Abstract
Microscopy plays a crucial role in the diagnosis of numerous diseases. However, the need for trained microscopists and pathologists, the complexity of pathology, and the accessibility and affordability of the technology can hinder the provision of rapid and high-quality diagnoses and healthcare. In this work, we present an affordable, 3D-printed, portable, robotic, mobile-based slide scanning microscope. The proposed device is composed of electronic, mechanical, and optical modules operated via smartphone with a control app. The device is connected and fully integrated with a telemedicine web platform, where digitized microscopy images can be remotely visualized and analyzed. The robotic scanner, which has approximately 1-µm resolution, has been evaluated in two clinical scenarios with histology and stool samples. The results showed sufficient image quality for performing a proper diagnosis in all cases under study.
Highlights
Microscopy plays a crucial role in the evaluation and diagnosis required by many medical disciplines, including microbiology, parasitology, or pathology
The mechanical stage of the proposed device has been developed with aim to produce a compact, cost-effective design, enabled by the production of 3D printed parts
Upon comparing these results with the ones obtained in a standard microscope, the resolution of images offered by this lens would be equivalent to a 10× microscope objective
Summary
Microscopy plays a crucial role in the evaluation and diagnosis required by many medical disciplines, including microbiology, parasitology, or pathology. Systems that could digitize microscope slides in a rapid, simple, and cheap manner could help bypass the dearth of microscopes, and more importantly, the scarcity of trained microscopists, as well as allow for the more specialized or even automated (artificial intelligence based) evaluation of the slides requiring microscopic evaluation It was seventy years ago when the concept of portable microscopy was firstly conceived by the hand of McArthur [2], guiding the portable microscopy industry path for several decades with many iterations of portable microscopes commercialized [2,3]. Collins et al presented OpenFlexure, a 3D printed microscope scanner using low-cost stepper motors [11] Implementation of those systems remains a difficult prospect for many institutions, especially those with stakeholders unfamiliar with these technologies. FFiigguurree11.. ((AA)) OOvveerrvviieewwooff tthhee ddeessiiggnnoofftthheepprrooppoosseeddddeevviiccee..TThheepphhoonneeiissppllaacceeddssooiittiissaalliiggnneeddwwiitthhtthheeooppttiiccss..FFooccuussiinngg wwhheeeellisisuusseeddtotommoovveeththeevevretrictiaclaalxaixsiosfotfhtehseyssytesmtemforfoorpotipctailcfaolcfuosc.u(sB. )(BIn)tIenratecrtaiocntiobnetbweetewnetehnet3hme 3aimn acoinmcpoomnpenotnseonftsthoef dtheveidcee,viincecl,uindcinlugdtihneghtharedhwaardrew, tahree,stmhearstmphaortnpehaonnde calnodudcloseurdvisceersv.ices
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