Not a Revolution, But a Revolutionary Simplicity!
A couple of days ago, an article that initially seemed like another run-of-the-mill case caught my attention. The authors of "zIncubascope: long-term quantitative imaging of multi-cellular assemblies inside an incubator" (link provided) proved that sometimes "innovation" isn't necessarily about a groundbreaking discovery, but rather about the kind of cleverness that's so desperately needed these days.
There's a significant niche for capturing images of large-scale cell cultures as they grow and change over time. This is a practical need shared by both Big Pharma and Small Labs. While there are "grander" goals like achieving full 3D reconstruction of large cell aggregates (organoids) without light scattering issues or obtaining long-term statistics on these cell clumps with perfect detail, there are also more "mundane" yet crucial challenges faced in everyday lab work. Putting a microscope directly inside a cell incubator creates practical problems like limited space, high costs, and disrupting other experiments because the "only microscope in the room" is unavailable.
This is where the French scientists come in. They decided to build a "custom-made compact optical system dedicated to the observation of a large population of multi-cellular spheroids," which they named zIncubascope. Yes, similar technological solutions exist, but the authors excelled in three key areas:
(1) The entire apparatus fits on a compact 25x30 cm breadboard.
(2) By using readily available shelf components and 3D-printed parts (they even share the CAD files!), the total cost falls below €3,000!
(3) The system is compatible with all objectives with a parfocal length of 45 mm (one of the two industry standards).
There are a few more noteworthy highlights. The zIncubascope features a well-designed Z-drive system that incorporates a simple servo motor to minimize image blurring and compensate for fluctuations in the field of view as the cells grow and change. This is all complemented by custom-made (and publicly available) image analysis code.
Smart design, cost-effectiveness, and a focus on everyday practicality – these elements combine to create a robust and valuable technology that addresses the basic and advanced needs of hard-working researchers.
Well done!
#microscopy #optics #stemcells #3dprinting #imaging
https://shorturl.at/imM08
