Besides NASA's on orbit application, the proposed white blood cell counting system could be used to perform immuno-based cell counting for ground applications, similar to that done by flow cytometers. In general, any existing immuno-based cell counting performed for research and development, could potentially be accomplished with our proposed approach. The benefits of our proposed nanohole array cell counting system include high specificity and sensitivity for simultaneous counting of multiple cell types, compact size, low power consumption, and full automation. The OILWBCS-MEMS will be particularly suited as a tool for remote applications for example in battlefield medical facilities or in other mobile medical centers, such as ambulances, triage centers, disaster response and for use in third-world medical facilities. In these applications, rapid accurate diagnosis is highly desirable, as are ruggedness, portability and containment, all of which are also required features of our OILWBCS-MEMS device.
The proposed OILWBCS-MEMS white blood cell counting system could provide on orbit white blood cell counting capability, currently not available on orbit, for experimental support and monitoring astronaut health and performing biomedical research on International Space Station (ISS), Crew Exploration Vehicles (CEV), and etc. White blood cell counts are extremely important as a diagnostic tool. With its high specificity/sensitivity, compact size, multiplexed counting capability, and automated operation, the proposed system can also provide a powerful cell counting capability for NASA's ground based biomedical research and development Physiological testing and experimentation will be supported through the use of a white blood cell counting system. White blood cell counts, however, are also extremely important as a diagnostic tool.
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