Design of a new 3D printed all-in-one magnetic smartphone adapter for fundus and anterior segment imaging

Giovanni Rubegni; Alessandra Cartocci; Linda Tognetti; Gianmarco Tosi; Massimiliano Salfi; Andrea Caruso; Niccolò Castellino; Matteo Orione; Francesco Cappellani; Matteo Fallico; Fabiana D'Esposito; Andrea Russo; Caterina Gagliano; Teresio Avitabile

doi:10.1177/11206721241246187

Design of a new 3D printed all-in-one magnetic smartphone adapter for fundus and anterior segment imaging

Eur J Ophthalmol. 2024 Apr 22:11206721241246187. doi: 10.1177/11206721241246187. Online ahead of print.

Affiliations

¹ Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
² Dermatology Unit, Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurosciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
³ Department of mathematics and informatics, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
⁴ Department of Ophthalmology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
⁵ Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, University of Naples Federico II, Napoli, Italy.

PMID: 38644806
DOI: 10.1177/11206721241246187

Abstract

Purpose: To describe and validate a 3D-printed adapter tool which could be used with either a slit lamp or a condensing lens, interchangeable between devices through magnetic fastening, in order to provide physicians a quick, easy and effective method of obtaining clinical photos.

Materials and methods: Three specialists, with at least 4-year experience in ophthalmology, gave a rate of image quality obtained by our device and the diagnostic confidence grade. The 3 specialists conducted each 13 or 14 examinations with the smartphone and magnetic adapter. At the end of evaluation, they rated with the Likert scale the ease of use of the device in obtaining clinical images of the anterior segment and ocular fundus respectively.

Results: Data of quality perception and confidence demonstrated high values not dissimilar to the "de visu" eye examination. Moreover the instrument we designed turned out to be very user friendly.

Conclusion: Our adapter coupled with a modern smartphone was able to obtain 4k images and videos of anterior segment, central and peripheral fundus, in an easy and inexpensive way.

Keywords: Diagnostic Studies < ORBITAL DISEASE; Examination Techniques < CORNEA / EXTERNAL DISEASE; Legal Aspects of Medical/surgical therapy < SOCIOECONOMICS AND EDUCATION IN MEDICINE/OPHTHALMOLOGY; Practice management < SOCIOECONOMICS AND EDUCATION IN MEDICINE/OPHTHALMOLOGY; Preventive medicine/Screening < SOCIOECONOMICS AND EDUCATION IN MEDICINE/OPHTHALMOLOGY; Retinal Pathology / Research < RETINA; Systemic Drug Retinal Toxicity < RETINA; Telemedicine < SOCIOECONOMICS AND EDUCATION IN MEDICINE/OPHTHALMOLOGY.