Imec scientists reach zero-G to test lens-free imaging

Share this on social media:

Imec researchers on-board the parabolic flight. Credit Imec

Researchers at Imec USA have had the chance to test some of their technology at zero gravity.

The group posted a video on LinkedIn of them and the test rig on-board a parabolic flight.

The aim was to demonstrate that Imec's diagnostic testing devices – namely silicon nanofluidics for blood sample handling and lens-free imaging for blood cell imaging – would work in microgravity.

Both components are part of a diagnostics platform from MiDiagnostics. Blood flow through the components was shown to operate at zero-G as it does on Earth, which gave the researchers confidence that the kit can be deployed in space for diagnostic testing of astronauts.

Imec's lens-free imaging microscope doesn't use optical components, but rather reconstructs an image from a hologram generated by interference patterns. The technology is able to resolve cells down to 1µm at very wide fields of view, 20mm2 or more.

Image: Caleb Foster/shutterstock.com

22 November 2022

Stephen Su shares how Arm’s Cortex-M85 processor and software ecosystem can be leveraged to overcome the constraints of microcontroller unit platforms

16 March 2023

Researchers have developed a new technology for imaging neuron activity within the brain at high resolution, scale, and speed (Image: Shutterstock/Suliman Razvan)

29 March 2023

The scanning device is capable of producing detail deemed suitable for monitoring skin diseases and analysing the rate of change in wound healing

08 February 2023

Image: Caleb Foster/shutterstock.com

22 November 2022

Researchers have been able to compensate for the disturbance entagled photons experience during propagation through a scattering layer and restore entanglement at the output

23 January 2023

Image: Caleb Foster/shutterstock.com

22 November 2022