Semi-permanent smartphone adapter for microscopes: Design demonstration and workflow testing using a slit-lamp biomicroscope
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 mount...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2019-01-01
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| Series: | Taiwan Journal of Ophthalmology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.e-tjo.org/article.asp?issn=2211-5056;year=2019;volume=9;issue=2;spage=111;epage=117;aulast=Yen |
| _version_ | 1818978005962194944 |
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| author | Chieh-Hung Yen Guo-Quan Wang Tommy Y Lin Chun-Hsiu Liu |
| author_facet | Chieh-Hung Yen Guo-Quan Wang Tommy Y Lin Chun-Hsiu Liu |
| author_sort | Chieh-Hung Yen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T16:36:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1641097f6cde4ac88e64f36458bee7f2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2211-5056 2211-5072 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T16:36:46Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Taiwan Journal of Ophthalmology |
| spelling | doaj.art-1641097f6cde4ac88e64f36458bee7f22022-12-21T19:33:08ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsTaiwan Journal of Ophthalmology2211-50562211-50722019-01-019211111710.4103/tjo.tjo_19_18Semi-permanent smartphone adapter for microscopes: Design demonstration and workflow testing using a slit-lamp biomicroscopeChieh-Hung YenGuo-Quan WangTommy Y LinChun-Hsiu LiuBACKGROUND: 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.http://www.e-tjo.org/article.asp?issn=2211-5056;year=2019;volume=9;issue=2;spage=111;epage=117;aulast=YenMicroscopyphotomicrographyslit lampslit-lamp microscopysmartphone |
| spellingShingle | Chieh-Hung Yen Guo-Quan Wang Tommy Y Lin Chun-Hsiu Liu Semi-permanent smartphone adapter for microscopes: Design demonstration and workflow testing using a slit-lamp biomicroscope Taiwan Journal of Ophthalmology Microscopy photomicrography slit lamp slit-lamp microscopy smartphone |
| title | Semi-permanent smartphone adapter for microscopes: Design demonstration and workflow testing using a slit-lamp biomicroscope |
| title_full | Semi-permanent smartphone adapter for microscopes: Design demonstration and workflow testing using a slit-lamp biomicroscope |
| title_fullStr | Semi-permanent smartphone adapter for microscopes: Design demonstration and workflow testing using a slit-lamp biomicroscope |
| title_full_unstemmed | Semi-permanent smartphone adapter for microscopes: Design demonstration and workflow testing using a slit-lamp biomicroscope |
| title_short | Semi-permanent smartphone adapter for microscopes: Design demonstration and workflow testing using a slit-lamp biomicroscope |
| title_sort | semi permanent smartphone adapter for microscopes design demonstration and workflow testing using a slit lamp biomicroscope |
| topic | Microscopy photomicrography slit lamp slit-lamp microscopy smartphone |
| url | http://www.e-tjo.org/article.asp?issn=2211-5056;year=2019;volume=9;issue=2;spage=111;epage=117;aulast=Yen |
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