The OpenFlexure Project. The technical challenges of Co-Developing a microscope in the UK and Tanzania

descriptionPublicationkeyboard_double_arrow_right Article , Preprint , Conference object , Contribution for newspaper or weekly magazine 29 Oct 2020 United Kingdom Publisher:IEEEJournal:2020 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC)

Authors: Julian Stirling; Valerian L. Sanga; Paul T. Nyakyi; Grace A. Mwakajinga; Joel T. Collins; Kaspar Bumke; Joe Knapper; +3 Authors

doi: 10.1109/ghtc46280.2020.9342860 , 10.5281/zenodo.3862776 , 10.5281/zenodo.3862777

The OpenFlexure Project. The technical challenges of Co-Developing a microscope in the UK and Tanzania

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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".

Funded by Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851; Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/P029426/1, EP/R011443/1, EP/R013969/1); Royal Society (RGF\EA\181034, URF\R1\180153).

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United Kingdom

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Keywords

Distributed manufacturing, Microscopy, /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2700/2718; name=Health Informatics, /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3300/3301; name=Social Sciences (miscellaneous), /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2700/2739; name=Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2100/2105; name=Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment, Co-Design, Medical Devices, /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3300/3303; name=Development, /dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/affordable_and_clean_energy; name=SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy, /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3300/3306; name=Health(social science), /dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/good_health_and_well_being; name=SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being, /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1100/1102; name=Agronomy and Crop Science, /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1700/1706; name=Computer Science Applications, /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2100/2102; name=Energy Engineering and Power Technology

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