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Robotic microscopy for everyone: the OpenFlexure Microscope

View ORCID ProfileJoel T. Collins, Joe Knapper, View ORCID ProfileJulian Stirling, Joram Mduda, Catherine Mkindi, Valeriana Mayagaya, Grace A. Mwakajinga, Paul T. Nyakyi, Valerian L. Sanga, View ORCID ProfileDave Carbery, Leah White, View ORCID ProfileSara Dale, Zhen Jieh Lim, View ORCID ProfileJeremy J. Baumberg, View ORCID ProfilePietro Cicuta, Samuel McDermott, Boyko Vodenicharski, View ORCID ProfileRichard Bowman
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/861856
Joel T. Collins
1Centre for Photonics and Photonic Materials, Department of Physics, University of Bath, UK
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Joe Knapper
1Centre for Photonics and Photonic Materials, Department of Physics, University of Bath, UK
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Julian Stirling
1Centre for Photonics and Photonic Materials, Department of Physics, University of Bath, UK
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Joram Mduda
2Ifakara Health Institute, TZ
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Catherine Mkindi
2Ifakara Health Institute, TZ
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Valeriana Mayagaya
2Ifakara Health Institute, TZ
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Grace A. Mwakajinga
3STICLab, Dar Es Salaam, TZ
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Paul T. Nyakyi
3STICLab, Dar Es Salaam, TZ
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Valerian L. Sanga
3STICLab, Dar Es Salaam, TZ
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Dave Carbery
4Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, UK
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Leah White
4Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, UK
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Sara Dale
5Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Department of Physics, University of Bath, UK
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Zhen Jieh Lim
5Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Department of Physics, University of Bath, UK
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Jeremy J. Baumberg
6Nanophotonics Centre, Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, UK
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Pietro Cicuta
7Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, UK
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Samuel McDermott
7Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, UK
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Boyko Vodenicharski
7Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, UK
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Richard Bowman
1Centre for Photonics and Photonic Materials, Department of Physics, University of Bath, UK
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  • ORCID record for Richard Bowman
  • For correspondence: rwb34@bath.ac.uk
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Abstract

Optical microscopes are an essential tool for both the detection of disease in clinics, and for scientific analysis. However, in much of the world access to high-performance microscopy is limited by both the upfront cost and maintenance cost of the equipment. Here we present an open-source, 3D-printed, and fully-automated laboratory microscope, with motorised sample positioning and focus control. The microscope is highly customisable, with a number of options readily available including trans- and epi-illumination, polarisation contrast imaging, and epi-florescence imaging. The OpenFlexure Microscope has been designed to enable low-volume manufacturing and maintenance by local personnel, vastly increasing accessibility. We have produced over 100 microscopes in Tanzania and Kenya for educational, scientific, and clinical applications, demonstrating that local manufacturing can be a viable alternative to international supply chains that can often be costly, slow, and unreliable.

Footnotes

  • ↵* r.w.bowman{at}bath.ac.uk

  • https://doi.org/10.15125/BATH-00734

Copyright 
The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under a CC-BY 4.0 International license.
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Posted December 03, 2019.
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Robotic microscopy for everyone: the OpenFlexure Microscope
Joel T. Collins, Joe Knapper, Julian Stirling, Joram Mduda, Catherine Mkindi, Valeriana Mayagaya, Grace A. Mwakajinga, Paul T. Nyakyi, Valerian L. Sanga, Dave Carbery, Leah White, Sara Dale, Zhen Jieh Lim, Jeremy J. Baumberg, Pietro Cicuta, Samuel McDermott, Boyko Vodenicharski, Richard Bowman
bioRxiv 861856; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/861856
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Robotic microscopy for everyone: the OpenFlexure Microscope
Joel T. Collins, Joe Knapper, Julian Stirling, Joram Mduda, Catherine Mkindi, Valeriana Mayagaya, Grace A. Mwakajinga, Paul T. Nyakyi, Valerian L. Sanga, Dave Carbery, Leah White, Sara Dale, Zhen Jieh Lim, Jeremy J. Baumberg, Pietro Cicuta, Samuel McDermott, Boyko Vodenicharski, Richard Bowman
bioRxiv 861856; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/861856

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