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Gadget Turns Phone Into Microscope

CellScope could help curb outbreaks of disease in developing world

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 22, 2009 4:29 PM CDT

(Newser) – A new gadget could mean big improvements for health care in the developing world. Called the CellScope, the device attaches to any cell phone with a camera, turning it into a microscope, Science Blogs reports. Invented by researchers at UC Berkeley, the CellScope also features an LED that can detect cell stains used to identify diseases such as malaria in clinical samples.

The CellScope, a device that turns a camera phone into a microscope, is seen in this photo from the Fletcher lab.
The CellScope, a device that turns a camera phone into a microscope, is seen in this photo from the Fletcher lab.   (CellScope)
The CellScope, a device that turns a camera phone into a microscope, is seen in this photo from UC Berkeley's Fletcher lab.
The CellScope, a device that turns a camera phone into a microscope, is seen in this photo from UC Berkeley's Fletcher lab.   (Fletcher Lab, UC Berkeley)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
riffran
Jul 23, 2009 10:06 AM CDT
kinda like the story about the U.S. space agency spending a bunch of money on a pen that could work inverted or in zero grav.......the russians used a pencil...lol....
Mr.C
Jul 23, 2009 4:56 AM CDT
stop thinking of yourself.
Mr.C
Jul 23, 2009 4:56 AM CDT
Amazingly useful technology. I wish more of our engineering minds focused on simple solutions to complex problems. da vinci would be proud.

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