Foldscope
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A Foldscope is an optical microscope that can be assembled from simple components, including a sheet of paper and a lens. It was created by Manu Prakash and designed to cost less than one USD to build. It is a part of the "frugal science" movement which aims to make cheap and easy tools available for scientific use in the developing world.[2]
History
The basic principle of using a small spherical lens held close to the eye dates back to the time of Antonie van Leeuwenhoek (1632–1723), who was the first to see single-celled organisms using such a lens held in a device of his own design.[2]
The Foldscope was developed by a team led by Manu Prakash, an assistant professor of
The idea for creating a low-cost microscope came to Prakash in 2011 while he was at a field station in Thailand. He remarked that the station had a very expensive microscope but that everyone was afraid to use it because it was fragile and worth more than most people's salaries. He wanted to create an affordable microscope that would be versatile and sturdy enough to work in field conditions. He also wanted to create a device that people felt they had ownership of, which is part of the reason the Foldscope comes in a kit to be assembled. He developed the first prototype in 2014.[2]
Details
A Foldscope is an optical
Following the first generation of simple Foldscopes, twelve medical diagnostic Foldscope variants are in development with each type being designed specifically to aid in the identification of a particular disease-causing organism. Included with each Foldscope, a picture is provided of the particular microbe to look for on each disease-specific variant. To enable several people to use them at once, each microscope is able to project images with a built-in projector.[6] The Foldscope is designed to be assembled by the end user, and hence is color-coded to help with the assembly.[5] Each unit costs less than one US dollar to build, with estimates varying from 50 cents to 97 cents.[5][6]
Uses
The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation funded the "Ten Thousand Microscopes" project under which Prakash plans to give away 10,000 Foldscope kits to interested parties, including students for research.[5][7][8] The projects eventually expanded to 50,000 Foldscope kits. Those who received the kits were encouraged to share their experiences using the microscope on a website, Foldscope Explore, so that Prakash's team could see how people could use the Foldscope. Examples of uses submitted by testers include a plant pathologist in Rwanda who used it to examine fungi on banana crops and Maasai children in Tanzania who used it to check cow feces for parasites.
The goal of this project is not only to supply microscopes to those who would not otherwise have access to them but also to advance the general study of biomimicry. By encouraging thousands of volunteers to submit findings about the microorganisms they observe in their local environment, Prakash hopes to find more organisms that could provide clues about how to build new tools that take advantage of these organisms' natural abilities.[2]
In October 2015, India's Department of Biotechnology announced a program to make Foldscopes available across India at 80 approved colleges and programs. It will be used as a teaching tool for students in biology, chemistry and physics. After the pilot program, the department hopes to work with Prakash to develop more low-cost science tools.[9] Foldscope sets will also be produced and tested in Kenya and Uganda.[6]
Although the Foldscope has proven itself useful for a number of tasks, it is not currently adapted to be used as a medical
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Pollen of Pithecellobium dulce seen with the Foldscope
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Pollens of Delonix regia seen with the Foldscope
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Pollen of Samanea saman seen with the Foldscope
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A. niger under the Foldscope
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Fungus on garlic cloves seen with the Foldscope
References
- ^ PMID 24940755.
- ^ a b c d e f "A Microscope to Save the World". The New Yorker. 14 December 2015. Retrieved 2015-12-22.
- ^ Coxworth, Ben (11 March 2014). "Folding paper microscope could reduce deaths from malaria". Gizmag. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
- ^ Mathews, Lee (11 March 2014). "Foldscope is a 50-cent paper microscope that magnifies up to 2000 times". Geek.com. Archived from the original on 15 March 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
- ^ a b c d Mukunth, Vasudev (12 March 2014). "A disposable microscope for as little as $1". The Hindu. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
- ^ a b c d Wakefield, Jane (11 March 2014). "Ultra-cheap 'origami' microscope developed". BBC News. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
- ^ Newby, Kris (13 March 2014). "Free DIY microscope kits to citizen scientists with inspiring project ideas". Scope. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
- ^ "Foldscope paper microscope can diagnose malaria, costs 50 cent". CBC News. 13 March 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
- .
Further reading
- Stanford bioengineer develops a 50-cent paper microscope on Stanford Medicine [Scope Blog]
- Stanford microscope inventor featured on TED Talk on Stanford Medicine [Scope Blog]
- Foldscope: Origami-based paper microscope, James Cybulski, James Clements, Manu Prakash, 5 March 2014, Cornell University Library.