Digital image acquisition for ophthalmoscope

Abstract

This project was performed in order to satisfy a need – to provide an ophthalmoscope with digital data acquisition. In fact, most ophthalmoscopes do not contain the data recording ability. Therefore, the main advantages of a digital ophthalmoscope are, among others, better quality data sharing, the possibility of exam‟s reassessment and improved medical teaching. Moreover, this work and the concept of a possible solution were the product of on-going discussion between BlueWorks and clinical staff working at Coimbra University Hospital. Once the challenge was presented, several prototype‟s technical drawings were idealized in AutoCAD® 2011 environment and a number of experiments in optics laboratory were accomplished as well. In the end, the prototype developed contains a camera inside and it fits into the Panoptic™ ophthalmoscope. In order to verify its capacity to record retinal images, the prototype has been clinically tested and its outcomes have been markedly positive. Usually, a technical solution by itself does not mean success. In fact, its performance must create impact in order to be considered essential. In this particular case, ocular fundus pathologies should be detected and data should be acquired with best possible quality, this being ultimately the purpose of this scientific project. Taking into account its growing impact in medical community, the prototype is now being recommended in daily clinical practice.