parisi ◽

Philippe Lepoivre ◽

M. Haissam Jijakli

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Plant Pathogens ◽

Low Cost ◽

Extraction Procedure ◽

Reaction Conditions ◽

Routine Testing ◽

In Vivo Detection ◽

Peach Trees

Viroids are plant pathogens infecting a broad range of herbaceous and tree crops. Among them, the Peach latent mosaic viroid (PLMVd) infects mainly peach trees, causing a loss of production with no curative options. Detecting this viroid is thus important for certification procedures aiming to avoid the release of infected material into orchards. Presented here is a complete detection method based on reverse transcription (RT) followed by a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). New primers were selected and optimal reaction conditions determined for routine application of the method. The technique is 105 times more sensitive than the endpoint RT-PCR used for PLMVd detection, and permits earlier detection of PLMVd in infected plants. The quick, low-cost extraction procedure used and the quality of the results obtained make this method suitable for routine testing.

Download Full-text

A Wireless Power-Free Pressure Sensor for Real-Time In Vivo Gastrointestinal Pressure Monitoring

Key Engineering Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/kem.609-610.993 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 609-610 ◽

pp. 993-996

Author(s):

Qiang Shi ◽

De Yong Chen ◽

Jun Bo Wang ◽

Kai Kai Bao ◽

Li Juan Liu

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Pressure Sensor ◽

Low Cost ◽

Wireless Power ◽

Pressure Monitoring ◽

Device Structure ◽

Detection Mechanism ◽

Sensor Unit ◽

Detection Unit

A wireless and power-free pressure sensor system capable of real time in vivo gastrointestinal pressure monitoring has been developed. This system contains a sensor unit and a detection unit. Based on mutual inductance detection mechanism, the sensor is featured with simple device structure and therefore low cost. The packaged sensor unit was tested. Results obtained from experiment demonstrated that this sensor has a sensitivity of 0.2115 kHz / kPa within a pressure range-10~30 kPa. The in vivo testing result not only indicates a period of 2 contractions per minute peristalsis of rabbit stomach but also validates the feasibility of this real time wireless gastrointestinal pressure monitoring system.

Download Full-text

Development of a new expendable probe for the study of pelagic ecosystems from Voluntary Observing Ships

Ocean Science Discussions ◽

10.5194/osd-3-1515-2006 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 3 (5) ◽

pp. 1515-1541

Author(s):

M. Marcelli ◽

A. Di Maio ◽

D. Donis ◽

U. Mainardi ◽

G. M. R. Manzella

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Quantitative Estimation ◽

Low Cost ◽

Marine Ecosystem ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Electronic System ◽

Spatial And Temporal Variability ◽

Fluorescence Measurement ◽

Synoptic Observations

Abstract. Physical and biological processes of the marine ecosystem have a high spatial and temporal variability, whose study is possible only through high resolution and synoptic observations. The T-FLAP (Temperature and Fluorescence LAunchable Probe) was charted in order to answer to the claim of a cost effective temperature and fluorescence expendable profiler, to be used in ships of opportunity. The development of the expendable fluorimeter has followed similar concepts of the XBT (a wire conducting the signal to a computer card), but differently from that, T-FLAP was developed with an electronic system that can be improved and adapted to several variables measure channels. Commercial components were utilized to reach the aim of a low-cost probe: a glass bulb temperature resistor for the temperature measurement, blue LEDs, a photodiode and available selective glass filters, for fluorescence measurement. The measurement principle employed to detect phytoplankton's biomass is the active fluorescence. This method is an in vivo chlorophyll measure, that can get the immediate biophysical reaction of the cell inside the aquatic ecosystem; it is a non-disruptive method which gives a real time measure and avoids the implicit errors due to the manipulation of samples. The possibility of using continuous profiling probe, with an active fluorescence measurement, is very important in the study of phytoplankton in real time; it is the best way to follow the variability of sea productivity. In fact, because of the high time and space variability of phytoplankton, due to its capability to answer in a relatively short time to ecological variations in its environment and because of its characteristic patchiness, there isn't a precise quantitative estimation of the biomass present in the Mediterranean sea.

Download Full-text

Development of a new expendable probe for the study of pelagic ecosystems from voluntary observing ships

Ocean Science ◽

10.5194/os-3-311-2007 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 311-320 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

M. Marcelli ◽

A. Di Maio ◽

D. Donis ◽

U. Mainardi ◽

G. M. R. Manzella

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Quantitative Estimation ◽

Low Cost ◽

Marine Ecosystem ◽

Time Estimation ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Electronic System ◽

Spatial And Temporal Variability ◽

Fluorescence Measurement

Abstract. Physical and biological processes of the marine ecosystem have a high spatial and temporal variability, whose study is possible only through high resolution and synoptic observations. The Temperature and Fluorescence Launchable Probe was charted in order to answer to the claim of a cost effective temperature and fluorescence expendable profiler, to be used in ships of opportunity. The development of the expendable fluorometer has followed similar concepts of the XBT (a wire conducting the signal to a computer card), but differently from the latter it was developed with an electronic system which can be improved and adapted to several variables measure channels. To reach the aim of a low-cost probe, were utilized commercial components: a glass bulb temperature resistor for the temperature measurement, blue LEDs, a photodiode and available selective glass filters, for the fluorescence measurement. The measurement principle employed to detect phytoplankton's biomass is the active fluorescence. This method is an in vivo chlorophyll estimation, that can get the immediate biophysical reaction of phytoplankton inside the aquatic environment; it is a non-disruptive method which gives real time estimation and avoids the implicit errors due to the manipulation of samples. The possibility of using a continuous profiling probe, with an active fluorescence measurement, is very important in real time phytoplankton's study; it is the best way to follow the variability of sea productivity. In fact, because of the high time and space variability of phytoplankton, due to its capability to answer in a relatively short time to ecological variations in its environment and because of its characteristic patchiness, there isn't a precise quantitative estimation of the biomass present in the Mediterranean Sea.

Download Full-text

A Low Cost Sensitive Transrectal Photoacoustic Probe With Single-Fiber Bright-Field Illumination for In Vivo Canine Prostate Imaging and Real-Time Biopsy Needle Guidance

IEEE Sensors Journal ◽

10.1109/jsen.2020.2993884 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (18) ◽

pp. 10974-10980 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bing Cong ◽

Chen Qiu ◽

Yaguang Ren ◽

Yuanyuan Bai ◽

Muyue Xing ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Low Cost ◽

Single Fiber ◽

Needle Guidance ◽

Bright Field ◽

Biopsy Needle ◽

Prostate Imaging

Download Full-text

A technique for protecting delicate specimens during processing

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100156894 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 47 ◽

pp. 982-983

Author(s):

R.J. Mount ◽

R.V. Harrison

Keyword(s):

Basilar Membrane ◽

Low Cost ◽

Organ Of Corti ◽

Region Of Interest ◽

Sensory Epithelium ◽

Physical Damage ◽

Air Drying ◽

Specimen Handling ◽

Two Component

The sensory end organ of the ear, the organ of Corti, rests on a thin basilar membrane which lies between the bone of the central modiolus and the bony wall of the cochlea. In vivo, the organ of Corti is protected by the bony wall which totally surrounds it. In order to examine the sensory epithelium by scanning electron microscopy it is necessary to dissect away the protective bone and expose the region of interest (Fig. 1). This leaves the fragile organ of Corti susceptible to physical damage during subsequent handling. In our laboratory cochlear specimens, after dissection, are routinely prepared by the O-T- O-T-O technique, critical point dried and then lightly sputter coated with gold. This processing involves considerable specimen handling including several hours on a rotator during which the organ of Corti is at risk of being physically damaged. The following procedure uses low cost, readily available materials to hold the specimen during processing ,preventing physical damage while allowing an unhindered exchange of fluids.Following fixation, the cochlea is dehydrated to 70% ethanol then dissected under ethanol to prevent air drying. The holder is prepared by punching a hole in the flexible snap cap of a Wheaton vial with a paper hole punch. A small amount of two component epoxy putty is well mixed then pushed through the hole in the cap. The putty on the inner cap is formed into a “cup” to hold the specimen (Fig. 2), the putty on the outside is smoothed into a “button” to give good attachment even when the cap is flexed during handling (Fig. 3). The cap is submerged in the 70% ethanol, the bone at the base of the cochlea is seated into the cup and the sides of the cup squeezed with forceps to grip it (Fig.4). Several types of epoxy putty have been tried, most are either soluble in ethanol to some degree or do not set in ethanol. The only putty we find successful is “DUROtm MASTERMENDtm Epoxy Extra Strength Ribbon” (Loctite Corp., Cleveland, Ohio), this is a blue and yellow ribbon which is kneaded to form a green putty, it is available at many hardware stores.

Download Full-text