Pocket MUSE: an affordable, versatile and high-performance fluorescence microscope using a smartphone

Commun Biol. 2021 Mar 12;4(1):334. doi: 10.1038/s42003-021-01860-5.

Abstract

Smartphone microscopes can be useful tools for a broad range of imaging applications. This manuscript demonstrates the first practical implementation of Microscopy with Ultraviolet Surface Excitation (MUSE) in a compact smartphone microscope called Pocket MUSE, resulting in a remarkably effective design. Fabricated with parts from consumer electronics that are readily available at low cost, the small optical module attaches directly over the rear lens in a smartphone. It enables high-quality multichannel fluorescence microscopy with submicron resolution over a 10× equivalent field of view. In addition to the novel optical configuration, Pocket MUSE is compatible with a series of simple, portable, and user-friendly sample preparation strategies that can be directly implemented for various microscopy applications for point-of-care diagnostics, at-home health monitoring, plant biology, STEM education, environmental studies, etc.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacteria
  • Equipment Design
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence / instrumentation*
  • Mobile Applications*
  • Mouth Mucosa
  • Plants
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Smartphone*
  • Specimen Handling
  • Staining and Labeling