Semi-permanent smartphone adapter for microscopes: Design demonstration and workflow testing using a slit-lamp biomicroscope

Abstract

BACKGROUND: A smartphone microscope adapter is an alternative to a permanently mounted camera, which often requires a specially designed light path as well as a computer system for data storage and network connectivity. A common disadvantage of these adapters is that they need to be repeatedly mounted and dismounted; this is inconvenient during serial observations. PURPOSE: The study purpose is to develop and test a semi-permanent microscope adapter. METHODS: Our prototype was designed using three-dimensional (3D) computer-aided design software and was 3D printed for testing. Two tests were designed to quantify the workflow improvement by measuring the time required to complete specific movements, which simulated the actions of capturing photographs by using an adapter and a slit-lamp biomicroscope. Our prototype was the experimental adapter, and two commercially available products were used as references. A single-shot test measured the average time required to complete a photographing cycle, in which a single photograph was recorded. A multiple-shot test measured the time required to complete cycles in which a different number of photographs were captured; thus, the time required specifically for the preparation phase of photographing was determined. Both tests were performed by 4 researchers. RESULTS: The average time required to complete a cycle using our prototype in single-shot test was significantly shorter than that using one of the references. For the other reference, significances were shown in 2 testers’ results. In the multiple-shot test, the linear regression analysis also showed that the preparation phase of our prototype was significantly shorter than the preparation phase of the two commercially available products ( P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The semi-permanent design may improve the workflow of photography using smartphone adapters, thereby reducing the time and effort required for preparing devices, particularly when making multiple consecutive observations or when the targets disappear fast.

The use of smartphones in ophthalmology: technological development and application

“…The use of a smartphone in the evaluation of the previous segment allows health professionals and even patients themselves to easily prepare photographs and videos of the eye records when the slit lamp is not available or to facilitate the examination of the eye structures or the presence of foreign bodies in the anterior chamber 14 . There are also devices that allow smartphones to be attached semi-permanently to the slit lamp, reducing assembly time in the case of concomitant use of these devices 15 .…”

Design of a High-Performance Digital Slit-Lamp Microscope with Five-Switched Zoom

“…In other words, five magnifications can be realized in the design. from a smartphone with an SLM via a simple adapter in the eyepiece [13]. A common disadvantage of these adapters is that they need to be repeatedly mounted and dismounted, and this is inconvenient during serial observations.…”

“…The digital image is obtained from the SLM using a camera or smartphone by means of an adapter in the eyepiece [11][12][13][14]. C. Yen et al reported a method of image acquisition from a smartphone with an SLM via a simple adapter in the eyepiece [13]. A common disadvantage of these adapters is that they need to be repeatedly mounted and dismounted, and this is inconvenient during serial observations.…”