UC2 – A Versatile and Customizable low-cost 3D-printed Optical Open-Standard for microscopic imaging

AbstractWith UC2 (You-See-Too) we present an inexpensive 3D-printed microscopy toolbox. The system is based on concepts of modular development, rapid-prototyping and all-time accessibility using widely available off-the-shelf optic and electronic components. We aim to democratize microscopy, reduce the reproduction crisis and enhance trust into science by making it available to everyone via an open-access public repository. Due to its versatility the aim is to boost creativity and non-conventional approaches. In this paper, we demonstrate a development cycle from basic blocks to different microscopic techniques. First, we build a bright-field system and stress-test it by observing macrophage cell differentiation, apoptosis and proliferation incubator-enclosed for seven days with automatic focussing to minimize axial drift. We prove versatility by assembling a system using the same components to a fully working fluorescence light-sheet system and acquire a 3D volume of a GFP-expressing living drosophila larvae. Finally, we sketch and demonstrate further possible setups to draw a picture on how the system can be used for reproducible prototyping in scientific research. All design files for replicating the experimental setups are provided via an open-access online repository (https://github.com/bionanoimaging/UC2-GIT) to foster widespread use.

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A versatile and customizable low-cost 3D-printed open standard for microscopic imaging

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-020-19447-9 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Benedict Diederich ◽

René Lachmann ◽

Swen Carlstedt ◽

Barbora Marsikova ◽

Haoran Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fluorescent Protein ◽

Low Cost ◽

Optical Resolution ◽

Light Sheet ◽

Transgenic Zebrafish ◽

Development Cycle ◽

Open Standard ◽

Resolution Level ◽

3D Printed ◽

Green Fluorescent

AbstractModern microscopes used for biological imaging often present themselves as black boxes whose precise operating principle remains unknown, and whose optical resolution and price seem to be in inverse proportion to each other. With UC2 (You. See. Too.) we present a low-cost, 3D-printed, open-source, modular microscopy toolbox and demonstrate its versatility by realizing a complete microscope development cycle from concept to experimental phase. The self-contained incubator-enclosed brightfield microscope monitors monocyte to macrophage cell differentiation for seven days at cellular resolution level (e.g. 2 μm). Furthermore, by including very few additional components, the geometry is transferred into a 400 Euro light sheet fluorescence microscope for volumetric observations of a transgenic Zebrafish expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP). With this, we aim to establish an open standard in optics to facilitate interfacing with various complementary platforms. By making the content and comprehensive documentation publicly available, the systems presented here lend themselves to easy and straightforward replications, modifications, and extensions.

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Validation of an effective, low cost, Free/open access 3D-printed stethoscope

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0193087 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. e0193087 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Alexander Pavlosky ◽

Jennifer Glauche ◽

Spencer Chambers ◽

Mahmoud Al-Alawi ◽

Kliment Yanev ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Open Access ◽

Low Cost ◽

3D Printed

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An Open-Access and Inexpensive 3D Printed Otoscope for Low-Resource Settings

10.21203/rs.3.rs-518019/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Matteo Capobussi ◽

Lorenzo Moja

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Open Access ◽

Open Source ◽

Low Cost ◽

Health Needs ◽

Diagnostic Assessment ◽

Diagnostic Tools ◽

Construction Process ◽

3D Printed ◽

Common Problems

Abstract Limited access to key diagnostic tools is detrimental to priority health needs of populations. Ear pain, tenderness, itching, and different degree of hearing loss are common problems which require otoscopy as first diagnostic assessment. Where an otoscope is not available because of budget constraints, a self-fabricated low-cost otoscope might represent a feasible opportunity. In this paper, we share the design and construction process of an open-source, 3D printed, otoscope. The prototype was compared to a commercial solution, demonstrating similar overall quality between the instruments.

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An open-access and inexpensive 3D printed otoscope for low-resource settings and health crises

3D Printing in Medicine ◽

10.1186/s41205-021-00127-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Matteo Capobussi ◽

Lorenzo Moja

Keyword(s):

Hearing Loss ◽

Open Access ◽

Open Source ◽

Low Cost ◽

Health Needs ◽

Diagnostic Assessment ◽

Diagnostic Tools ◽

Construction Process ◽

3D Printed ◽

Common Problems

AbstractLimited access to key diagnostic tools is detrimental to priority health needs of populations. Ear pain, tenderness, itching, and different degree of hearing loss are common problems which require otoscopy as first diagnostic assessment. Where an otoscope is not available because of budget constraints, a self-fabricated low-cost otoscope might represent a feasible opportunity. In this paper, we share the design and construction process of an open-source, 3D printed, otoscope. The prototype was compared to a commercial solution, demonstrating similar overall quality between the instruments.

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Influence of Printing Orientation on the Dynamic Characteristics and Vibration Behavior of 3D Printed Structures

Volume 1: 37th Computers and Information in Engineering Conference ◽

10.1115/detc2017-68289 ◽

2017 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kumar Vikram Singh ◽

Fazeel Khan ◽

Jacob Veta ◽

Anil Kumar Singh

Keyword(s):

3D Printing ◽

Complex Modulus ◽

Low Cost ◽

Rapid Development ◽

Vibration Behavior ◽

Curve Fit ◽

Development Cycle ◽

3D Printed ◽

Printed Materials ◽

Printing Direction

Rapid development in the field of additive manufacturing, evidenced, in part, by the proliferation of low cost 3D printing, has accelerated the prototyping and design evaluation stages of the product development cycle. 3D printed structures have shown variations in their material properties as a function of the printing orientation. Moreover, thermoplastic materials which are often used as filament materials for 3D printing are known to have dependency on temperature, frequency and strain rate. Hence, the aim of this research is to estimate the variations in the complex modulus of the printed materials as a function of printing direction. This will allow an estimation of the variation in the vibration characteristics (natural frequencies, damping) of the printed structures as a function of printing direction. To this end, PLA beams were printed in four different orientations. A dynamic mechanical analyzer was used to measure mechanical properties of the printed beams. By using a curve fit method, the frequency and temperature dependent complex modulus is estimated. These complex moduli are used for estimating the eigenvalues of a non-dimensional beam. The observed variability in the vibration behavior as a function of the printing orientation is summarized here.

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Pioneering Low-Cost 3D-Printed Transtibial Prosthetics to Serve a Rural Population in Sierra Leone

SSRN Electronic Journal ◽

10.2139/ssrn.3745177 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Merel van der Stelt ◽

Martin P. Grobusch ◽

Abdul R. Koroma ◽

Marco Papenburg ◽

Ismaila Kebbie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sierra Leone ◽

Rural Population ◽

Low Cost ◽

3D Printed

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UV Inscription and Pressure Induced Long-Period Gratings through 3D Printed Amplitude Masks

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s21061977 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (6) ◽

pp. 1977

Author(s):

Ricardo Oliveira ◽

Liliana M. Sousa ◽

Ana M. Rocha ◽

Rogério Nogueira ◽

Lúcia Bilro

Keyword(s):

State Of The Art ◽

Low Cost ◽

Resonance Wavelength ◽

Complex Structures ◽

Pressing Method ◽

Long Period ◽

Long Period Gratings ◽

3D Printed ◽

Mechanical Pressing ◽

First Time

In this work, we demonstrate for the first time the capability to inscribe long-period gratings (LPGs) with UV radiation using simple and low cost amplitude masks fabricated with a consumer grade 3D printer. The spectrum obtained for a grating with 690 µm period and 38 mm length presented good quality, showing sharp resonances (i.e., 3 dB bandwidth < 3 nm), low out-of-band loss (~0.2 dB), and dip losses up to 18 dB. Furthermore, the capability to select the resonance wavelength has been demonstrated using different amplitude mask periods. The customization of the masks makes it possible to fabricate gratings with complex structures. Additionally, the simplicity in 3D printing an amplitude mask solves the problem of the lack of amplitude masks on the market and avoids the use of high resolution motorized stages, as is the case of the point-by-point technique. Finally, the 3D printed masks were also used to induce LPGs using the mechanical pressing method. Due to the better resolution of these masks compared to ones described on the state of the art, we were able to induce gratings with higher quality, such as low out-of-band loss (0.6 dB), reduced spectral ripples, and narrow bandwidths (~3 nm).

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BoSL FAL Pump: a small, low-cost, easily constructed, 3D-printed peristaltic pump for sampling of waters

HardwareX ◽

10.1016/j.ohx.2021.e00214 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. e00214

Author(s):

David T. McCarthy ◽

Baiqian Shi ◽

Miao Wang ◽

Stephen Catsamas

Keyword(s):

Low Cost ◽

Peristaltic Pump ◽

3D Printed

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Using low-cost 3D-printed models of prenatal ultrasonography for visually-impaired expectant persons

Patient Education and Counseling ◽

10.1016/j.pec.2021.02.033 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Romain Nicot ◽

Edwige Hurteloup ◽

Sébastien Joachim ◽

Charles Druelle ◽

Jean-Marc Levaillant

Keyword(s):

Visually Impaired ◽

Low Cost ◽

Prenatal Ultrasonography ◽

3D Printed

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Microstructured Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensor Based on Inkjet 3D Printing Using Photocurable Resins with Tailored Refractive Index

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym13152518 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (15) ◽

pp. 2518

Author(s):

Nunzio Cennamo ◽

Lorena Saitta ◽

Claudio Tosto ◽

Francesco Arcadio ◽

Luigi Zeni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Surface Plasmon Resonance ◽

3D Printing ◽

Surface Plasmon ◽

Plasmon Resonance ◽

Optical Sensor ◽

Low Cost ◽

3D Print ◽

Spr Sensor ◽

Resonance Sensor ◽

3D Printed

In this work, a novel approach to realize a plasmonic sensor is presented. The proposed optical sensor device is designed, manufactured, and experimentally tested. Two photo-curable resins are used to 3D print a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor. Both numerical and experimental analyses are presented in the paper. The numerical and experimental results confirm that the 3D printed SPR sensor presents performances, in term of figure of merit (FOM), very similar to other SPR sensors made using plastic optical fibers (POFs). For the 3D printed sensor, the measured FOM is 13.6 versus 13.4 for the SPR-POF configuration. The cost analysis shows that the 3D printed SPR sensor can be manufactured at low cost (∼15 €) that is competitive with traditional sensors. The approach presented here allows to realize an innovative SPR sensor showing low-cost, 3D-printing manufacturing free design and the feasibility to be integrated with other optical devices on the same plastic planar support, thus opening undisclosed future for the optical sensor systems.

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