Foldscope: Origami-Based Paper Microscope

2014/03/05 by James Cybulski, James S. Cybulski, James Clements +1 · 1 voice · 12 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Engineering · #Advanced Materials and Mechanics #Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques #Biosensors and Analytical Detection #physics.ed-ph #physics.optics #physics.pop-ph

paper · pdf · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0098781

openalex publication_date 2014/06/18 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29

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.

Cited by

• The urgent need for microbiology literacy in society: children as educators
• Schistoscope: An Automated Microscope with Artificial Intelligence for Detection of Schistosoma haematobium Eggs in Resource-Limited Settings
• Low cost and open source multi-fluorescence imaging system for teaching and research in biology and bioengineering
• A 3D-printed hand-powered centrifuge for molecular biology
• ESPressoscope: a small and powerful platform for in situ microscopy
• Robotic microscopy for everyone: the OpenFlexure microscope
• Picroscope: low-cost system for simultaneous longitudinal biological imaging
• Fostering science awareness through outreach workshops: bridging the gap between science and society
• An open-source, high-resolution, automated fluorescence microscope
• The LEGO® brick road to open science and biotechnology
• Paper-based spintronics: magneto-resistivity of permalloy deposited onto paper substrates
• Using Deep Learning for Segmentation and Counting within Microscopy Data

Discussions

• Stanford engineers invent 50-cent microscope [hn, 5 points, 1 comments]

Related

• Foldscope microscope, an inexpensive alternative tool to conventional microscopy—Applications in research and education: A review
• Versatile, open-access opto-mechanics platform for optical microscopes prototyping
• Robotic microscopy for everyone: the OpenFlexure microscope
• Portable, low-cost, desktop microscope
• Sculpting light with paper for computational mobile phone microscopy