Low-cost 3D printed lenses for brightfield and fluorescence microscopy.

We present the fabrication and implementation of low-cost optical quality 3D printed lenses, and their application as microscope objectives with different prescriptions. The imaging performance of the 3D printed lenses was benchmarked against commercially available optics including a 20 mm focal length 12.7 mm diameter NBK-7 plano-convex lens used as a low magnification objective, and a separate high magnification objective featuring three 6 mm diameter NBK-7 lenses with different positive and negative focal lengths.

Miniaturized structured illumination microscopy using two 3-axis MEMS micromirrors.

We present the development and performance characterisation of a novel structured illumination microscope (SIM) in which the grating pattern is generated using two optical beams controlled via 2 micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) three-axis scanning micromirrors. The implementation of MEMS micromirrors to accurately and repeatably control angular, radial and phase positioning delivers flexible control of the fluorescence excitation illumination, with achromatic beam delivery through the same optical path, reduced spatial footprint and cost-efficient integration being further benefits. Our SIM architecture enables the direct implementation of multi-color imaging in a compact and adaptable package.