The object in the image above is a 3D-printed imaging jig—a prototype of the new biomedical imaging system being developed in the laboratory of electrical engineer Christopher Salthouse. At the core of the system is a powerful integrated circuit that, once refined by Salthouse and the research team, will execute the same functions as the existing generation of unwieldy fluorescence microscopes at a small fraction of the cost. Fluorescence is routinely used to analyze an array of biological samples as a means of marking certain cells, tissues or proteins. This new technology will be a key component of hand-held sensors capable of quickly testing biological samples in the field or home. Learn more.
Photo credit: Amanda Drane