Developing portable widefield fundus camera for teleophthalmology: Technical challenges and potential solutions

2021 ◽  
pp. 153537022110634
Author(s):  
Xincheng Yao ◽  
Taeyoon Son ◽  
Jiechao Ma
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Field Of View ◽  
Fundus Photography ◽  
Contact Mode ◽  
Fundus Camera ◽  
Fundus Imaging ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Compact Design ◽  
Contact Free ◽  
Indirect Illumination

A portable, low cost, widefield fundus camera is essential for developing affordable teleophthalmology. However, conventional trans-pupillary illumination used in traditional fundus cameras limits the field of view (FOV) in a snapshot image, and frequently requires pharmacologically pupillary dilation for reliable examination of eye conditions. This minireview summarizes recent developments in alternative illumination approaches for widefield fundus photography. Miniaturized indirect illumination has been used to enable compact design for developing low cost, portable, widefield fundus camera. Contact mode trans-pars-planar illumination has been validated for ultra-widefield fundus imaging of infant eyes. Contact-free trans-pars-planar illumination has been explored for widefield imaging of adult eyes. Trans-palpebral illumination has been also demonstrated in a smartphone-based widefield fundus imager to foster affordable teleophthalmology.

scholarly journals Non-contact smartphone-based fundus imaging compared to conventional fundus imaging: a low-cost alternative for retinopathy of prematurity screening and documentation

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maximilian W. M. Wintergerst ◽  
Michael Petrak ◽  
Jeany Q. Li ◽  
Petra P. Larsen ◽  
Moritz Berger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Retinopathy Of Prematurity ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Field Of View ◽  
Fundus Examination ◽  
Fundus Imaging ◽  
Examination Time ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity ◽  
Rop Screening ◽  
Good Agreement

AbstractRetinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a frequent cause of treatable childhood blindness. The current dependency of telemedicine-based ROP screening on cost-intensive equipment does not meet the needs in economically disadvantaged regions. Smartphone-based fundus imaging (SBFI) allows for affordable and mobile fundus examination and, therefore, could facilitate cost-effective telemedicine-based ROP screening in low-resources settings. We compared non-contact SBFI and conventional contact fundus imaging (CFI) in terms of feasibility for ROP screening and documentation. Twenty-six eyes were imaged with both SBFI and CFI. Field-of-view was smaller (ratio of diameters, 1:2.5), level of detail was equal, and examination time was longer for SBFI as compared to CFI (109.0 ± 57.8 vs. 75.9 ± 36.3 seconds, p < 0.01). Good agreement with clinical evaluation by indirect funduscopy was achieved for assessment of plus disease and ROP stage for both SBFI (squared Cohen’s kappa, 0.88 and 0.81, respectively) and CFI (0.86 and 0.93). Likewise, sensitivity/specificity for detection of plus disease and ROP was high for both SBFI (90%/100% and 88%/93%, respectively) and CFI (80%/100% and 100%/96%). SBFI is a non-contact and low-cost alternative to CFI for ROP screening and documentation that has the potential to considerably improve ROP care in middle- and low-resources settings.

scholarly journals Learning curve evaluation upskilling retinal imaging using smartphones

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Linus G. Jansen ◽  
Payal Shah ◽  
Bettina Wabbels ◽  
Frank G. Holz ◽  
Robert P. Finger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Image Quality ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Field Of View ◽  
Retinal Images ◽  
Fundus Imaging ◽  
Resource Limited ◽  
Examination Time ◽  
Significant Difference

AbstractSmartphone-based fundus imaging (SBFI) is a low-cost approach for screening of various ophthalmic diseases and particularly suited to resource limited settings. Thus, we assessed how best to upskill alternative healthcare cadres in SBFI and whether quality of obtained images is comparable to ophthalmologists. Ophthalmic assistants and ophthalmologists received a standardized training to SBFI (Heine iC2 combined with an iPhone 6) and 10 training examinations for capturing central retinal images. Examination time, total number of images, image alignment, usable field-of-view, and image quality (sharpness/focus, reflex artifacts, contrast/illumination) were analyzed. Thirty examiners (14 ophthalmic assistants and 16 ophthalmologists) and 14 volunteer test subjects were included. Mean examination time (1st and 10th training, respectively: 2.17 ± 1.54 and 0.56 ± 0.51 min, p < .0001), usable field-of-view (92 ± 16% and 98 ± 6.0%, p = .003) and image quality in terms of sharpness/focus (p = .002) improved by the training. Examination time was significantly shorter for ophthalmologists compared to ophthalmic assistants (10th training: 0.35 ± 0.21 and 0.79 ± 0.65 min, p = .011), but there was no significant difference in usable field-of-view and image quality. This study demonstrates the high learnability of SBFI with a relatively short training and mostly comparable results across healthcare cadres. The results will aid implementing and planning further SBFI field studies.

scholarly journals Technical light-field setup for 3D imaging of the human nerve head validated with an eye model

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 433-436
Author(s):  
Stefan Schramm ◽  
Alexander Dietzel ◽  
Maren-Christina Blum ◽  
Dietmar Link ◽  
Sascha Klee
Keyword(s):  
Optic Nerve ◽  
Optic Nerve Head ◽  
Light Field ◽  
Green Light ◽  
Depth Estimation ◽  
Field Of View ◽  
Fundus Photography ◽  
Depth Information ◽  
Fundus Camera ◽  
Eye Model

Abstract With the new technology of 3D light field (LF) imaging, fundus photography can be expanded to provide depth information. This increases the diagnostic possibilities and additionally improves image quality by digitally refocusing. To provide depth information in the human optic nerve head such as in glaucoma diagnostics, a mydriatic fundus camera was upgraded with an LF imager. The aim of the study presented here was the validation of the technical setup and resulting depth estimations with an appropriate eye model. The technical setup consisted of a mydriatic fundus camera (FF450, Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Jena, Germany) and an LF imager (R12, Raytrix GmbH, Kiel, Germany). The field of view was set to 30°. The eye model (24.65 mm total length) consisted of a two-lens optical system and interchangeable fundus models with papilla excavations from 0.2 to 1 mm in steps of 0.2 mm. They were coated with red acrylic lacquer and vessels were drawn with a thin brush. 15 images were taken for each papilla depth illuminated with green light (wavelength 520 nm ± 20 nm). Papilla depth was measured from the papilla ground to the surrounding flat region. All 15 measurements for each papilla depth were averaged and compared to the printed depth. It was possible to perform 3D fundus imaging in an eye model by means of a novel LF-based optical setup. All LF images could be digitally refocused subsequently. Depth estimation in the eye model was successfully performed over a 30° field of view. The measured virtual depth and the printed model papilla depth is linear correlated. The presented LF setup allowed high-quality 3D one-shot imaging and depth estimation of the optic nerve head in an eye model.

scholarly journals Magnetic iron oxide/clay nanocomposites for adsorption and catalytic oxidation in water treatment applications

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 1148-1166
Author(s):  
Ganjar Fadillah ◽  
Septian Perwira Yudha ◽  
Suresh Sagadevan ◽  
Is Fatimah ◽  
Oki Muraza
Keyword(s):  
Iron Oxide ◽  
Water Treatment ◽  
Photocatalytic Oxidation ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Synthesis Method ◽  
Chemical Oxidation ◽  
Magnetic Iron Oxide ◽  
Oxidation Processes ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Physical And Chemical

AbstractPhysical and chemical methods have been developed for water and wastewater treatments. Adsorption is an attractive method due to its simplicity and low cost, and it has been widely employed in industrial treatment. In advanced schemes, chemical oxidation and photocatalytic oxidation have been recognized as effective methods for wastewater-containing organic compounds. The use of magnetic iron oxide in these methods has received much attention. Magnetic iron oxide nanocomposite adsorbents have been recognized as favorable materials due to their stability, high adsorption capacities, and recoverability, compared to conventional sorbents. Magnetic iron oxide nanocomposites have also been reported to be effective in photocatalytic and chemical oxidation processes. The current review has presented recent developments in techniques using magnetic iron oxide nanocomposites for water treatment applications. The review highlights the synthesis method and compares modifications for adsorbent, photocatalytic oxidation, and chemical oxidation processes. Future prospects for the use of nanocomposites have been presented.

scholarly journals Revisiting Electrochemical Biosensing in the 21st Century Society for Inflammatory Cytokines Involved in Autoimmune, Neurodegenerative, Cardiac, Viral and Cancer Diseases

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 189
Author(s):  
Susana Campuzano ◽  
Paloma Yáñez-Sedeño ◽  
José Manuel Pingarrón
Keyword(s):  
Point Of Care ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Accurate Determination ◽  
Test Time ◽  
Electrochemical Biosensing ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Inflammatory Processes ◽  
Human Skills ◽  
Cancer Diseases

The multifaceted key roles of cytokines in immunity and inflammatory processes have led to a high clinical interest for the determination of these biomolecules to be used as a tool in the diagnosis, prognosis, monitoring and treatment of several diseases of great current relevance (autoimmune, neurodegenerative, cardiac, viral and cancer diseases, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes). Therefore, the rapid and accurate determination of cytokine biomarkers in body fluids, cells and tissues has attracted considerable attention. However, many currently available techniques used for this purpose, although sensitive and selective, require expensive equipment and advanced human skills and do not meet the demands of today’s clinic in terms of test time, simplicity and point-of-care applicability. In the course of ongoing pursuit of new analytical methodologies, electrochemical biosensing is steadily gaining ground as a strategy suitable to develop simple, low-cost methods, with the ability for multiplexed and multiomics determinations in a short time and requiring a small amount of sample. This review article puts forward electrochemical biosensing methods reported in the last five years for the determination of cytokines, summarizes recent developments and trends through a comprehensive discussion of selected strategies, and highlights the challenges to solve in this field. Considering the key role demonstrated in the last years by different materials (with nano or micrometric size and with or without magnetic properties), in the design of analytical performance-enhanced electrochemical biosensing strategies, special attention is paid to the methods exploiting these approaches.

scholarly journals Diagnostic Capabilities of a Smartphone- Based Low-Cost Microscope

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 522-525
Author(s):  
Dorina Hasselbeck ◽  
Max B. Schäfer ◽  
Kent W. Stewart ◽  
Peter P. Pott
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Field Of View ◽  
Parasitic Diseases ◽  
Optical Parameters ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Resource Limited ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Diagnostic Applications ◽  
Diagnostic Capabilities

AbstractMicroscopy enables fast and effective diagnostics. However, in resource-limited regions microscopy is not accessible to everyone. Smartphone-based low-cost microscopes could be a powerful tool for diagnostic and educational purposes. In this paper, the imaging quality of a smartphone-based microscope with four different optical parameters is presented and a systematic overview of the resulting diagnostic applications is given. With the chosen configuration, aiming for a reasonable trade-off, an average resolution of 1.23 μm and a field of view of 1.12 mm2 was achieved. This enables a wide range of diagnostic applications such as the diagnosis of Malaria and other parasitic diseases.

scholarly journals Recent Developments of Antimony-Based Anodes for Sodium- and Potassium-Ion Batteries

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bochao Chen ◽  
Ming Liang ◽  
Qingzhao Wu ◽  
Shan Zhu ◽  
Naiqin Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Potassium Ion ◽  
Research Progress ◽  
Research Directions ◽  
Weak Charge ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
High Theoretical Capacity ◽  
Further Development ◽  
Sodium And Potassium

AbstractThe development of sodium-ion (SIBs) and potassium-ion batteries (PIBs) has increased rapidly because of the abundant resources and cost-effectiveness of Na and K. Antimony (Sb) plays an important role in SIBs and PIBs because of its high theoretical capacity, proper working voltage, and low cost. However, Sb-based anodes have the drawbacks of large volume changes and weak charge transfer during the charge and discharge processes, thus leading to poor cycling and rapid capacity decay. To address such drawbacks, many strategies and a variety of Sb-based materials have been developed in recent years. This review systematically introduces the recent research progress of a variety of Sb-based anodes for SIBs and PIBs from the perspective of composition selection, preparation technologies, structural characteristics, and energy storage behaviors. Moreover, corresponding examples are presented to illustrate the advantages or disadvantages of these anodes. Finally, we summarize the challenges of the development of Sb-based materials for Na/K-ion batteries and propose potential research directions for their further development.

The Single-Rotor Helicopter with Rigidly-Mounted Blades

1963 ◽  
Vol 67 (634) ◽  
pp. 651-663 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. R. Heppe
Keyword(s):  
General Public ◽  
Research Team ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Second World War ◽  
Public Acceptance ◽  
World War ◽  
Mass Market ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Second World

For many years, studies of various light aircraft designs have been carried on by the Lockheed-California Company in search of a vehicle that had the potential of truly generating the “air age”—a vehicle which would perform a useful service to many people, in many jobs. Shortly after the Second World War, these studies were directed along the lines of present-day light aeroplanes, but were eventually discarded upon recognition of the limited utility of these vehicles when related to general public acceptance. However, in 1959, spurred by recent developments in VTOL craft, the Lockheed research team again raised the question, “Is it possible today to develop a vehicle of low cost and with sufficient utility to reach the mass market?”

scholarly journals Recent Developments of Reflectarray Antennas for Reconfigurable Beams Using Surface-Mounted RF-MEMS

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo Carrasco ◽  
Mariano Barba ◽  
Manuel Arrebola ◽  
Jose A. Encinar
Keyword(s):  
Phase Shifter ◽  
Rf Mems ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Phase Control ◽  
Electronic Control ◽  
Delay Lines ◽  
Mems Switches ◽  
Manufacturing Complexity ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Control Devices

Some of the most recent developments in reconfigurable reflectarrays using surface-mounted RF-MEMS, which have been developed at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, are summarized in this paper. The results include reconfigurable elements based on patches aperture-coupled to delay lines in two configurations: single elements and gathered elements which form subarrays with common phase control. The former include traditional aperture-coupled elements and a novel wideband reflectarray element which has been designed using two stacked patches. The latter are proposed as a low cost solution for reducing the number of electronic control devices as well as the manufacturing complexity of large reflectarrays. The main advantages and drawbacks of the grouping are evaluated in both pencil and shaped-beam antennas. In all the cases, the effects of the MEMS switches and their assembly circuitry are evaluated when they are used in a 2-bit phase shifter which can be extended to more bits, demonstrating that the proposed elements can be used efficiently in reconfigurable-beam reflectarrays.

NEW PIEZOELECTRIC SUBSTRATES FOR SAW DEVICES

2000 ◽  
Vol 10 (04) ◽  
pp. 1017-1068 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOHN A. KOSINSKI
Keyword(s):  
Power Flow ◽  
Piezoelectric Materials ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Temperature Phase ◽  
Flow Angle ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Temperature Coefficient Of Frequency ◽  
Piezoelectric Coupling ◽  
Strong Candidate ◽  
Diffraction Effects

Recent developments in single crystal piezoelectric materials have focused on the search for "ideal" materials with zero temperature coefficient of frequency orientations featuring jointly high piezoelectric coupling, high intrinsic Q, zero power flow angle, and minimized diffraction effects. In addition, the desired materials should have no low temperature phase transitions, and a physical chemistry conducive to repeatable, low cost growth and wafer scale device production. As difficult as it might seem to find such "ideal" materials, three completely different but strong candidate materials have emerged recently: the quartz homeotype gallium orthophosphate, the quartz isotype calcium gallo-germanates (langasite, langanite, langatate, etc.), and diomignite (lithium tetraborate). The current state-of-the-art and prospects for future development of these materials are considered.

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