David F. J. Tees, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Ohio University
Much of the work described in Chapter 2 was carried out using the travelling microtube device. The apparatus and its details are shown in this appendix, reproduced from Appendix 1 in Susan P. Tha’s Ph. D. thesis (Interaction Forces between Human Red Cells Agglutinated by Antibody, Ph.D. Thesis, McGill University, 1987). In Fig. A1.1, an overall view of the apparatus together with its hydraulic system is shown. Details of the flow system, and a close-up view of the flow tube mounted on a slide and attached to a jig are shown in Figs. A1.2 and A1.3 respectively.
FIGURE A1.1 Overall view of the microtube device showing the platform (A) driven in a vertical direction by the piston of the slave cylinder (B) which is connected by a flexible tube to the master cylinder (C), the latter operated via a micrometer screw by an electronically controlled (D), continuously variable d.c. motor drive (E). Mounted on the platform is the flow tube assembly (F), details of which are shown in Figs. A1.2 and A1.3. The platform and slave cylinder are mounted on a sturdy frame (G) resting on an air-cushioned vibration-free table (H). Video camera 1 (I) is attached to the microscope (J) and records the motions of the doublets being tracked, as seen on the TV monitor (K). Video camera 2 (not in the picture) is focussed on the odometer (L) which indicates the distance traveled. By means of a screen splitter (not shown), these two images are displayed on the single TV monitor as shown. The screen shows a doublet of sphered red cells lying in the median plane of the tube in the orientation f1 = 90°. The monitor also displays the time, relayed by means of a digital timer, and the X-Y coordinates by use of a video position analyzer. A second hydraulic system, also driven by an electronically controlled d.c. motor drive (N), operates a syringe infusion-withdrawal pump not used in the present experiments in which flow occurred by gravity feed.
FIGURE A1.2 Detailed view of the frame (A), the platform (B), microscope (C) and sections of the flow tube assembly. Seen is the infusion pipette (D) connected to a Harvard pump (E) which infuses silicone oil layered on top of the suspension in the pipette, raising the level of fluid and thereby steadily accelerating the flow rate. The suspension enters the flow tube through PE 205 tubing (F). The flow tube is mounted on the microscope slide (G) which in turn is held in a jig (H), the whole being attached to the moving platform by means of two clamps (I). The suspension flows out by gravity feed into the collection reservoir syringe (J). Also shown is the slave cylinder (K) driving the platform in a upward direction at a velocity indicated by the odometer (L), allowing doublets to be tracked in the flow until break-up or loss from view.
FIGURE A1.3 Close-up view of the flow tube assembly of the microtube device, with the microscope rotated to the side. The microscope slide (A) is held in a jig (B) by the clamps (C). The jig itself is held on the moving platform by the clamps (D). Also shown is the PE 205 tubing (E) connecting the infusion pipette, the base of which (F) is just visible, to the flow tube, the latter mounted on the microscope slide. The tube is attached upstream to a 21 gauge needle (G) and downstream to a length of 21 gauge steel tubing (H), both ends being cemented onto the slide. The tube is surrounded by a chamber (I) filled with the suspending phase fluid. The suspension flows out through PE 100 tubing (J) into the collection reservoir (K), a cutoff 3 ml plastic syringe.