Handheld Space Microscope

Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX

At left, the scope’s single board computer features rechargeable operation and built-in WiFi. On bottom-right, a self-contained slide staining device (by the same inventors) allows quick viewing of biological cells such as this blood smear. (Image: NASA)

Innovators at NASA Johnson Space Center have developed a handheld digital microscope to fill the critical microscopy needs of human space exploration by providing flight crews in situ hematological diagnostic and tracking ability to assess and monitor crew health in the absence of gravity. Although currently in use aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to work in conjunction with NASA’s handheld slide staining system, the microscope may have numerous applications here on Earth.

The handheld digital microscope features a 3D-printed chassis to house its hardware, firmware, and rechargeable Li-ion battery with built-in power management. (Image: NASA)

The microscope is entirely self-contained, and includes optics, illumination, high-resolution imaging hardware, wireless enabled single board computer with scalable power and memory, and rechargeable battery. It also acts as an internet access point and connects via Bluetooth to smart devices for wireless image transfer and remote control.

The microscope is durable enough to support field use while providing submicron imaging that would typically necessitate the use of larger more expensive benchtop microscopes. The cost of manufacturing the microscope may be relatively inexpensive through the utilization of 3D-printed components, and COTS hardware such as interchangeable microscope objectives.

The handheld digital microscope features a 3D-printed chassis to house its hardware, firmware, and rechargeable Li-ion battery with built-in power management. It incorporates an internal stainless-steel cage system to enclose and provide mechanical rigidity for the optics and imaging sensor. To reduce the microscope’s size, yet retain high spatial resolution, engineers devised an optical light path that uniquely folds back on itself using high reflectivity mirrors, thus significantly reducing internal volume.

Imaging control and acquisition is performed using a secure web-based graphical user interface accessible via any wireless enabled device. The microscope serves as its own wireless access point thus obviating the need for a pre-existing network. This web interface enables multiple simultaneous connections and facilitates data sharing with clinicians, scientists, or other personnel as needed. Acquired images can be stored locally on the microscope server or on a removable SD card. Data can be securely downloaded to other devices using a range of industry standard protocols.

Although the handheld digital microscope was originally developed for in-flight medical diagnosis in microgravity applications, prototypes were thoroughly ground-tested in a variety of environments to verify the accurate resolve of microbial samples for identification and compositional analysis for terrestrial field use. Owing to its portability, other applications demanding rapid results may include research, education, veterinarian, military, telemedicine, and point-of-care medicine.

NASA is actively seeking licensees to commercialize this technology. Please contact NASA’s Licensing Concierge at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call at 202-358-7432 to initiate licensing discussions. For more information, visit here .