Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh unveiled HemoLens, an open‑source platform designed to assess vascular hemodynamics at a fraction of the cost of commercial systems. HemoLens aims to democratize vascular research by replacing equipment that typically costs more than $40,000 with software and hardware designs that labs can assemble and run affordably. The team positions HemoLens as a research‑grade alternative for studies on blood‑vessel mechanics, device testing and preclinical validation, which could accelerate discovery and lower barriers for smaller academic and industry labs.