OpenFlexure Microscope
Detailed Description
Project Details
- In your project's current stage of development, how does it align with the OPENNESS value of the Distributed Design Platform?
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The microscope hardware is are openly developed on GitLab ( https://gitlab.com/openflexure/openflexure-microscope/ ). The full design history is available with almost 2000 snapshots (git commits) of the design in process. All software an associated peripherals are also available on GitLab (https://gitlab.com/openflexure).
Accessibility in open source hardware is often limited in practice by the ability of sufficient documentation to replicate the design. To mitigate this we have written our own open source documentation software called GitBuilding (that is now becoming more widely adopted by other projects) to automatically regenerate the documentation and update the bill of materials whenever changes are made to the design ( https://gitbuilding.io/ ). This has been combined with a custom workflow on GitLab where all production files and renders of every assembly step are built in the cloud using entirely open source code. This state of the art workflow (published: https://doi.org/10.1080/0951192X.2022.2028188 ) combined with GitBuilding automatically produces complete documentation directly and transparently from the code within the repository (for example https://build.openflexure.org/openflexure-microscope/v7.0.0-beta2/ ).
Our commitment to clear and consistent documentation has allowed the project to be built or used on all seven continents and in over 50 countries (see map of locations that we know about https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/openflexure/original/2X/f/f89f4bfa4e5cef7e8331ea981d754541eff1da76.jpeg ). Feedback from users, and collaborators around the world has allowed us to design an instrument that can we are confident be built and used anywhere, from the antarctic sea ice to the rainforest in panama.
The microscope's performance has been openly communicated in many scientific papers ( https://openflexure.org/about/media-publications ) winning the Best Paper prize for the journal Biomedical Optics Express ( https://opg.optica.org/boe/journal/boe/bestpaperprize.cfm )
- In your project's current stage of development, how does it align with the COLLABORATIVE value of the Distributed Design Platform?
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Alongside the code itself the entire project management is handled in the open using GitLab issues (https://gitlab.com/groups/openflexure/-/issues/) and merge requests (https://gitlab.com/groups/openflexure/-/merge_requests) allowing anyone to audit the past design decisions, or to get involved with future planning.
Major project decisions are proposed and approved through a more rigorous system of OpenFlexure Enhancement Proposals. Project members propose and openly discuss changes that will change the long term direction of the project (https://gitlab.com/openflexure/ofep/-/merge_requests). A clear history of these decisions is maintained on a clear website (https://ofep.openflexure.org/index.html).
Participation via code platforms such as GitLab does limit participation. For this reason we have also set up a forum (https://openflexure.discourse.group/) which now has over 400 users. This has brought many more users into the design discussions.
One of the core focuses of the OpenFlexure project has been to use co-design to ensure that the microscope can be easily manufactured by collaborators in Africa, with an end goal of supporting productions of medical microscopes for in vitro diagnostics. As the project has matured from an academic prototype towards a product the team has been careful to openly reflect on successes and also challenges (see https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsta.2023.0257 and https://purehost.bath.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/228465837/Paper.pdf ).
- In your project's current stage of development, how does it align with the REGENERATIVE value of the Distributed Design Platform?
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The OpenFlexure Microscope has been designed to fit a specific need for microscopy, both for medical uses and for research purposes. The microscope is designed to be state of the art in performance, but to always use standard peripherals, widely available cameras and optical components. All custom mechanical components are designed to be 3D printed on entry level 3D printers with commonly available filament.
In the case of medical devices in under-served communities, the majority of equipment that is donated or purchased is not designed for the environment it will be used in. A lack of proprietary spare parts and peripherals renders most equipment unusable. The World Health Organization estimating that 70% of medical equipment in sub-Saharan Africa is not functioning. While we are trying replace the reliance of local clinics on imported devices that cannot be maintained, we are being conscious to do so in a regenerative manner. For over 6 years we have worked with partners in Tanzania to ensure that the microscope can be built in country, is appropriate for local conditions, and can be maintained for the future.
- In your project's current stage of development, how does it align with the ECOSYSTEMIC value of the Distributed Design Platform?
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Any global project must tackle head-on the complexities of cross communication and work. We have linked above to papers discussing the project's transitions from academic prototype into a globally available instrument with humanitarian goals. Much of this work was funded by a UK government program called the Global Challenges Research Fund, these funds allowed our academic team in the UK to work with manufacturing partners in Tanzania. One key learning from this project was the incredible power imbalance in a collaboration between a well funded UK university and a small Tanzanian start-up. As a project team we have found very effective ways to work together to ensure that the project is effective for all partners. After this funding was complete we worked with a social scientist to better capture the lessons learned from this project ( https://doi.org/10.1111/dewb.12340 ) in the hope that this can feed back into the design of future North-South collaborations.
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