720653Portable High Resolution MicroscopesClosedGRD Development of PrototypeInnovate UKThe basic design of the microscope has not changed since Galileo. Conventional laboratory microscopes produce beautiful images, but are expensive and difficult to use, particularly for younger student scientists and in the field. Low cost microscopes are available, but their images are not good enough for professional use and are unsatisfactory for teaching and training. ioLight has patented a pocket microscope, which will produce images with a resolution of better than 1m (1 micron = 1 thousandth of a millimetre). This means it can produce beautiful images of animal and plant cells clearly showing nuclei and other features inside the cell. This is the first truly portable high precision digital microscope and the UK patent office has recently completed a search validating this claim. Images are produced on the screen of a smart phone or tablet for easy sharing or projection onto a classroom whiteboard.