The OpenFlexure Project. The technical challenges of Co-Developing a microscope in the UK and Tanzania
Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.
- Year
- —
- Skill
- medium
- Docs
- moderate
- Rubric
- 3.4 / 5
Implementation assessment
Scoring by criterion
Scores describe accessibility and implementation characteristics reported in the reviewed source. They are not a measure of scientific quality.
Resolution
No clear feature-size or precision evidence found.
Scalability/Throughput
Evidence of parallel, plate-scale, multi-head, or unattended operation.
Build and Part Sourcing Complexity
Mix of common parts and custom/printed components.
Skill Complexity
Build/operation described as low-skill or basic assembly.
Equipment/Cosumable/Facility Requirement Accessibility
Uses common benchtop/desktop equipment or generic consumables.
Application Level
Validated for intended use, but broad generality is unclear.
Accessibility to documentation
Open resources include several build or operation artifacts.
Validation/Troubleshooting Complexity
Validation includes standards, benchmarking, replicates, or multi-condition tests.
Speed/Cycle Time
No clear speed comparison found; assigned neutral score.
Build Time
Build time not reported; assigned neutral score.
Linked tools
Record metadata
Publication data
Crossref and OpenAlex
Publication record
Abstract
The OpenFlexure Microscope is a 3D-printed laboratory-grade motorised microscope. Over the past 3 years, the microscope has primarily been co-developed between the University of Bath and the Tanzanian engineering company STICLab. We are beginning the process of preparing the microscope for medical certification, as an in-vitro diagnostic device. In this paper we detail the technical challenges of remote design of a complex scientific instrument. We believe that identifying and solving these issues is essential if we are to encourage research organisations in the Global North to design instrumentation with Africans, rather than "for Africa".
Bibliographic details
Access and metrics
Topics and keywords
Funding
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
- Royal Society
Perspective and practical signals
Why it matters
Supplemental record retained to make the downloaded paper corpus fully navigable.
Limitations
Metadata is limited to the download manifest and title-derived mapping.