Kopernik

90% of tuberculosis cases and 98% of tuberculosis deaths occur in the developing world. In these locations supply-chain limitations, poor infrastructure, remote healthcare facilities, and limited financial resources complicate diagnostic pathways for patients and limit the effectiveness of organized treatment strategies.

 The Global Focus Microscope, with up to 1000x magnification, is designed for the detection of tuberculosis and malaria and can be manufactured for approximately $220, less than one tenth the cost of conventional fluorescence microscopes. The microscope bypasses many expensive conventions of microscope construction by incorporating low-cost parts such as a flashlight as the light source. Because of its small size and weight (less than 2 pounds), mobile screening efforts will be able to bring the fluorescence microscopy standard of care to all patients, regardless of location.  As a result, the microscope allows for a streamlined diagnostic pathway at the point-of-care.  Testing has shown a 100% correlation with similar systems at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, TX, and it is currently in beta production with an industrial engineer."