The Flexiscope: a Low Cost, Flexible, Convertible, and Modular Microscope with Automated Scanning and Micromanipulation

Abstract

With technologies rapidly evolving, many research institutions are now opting to invest in costly, high-quality, specialised microscopes which are shared by many researchers. As a consequence, the user may not have the ability to adapt a microscope to their specific needs and limitations in experimental design are introduced. A flexible work-horse microscopy system is a valuable tool in any laboratory to meet the diverse needs of a research team and promote innovation in experimental design. We have developed the Flexiscope; a multi-functional, adaptable, efficient and high-performance microscopy/electrophysiology system for everyday applications in a neurobiology laboratory. The core optical components are relatively constant in the three configurations described here; an upright configuration, an inverted configuration and an upright/electrophysiology configuration. We have provided a comprehensive description of the Flexiscope. We show that this method is capable of oblique infrared illumination imaging, multi-channel fluorescent imaging, and automated 3D scanning of larger specimens. Image quality is conserved across the three configurations of the microscope, and conversion between configurations is possible quickly and easily, while the motion control system can be repurposed to allow sub-micron computer-controlled micromanipulation. The Flexiscope provides similar performance and usability to commercially available systems. However, as it can be easily reconfigured for multiple roles, it can remove the need to purchase multiple microscopes, giving significant cost savings. The modular re-configurable nature allows the user to customise the system to their specific needs and adapt/upgrade the system as challenges arise, without requiring specialised technical skills.

Colloblasts act as a biomechanical sensor for suitable prey inPleurobrachia

“…Seahorse Aquariums, Dublin) using glue. Probes were brought into contact with the tentacle fragment (20 mm · min − 1 ), left briefly, and retracted (5 mm · min − 1 ) under 20X magnification video microscopy using an open source microscopy system (14) (Fig. S1).…”

The Incubascope : a simple, compact and large field of view microscope for long-term imaging inside an incubator

“…x-position (mm) Intensity (a.u) ted in Figure 2.C, a signal decrease of only 17% is observed over 8 millimeters which demonstrates the relative homogeneity of both the illumination and the collection efficiency of the system. Additionally, the mechanical stability of the Incubascope over time was evaluated similarly to the procedure described in (8). The signal corresponding to the corner pixel of the opaque square on the test target was evaluated over time.…”

Making Precise and Accurate Single-Molecule FRET Measurements using the Open-Source smfBox

“…Despite the many advantages of smFRET, it is not widely used outside of specialist labs due to the high costs of commercial instruments and a lack of simple, self-build alternatives. A growing trend towards development of low-cost opensource microscopy is taking place and other platforms have recently emerged, including Planktonscope 17 , OpenFlexure Microscope 18 , Flexiscope 19 , miCube 20 , liteTIRF 21 , and Squid 22 . Herein the study describes the protocol for using the smfBox, a recently developed cost-effective confocal set-up capable of measuring the FRET efficiency between two dyes on freely diffusing single molecules.…”