Foldscope: Origami-Based Paper Microscope

Abstract

Here we describe an ultra-low-cost origami-based approach for large-scale manufacturing of microscopes, specifically demonstrating brightfield, darkfield, and fluorescence microscopes. Merging principles of optical design with origami enables high-volume fabrication of microscopes from 2D media. Flexure mechanisms created via folding enable a flat compact design. Structural loops in folded paper provide kinematic constraints as a means for passive self-alignment. This light, rugged instrument can survive harsh field conditions while providing a diversity of imaging capabilities, thus serving wide-ranging applications for cost-effective, portable microscopes in science and education.

Utilizing social media and video games to control #DIY microscopes

“…A basic DIY Microscope was constructed by employing strategies that have been previously demonstrated (Cybulski, Clements & Prakash, 2014;Switz, D'Ambrosio & Fletcher, 2014;Cavanihac, 2006). Briefly, the microscope was constructed using a Raspberry Pi (RPi) model B+ as the control computer, an RPi camera module (Rasperry Pi Foundation, Cambridge, UK), a discarded computer DVD-ROM drive and a 3D printed frame (MakerBot Replicator 2; MakerBot, Brookyln, NY, USA) (Fig.…”

“…One other key piece of equipment is a light microscope. Several designs and approaches have been developed for creating low cost light microscopes with reasonable magnification (Cybulski, Clements & Prakash, 2014). Such designs have resulted in microscopes that can operate in a variety of modalities including bright field, dark field and fluorescence (Cybulski, Clements & Prakash, 2014;McLeod & Ozcan, 2016).…”

“…Several designs and approaches have been developed for creating low cost light microscopes with reasonable magnification (Cybulski, Clements & Prakash, 2014). Such designs have resulted in microscopes that can operate in a variety of modalities including bright field, dark field and fluorescence (Cybulski, Clements & Prakash, 2014;McLeod & Ozcan, 2016). Cellphone based microscopes have been developed in which the phone's camera is simply employed as the imaging sensor (Contreras-Naranjo, Wei & Ozcan, 2016).…”

“…Indeed, the simplest embodiment of a DIY Microscope can be achieved by simply placing a water drop on the cellphone front facing camera. These various approaches are not only important for educational purposes, but also have a significant role to play in developing low cost diagnostic tools for the lab or the field (Landrain et al, 2013;Baden, 2014;Wong et al, 2008;Garvey, 2012;Watts, 2011;Miller, 2010;Long, 2011;Pelling, 2015;Chai Biotechnologies Inc., 2014a;Wong et al, 2015;Chai Biotechnologies Inc., 2014b;Synbiota, 2017;Cybulski, Clements & Prakash, 2014;McLeod & Ozcan, 2016;Contreras-Naranjo, Wei & Ozcan, 2016;Zhu et al, 2011;Skandarajah et al, 2014;Switz, D'Ambrosio & Fletcher, 2014;Smith et al, 2011;Cavanihac, 2006;Ibanez, 2012;Kim, Gerber & Riedel-Kruse, 2016).…”

Cellphone-based diagnostic devices

“…In addition to designing cellphone-based microscopy systems with traditional optical lenses, water and poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) droplets might be employed as alternative lenses [43,44]. Prof. Prakash and his group successfully completed an exceptionally novel effort to create an extremely low-cost and compact microscope by developing an origami-based foldscope that, coupled with a cellphone, could be used for parasite disease investigations ( Figure 3) [45]. This foldscope was assembled from a flat sheet of paper in less than 10 min and was capable of greater than 2,000× magnification with submicron resolution, weighed less than 8.8 g (equal to the weight of two nickels), could be loaded in a pocket (70 × 20 × 2 mm 3 ), required no external power, and remained functional even after it was dropped from a 3-story building or stepped on.…”