Built-in Camera Research Articles

Spinal Neurosurgery with the Head-mounted “Varioscope” Microscope

We present a preliminary report on the intra-operative use of a head-mounted microscope ("Varioscope" Leica HM500) in spinal neurosurgery. The Varioscope is a dynamic microscope mounted on a head-set. It weights 297 g and measures 73 x 120 x 63 mm (length x width x height). It offers an infinitely variable range of magnification from 3.6x to 7.2x. The working distance ranges from 300 to 600 mm. The field of view varies between 30-144 mm, depending on the selected enlargement factor and the working distance. In addition to the zoom function, the device offers a focus function (automatic or on demand). The optical elements for focus and zoom are located in two separate tubes which are mounted on a middle section containing the mechanical components as well as the receiver unit for the focussing elements. The lenses are adjusted by means of motor-driven push/pull cables. The autofocus works well in larger operative fields and a working distance between 30 and 60 cm. Nevertheless, when used in today's "keyhole" approaches, the autofocus is not helpful when operating in deep structures. Based on the satisfactory results achieved in our series, we can recommend the Varioscope, especially when no stationary microscope is available. The portable device can be packed in a suitcase and can travel with the consultant microsurgeon to different hospitals and distant units. The built-in video camera is ideal for patients, staff, assistant surgeons, and student education with real-time video monitoring of procedures from the microsurgeon's perspective. For daily microsurgery, we felt more comfortable with fixed, stationary operating microscopes.

Nasogastric tube insertion assisted with the AirwayScopeTM in a patient with cervical spine instability

To the Editor, It has been shown that the AirwayScope (AWS; IMI Co., LTD., Koshigaya, Saitama, Japan), which is a newly developed videolaryngoscope consisting of a built-in monitor, camera, and disposable introducer, INTLOCK, has a distinct advantage compared with the Macintosh laryngoscope when it is used in patients with cervical spine instability and/or restricted neck movement. The AirwayScope can also facilitate nasogastric tube insertion in patients with cervical spine instability. An 82-year-old male patient, who had a predicted difficult airway due to a C5 fracture dislocation and the use of the halo vest, was scheduled for surgical stabilization of a cervical spine fracture. Following application of routine monitors and preoxygenation with the halo vest in situ, anesthesia was induced with propofol 1 mg kg iv and butorphanol 10 lg kg iv, followed by vecuronium 0.1 mg kg iv. After bag-mask ventilation with a facemask using 3% sevoflurane in 100% oxygen at a fresh gas flow of 6 L min for 3 min, the patient’s trachea was intubated with a reinforced 8.0 mm endotracheal tube (Covidien, Mansfield, MA, USA) without difficulty, using the AirwayScope. After correct endotracheal tube position was confirmed, the airway was secured, and the AirwayScope was again inserted into the patient’s mouth to obtain views of both the pharyngeal and laryngeal areas. Thereafter, a lubricated 16 Fr. nasogastric tube (Terumo Co., Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan) was inserted via the left nostril until it reached the pharyngeal area (Fig. 1). The gastric tube was inserted easily under indirect vision without use of Magill forceps or additional maneuvers (Fig. 1). We used the AirwayScope to facilitate nasogastric tube insertion in this patient, since other known maneuvers related to insertion, including forward displacement of the larynx, may cause compression of an unstable cervical spine. Consistent with our report, a previous study documented that another video laryngoscope, GlideScope, successfully supported nasogastric tube insertion in surgical patients. We propose that using the videolaryngoscope to facilitate a nasogastric tube insertion may be more critical in patients with cervical instability, and that this maneuver may be effective to detect points where tube insertion could be interrupted (arytenoids, cartilages, and piriform sinuses).

A portable dental image viewer using a mobile network to provide a tele-dental service

We tested three imaging devices for suitability in emergency dental situations for telemedicine. The three devices were a special-purpose oral camera, a digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera, and the built-in camera of a mobile phone. A total of 20 subjects volunteered to take part in the study. We simulated five different conditions which could affect the quality of the image and measured image transmission times across two widely available mobile networks (a CDMA-based 3G network and a Wireless Broadband Network, WiBRO). The DSLR produced the best quality images, although it was a relatively large device and not easy to use. The oral camera failed to give satisfactory images under certain conditions (i.e. without extra lighting, out of focus and head motion). In contrast, the mobile phone based camera was very easy to use and to handle, and it gave good information for initial diagnosis, even at high compression ratios. If the image acquisition conditions are carefully set up, this device might be the best for emergency dental trauma situations.

Indoor Positioning and Navigation with Camera Phones

This low-cost indoor navigation system runs on off-the-shelf camera phones. More than 2,000 users at four different large-scale events have already used it. The system uses built-in cameras to determine user location in real time by detecting unobtrusive fiduciary markers. The required infrastructure is limited to paper markers and static digital maps, and common devices are used, facilitating quick deployment in new environments. The authors have studied the application quantitatively in a controlled environment and qualitatively during deployment at four large international events. According to test users, marker-based navigation is easier to use than conventional mobile digital maps. Moreover, the users' location awareness in navigation tasks improved. Experiences drawn from questionnaires, usage log data, and user interviews further highlight the benefits of this approach.

Cellular Phones Helping To Get a Clearer Picture of Kinematics

The main purpose of this paper is to add to the list of examples of how cell phones may be used as teaching tools in the classroom.1 One very interesting example of this comes from the study of projectile motion, the classical “cannon ball” problem. This problem is central to the study of kinematics, the very first topic a student meets in physics. Our approach exploits the fact that these days almost all students carry cellular phones and the vast majority of the phones have built-in cameras.

A Mobile Phone Wayfinding System for Visually Impaired Users.

In past work [1] we described a novel system for aiding blind and visually impaired persons in wayfinding – the process of finding one’s way to a destination. This system consists of a mobile phone held by the user that detects and reads specially designed printed signs (Fig. 1) using its built-in camera. Experiments have demonstrated the ability of blind and visually impaired persons using the system to locate these signs (which are read aloud using synthetic speech) at distances of up to several meters [2]. Fig. 1 System concept. Bottom: system detects wayfinding sign and provides appropriate directional guidance. Top: Building floor plan shows placement of multiple signs, each identifying a unique location. We have augmented our system with new functionality that provides directional guidance to a desired destination, rather than simply reading aloud every sign that is visible. Each sign identifies a unique location in the building, and thus the system is able to use these signs as a form of “indoor GPS” to determine the user’s current location. Whenever a sign is detected the system refers to a building map (previously loaded into memory) and provides audio directions (e.g. “turn left”) to guide the user to any desired destination from his/her current location (see Fig. 1). The ID of a sign, which identifies its spatial location, is encoded by the colors it contains (the four colors in the sign can be combined to form 24 different spatial arrangements). The particular arrangement of colors in a sign is deciphered by the mobile phone during detection. Special provisions have been added with respect to the original algorithm of [1] to improve detection robustness via shape analysis. If a larger set of ID’s is needed, then a bar code can be added to the sign, as in [1]. Finally, we conducted experiments showing that visually impaired subjects are able to use the system to find locations on one floor of an office building.

A mobile phone system to find crosswalks for visually impaired pedestrians

Urban intersections are the most dangerous parts of a blind or visually impaired pedestrian's travel. A prerequisite for safely crossing an intersection is entering the crosswalk in the right direction and avoiding the danger of straying outside the crosswalk. This paper presents a proof of concept system that seeks to provide such alignment information. The system consists of a standard mobile phone with built-in camera that uses computer vision algorithms to detect any crosswalk visible in the camera's field of view; audio feedback from the phone then helps the user align him/herself to it. Our prototype implementation on a Nokia mobile phone runs in about one second per image, and is intended for eventual use in a mobile phone system that will aid blind and visually impaired pedestrians in navigating traffic intersections.

Expressive 3D face for mobile devices

Beyond being a digital appliance, a mobile device now increases overall quality of life by providing easy access to value-adding information. We can, however, embed media customization technology into these devices to further enhance their usage. Humanoid/anthropomorphic avatars are considered a user-friendly technology for realizing a media customization environment. This research formulates a computerized and expressive 3D face, which can be utilized as a mobile avatar. Input images are obtained from a built-in mobile camera. The resulting, customized 3D face is systematically generated by the mobile device. Six facial expressions are simulated by facial muscle motions embedded in the 3D mobile face. The generated 3D mobile face and expressions can be exported to other compatible formats to increase usability. Finally, the system validation is conducted by a focus group study1.

Calling off Cell Phones

IN APRIL 2006 New York City school district added to its 26-page code of student conduct, which included ban on beepers, pagers, and other personal communications devices, prohibition against bringing cell phones to school authorization. On 13 July 2006, Chancellor's Parent Advisory Council and eight parents of children in New York City public schools filed suit in state court, challenging cell phone rule. While recognizing that cell phones in school could substantially disrupt learning process, plaintiffs claimed that enforcing ban on use, not possession, of cell phones within schools would be both sufficient and appropriate to address this problem. They based their claim on New York law that provides for judicial review of actions of administrative agencies and on constitutional doctrine concerning parents' liberty to rear--including communicate with--their They sought declaratory relief, injunction against the wholesale confiscation of cell phones found in possession of New York City public school students, and attorney's fees. On 7 May 2007, New York trial court judge Lewis Bart Stone issued detailed decision in favor of defendant district. (1) As preliminary matter, Judge Stone cleared away various procedural impediments to prompt decision on merits. For example, he denied both sides' requests for factual investigations, concluding that additional information was not necessary for fair resolution of issue. Similarly, he denied two applications to submit amicus curiae (friend of court) briefs, pointing out what he perceived to be abuse of this privilege in recent years. Judge Stone observed: Unfortunately, process has deteriorated and some of those claiming to be amici are really enemies posing in friend's clothing. As for New York's law that provides for judicial review of actions of administrative agencies, Judge Stone identified applicable standard as whether disputed rule has rational basis. After pointing out dizzying pace at which cell phones continue to evolve beyond their original format as mere portable telephones, so that they now offer e-mail capacity, Internet access, Bluetooth capability, and built-in cameras, Judge Stone concluded that rule did have rational basis: problems of enforcing plaintiffs' proffered alternative of ban on cell phone use. Comparing schools to judicial institution, which has extensive resources for security and whose clientele are adults, rather than children who lack mature self-control, Judge Stone observed that federal courts had banned possession of cell phones within their buildings and that his New York court's ban on use of cell phones had not stopped distractions and disturbances that these devices cause in courtroom. Judge Stone found additional rational basis in need for rule to address dynamism of cell phone technology. He explained that allowing phones with only basic telephone features would pose offsetting problems for both school personnel and parents, at least in an urban public school system of million children. While recognizing that parents and children have come to increasingly rely on cell phones, Judge Stone observed that plaintiffs had not proposed a practically viable alternative which could be appropriately ordered by court to be applicable to all of schools in New York City to ban only use but permit possession of cell phones in school, and he pointed to special-circumstances exception provided in without authorization condition of district's cell phone policy. Finally and significantly, Judge Stone made clear that proper forum for weighing and choosing among alternative policy choices is legislature or school board, not judiciary. With regard to constitutional claims, Judge Stone first clarified that plaintiffs' challenge was limited to modality of parent/child communication and that neither State nor Federal constitutions include any express 'constitutional right to bear cell phones. …

Why Is a Raven Like a Writing Desk?

Many answers have been proposed to the riddle that the Mad Hatter posed to Alice at their famous tea party (for example, because Poe wrote on both). Let me argue for yet another one: the power of convention. As I compose this essay, the writing desk I am using is a spanking new Ma cintosh laptop with many gigabytes of storage and enormous computing power. Its screen is a marvel of full color clarity; it has a built-in video camera and microphone, and hence allows multiple methods of input and output. Yet it has a QWERTY key board. Why QWERTY? The QWERTY keyboard, named for the order of the keys on the left side of the first row of letter keys, was in vented in 1873 by Christopher Sholes, a Milwaukee newspaper editor. Its purpose was to split up keys that were commonly hit serially so that a too-fast typist would not jam the associated type bars. In addition to its primary goal of slowing things down, it also aided left-handed English language typists, for far more words can be typed with only the keys under the left hand than under the right. Now, since its purpose has been long anachronistic, why do we still persist in using it? The reason is, of course, the power of convention. After it became the conventional keyboard layout and touch typists learned it, they were

1A1-F17 受動倒立型センサノードによる環境情報収集(ネットワークロボティクス)

The paper reports the improvement prototype of sensor node for gathering disaster information and some experimental results for setting-up and organizing sensor network. New prototype of sensor node equips an advanced passive pendulum mechanism than the former model for setting the direction of built-in camera uniformly. The main improvement of the mechanism was achieved by the design variation of the mechanism that supported center of gravity. Moreover, the information gathering function was improved by dealing with moving image. The experiment confirmed the functional advancement of the mechanism and the information gathering performance.

소형 디지털 카메라의 손떨림 보정 기능을 위한 임베디드 제어 시스템의 구현

This paper presents the design and implementation of an embedded image stabilization control system for a mobile phone with a built-in camera. Image stabilization is a family of techniques for reducing image blur resulting from minute camera shake due to hand-held shooting, thereby allowing the use of shutter speeds slower than values normally required to obtain sharp images. A mechanical image stabilizer mechanism developed for a camera mobile phone is introduced and a digital control system as a part of the image stabilization system is designed and implemented on an 8-bit microcontroller with integer arithmetic in C. This paper focuses primarily on issues that need to be taken into consideration for fixed-point implementation of the digital controller. Several experimental results are presented to demonstrate the performance of the implemented image stabilization control system.

A novel use of photo messaging in the assessment of nasal fractures

We evaluated a new method of assessing patients referred to the otolaryngology department with nasal injury. Patients possessing a mobile phone with built-in camera took an image of their face and sent it to the department for assessment. A decision was then made as to whether the patient needed further consultation or treatment. This method of nasal fracture assessment might avoid unnecessary referrals to the department. A prospective single blinded study was carried out. Twenty-five patients with a nasal injury took photographs of their face using a mobile phone camera. These images were reviewed and assessment made about whether a nasal fracture was present. The patient was then clinically assessed, the clinical examination being the 'gold standard' method of assessment. There was little agreement between photographic and clinical assessment. Sixty-two percent of patients who were clinically assessed to have a nasal fracture requiring manipulation were not picked up on assessment of their image. The greatest agreement with clinical assessment was the patient's own opinion as to whether there was new deviation of their nasal bone.

Visual DNA - Identification of DNA sequence variations by bead trapping

In this paper we describe a method that uses the nearly covalent strength biotin–streptavidin interaction to attach a paramagnetic bead of micrometer size to a DNA molecule of nanometer size, scaling up the spatial size of a query DNA strand by a factor of 1000, making it visible to the human eye. The use of magnetic principles enables rapid binding and washing of detector beads, facilitating a readout of amplified DNA sequences in a few minutes. Here we exemplify the method on mitochondrial DNA variations using an array platform. Visual identification and documentation can be performed with an ordinary mobile phone equipped with a built-in camera.

Melanoma Screening with Cellular Phones

BackgroundMobile teledermatology has recently been shown to be suitable for teledermatology despite limitations in image definition in preliminary studies. The unique aspect of mobile teledermatology is that this system represents a filtering or triage system, allowing a sensitive approach for the management of patients with emergent skin diseases.Methodology/Principal FindingsIn this study we investigated the feasibility of teleconsultation using a new generation of cellular phones in pigmented skin lesions. 18 patients were selected consecutively in the Pigmented Skin Lesions Clinic of the Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Graz, Graz (Austria). Clinical and dermoscopic images were acquired using a Sony Ericsson with a built-in two-megapixel camera. Two teleconsultants reviewed the images on a specific web application (http://www.dermahandy.net/default.asp) where images had been uploaded in JPEG format. Compared to the face-to-face diagnoses, the two teleconsultants obtained a score of correct telediagnoses of 89% and of 91.5% reporting the clinical and dermoscopic images, respectively.Conclusions/SignificanceThe present work is the first study performing mobile teledermoscopy using cellular phones. Mobile teledermatology has the potential to become an easy applicable tool for everyone and a new approach for enhanced self-monitoring for skin cancer screening in the spirit of the eHealth program of the European Commission Information for Society and Media.

It's all about you: my resolutions for 2007.

AT THE END OF 2006, TIME MAGAZINE announced its Person of the Year: You. The editors explained that instead of selecting a great person for this honor, they chose to view the world through a different lens. What they discovered was "a story about community and collaboration on a scale never seen before. It's about the cosmic compendium of knowledge Wikipedia and the million-channel people's network You Tube and the online metropolis MySpace. It's about the many wresting power from the few and helping one another for nothing and how that will not only change the world, but also change the way the world changes" (1). * Last July, this column focused on the arrival of Web 2.0 and its various software tools (2). Web 2.0 is not just the next version of web software. It is what TIME calls a revolution. It is, in fact, all about you. It is you who write a daily blog. It is you who have entered the world of FaceBook. It is you podcasting your lectures. It is you who have your classes add to the knowledge base on Wikipedia. It is you, as Grossman says in TIME, who are part of "a massive social experiment" (1). So, for my new year's resolutions, I have decided to create my own technology goals for participating in this social experiment and helping my students understand the positive, negative, and unintended consequences that this revolution can have on health care and nursing. Here are four of my resolutions for 2007: 1 I WILL ESTABLISH A SKYPE[TM] ACCOUNT AND BEGIN TO DIALOGUE WITH MY INTERNATIONAL COLLEAGUES AND STUDENTS. For the last year or so, colleagues have been urging me to get an account so that we can chat. I tried to install the software about a year ago but it did not work properly on my Macintosh computer. Recently, I bought a new Mac laptop with a built-in camera, so now I am ready to go. My greatest incentive for tackling the Skype installation happened this summer while I was traveling to an international conference in Korea. I went the conference armed with 1,000 minutes on my AT&T calling card, only to learn that one call to the United States equals 800 minutes. Like many Americans whose cell phones did not work, I spent a fortune making long-distance calls home while European colleagues were calling home on their Skype accounts. So what is Skype? According to Wikipedia, it is a peer-to-peer voice-over IP (VoIP) communications network, founded by entrepreneurs Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis and acquired by eBay[R] in October 2005. According to Wikipedia, "the Skype communications system is notable for its broad range of features, including free voice and video conferencing, and its ability to use peer-to-peer (decentralized) technology to overcome common firewall and NAT (Network address translation)." (See http://en .wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype.) Skype uses downloadable software that works both in the PC and Mac world. Download the software from www.skype.com and watch a short video that serves as an introduction to the whole notion of using Skype to make free calls to other members. A host of other features can be configured for your Skype account. You can use SkypeOut, which allows you to use your computer to call any phone in the United States and in the world. As of January 31, the yearly rate for this service for unlimited calls within the US and Canada is $29.95. Requirements are a SkypeOut account and a headset with a microphone. SkypeIn allows you to have a regular phone number that friends and family can use to call you no matter where you physically may be. Suppose you are on sabbatical in Paris and want your friends and family in Denver to call you frequently. They will pay only for a call to Denver--not to France. You can also get Skype voicemail with this service. Skype has features for videoconferences, group audioconferences, group chats, public chats, and more, including Skypecasts that are live, moderated discussions with 100 different users. …

Phase transition of starch granules observed by microscope under shearless and shear conditions

The phase transitions of starch granules of cornstarches with different amylose/amylopectin contents (waxy: 0/100; maize: 23/77; Gelose 50: 50/50; Gelose 80: 80/20) were systematically studied under shearless and shear conditions. A microscope with a hot-stage was used to observe phase transition under shearless conditions during heating and isothermally at different temperatures. Phase transition under shear conditions was investigated using a rheoscope – a controlled rate/controlled stress rheometer with a built-in high-resolution video camera. An increase in starch granule diameter, disappearance of birefringence and granule disappearing were used to describe the phase transition. The diameter growth rate and final accretion ratio sequence of starch granules during heating under shearless conditions was waxy > maize > G50 > G80, which correspond with amylose/amylopectin ratio. The growth rate of granular diameter under shear conditions was controlled by two factors: swelling and dissolving. Starch granules were destroyed under shear conditions, but some could still be identified under shearless conditions up to about 100 °C. Granules totally disappeared in a very short time after gelatinization under shear stress conditions. Increased amylose content led to a lower granule diameter growth rate and accretion ratio, and a higher temperature before birefringence disappeared. It was found that the higher the melting temperature of the amylose–lipid complex, the higher the gelatinization temperature, and the amylose detected by differential scanning calorimetry in the high-amylose starches is proposed as an explanation of the results observed by microscope.

Image Transfer by Mobile Phones in Neurosurgery

Image transfer by mobile phones with built-in cameras (1 Megapixel CCD digital camera, 7 stage digital zoom, max. picture size 858 x 1 144 pixels, display resolution 240 x 320 dots, 262 K colour system CGS LCD) was introduced into clinical practice in the author's department in July 2004 to improve communication between neurosurgeons. During the first 12 months of use 13-72 images per month with an average of 1.4 images/case were transmitted via the regular German mobile phone net (GRPS standard, 40 KBit/s) among all neurosurgeons. Most images were transferred from the resident on call to the senior neurosurgeon backing him up. Overall, the system was extremely reliable, quick, and enabled immediate decisions in all emergency situations. In conclusion, image transfer by mobile phones has significantly improved communication within our department.

Tagging products and people

In May 2006, William Koretsky made medical history when he became the first emergency patient to be identified from an implanted radiofrequency identification (RFID) chip. Koretsky, a 44‐year‐old sergeant with the Bergen County Police Department (NJ, USA), had crashed his car into a tree during a high‐speed chase. When he was taken to hospital, an emergency‐room scan revealed an RFID chip in his arm, which had been implanted in 2004 for identification purposes at the suggestion of his police chief. Doctors retrieved the ID number, identified Koretsky using an online database, reviewed his health history and learned that he had type 1 diabetes. While treating his other injuries, physicians quickly began monitoring Koretsky's blood sugar level. The RFID chip, which was manufactured by VeriChip (Delray Beach, FL, USA), might have saved his life. “I was unable to communicate, but the chip talked for me,” Koretsky said. “I couldn't lose the chip, like I could a MedicAlert® bracelet. The VeriChip™ was a home run.” Valeria Kaplan ![][1] RFID chips are increasingly exploited in healthcare, but not always under such dramatic circumstances. They are being used, for example, to address the emerging threats of diversion, theft and counterfeit of medications—from commonly used drugs, such as statins, to narcotics that are resold on the street. However, while politicians and government agencies consider their use in healthcare settings, privacy and consumer advocates worry about the safety and the possible abuse of RFID technology. As prices for RFID chips and readers have fallen, the technology has been taken up commercially, especially by retail giants such as Wal‐Mart in the USA, Tesco and Marks & Spencer in the UK, and Metro in Germany, which use them to track their inventory from suppliers, through their warehouses and into stores. The US Department of Defense is also a big … [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif

Evaluation of a mobile health system for supporting postoperative patients following day surgery

A system based on mobile phones with built-in cameras has been developed for the postoperative management of patients sent home after day surgery. The system allows patients to send pictures and pulse oximetry measurements to a hospital server in a few seconds. Health professionals can then see what patients are describing and make a more objective estimate of the patients' status. Over a five-month period, a total of 49 patients used the system. A total of 222 images were sent, the average image delivery time being 29 s (SD 11). In nine cases (18%), the availability of images modified the treatment, and a visit to an emergency unit was avoided in eight of them who had blood-stained dressings and normal haematomas. The patients who had their treatment modified sent more images (an average of 5.4/patient) than those for whom images confirmed the correct treatment (3.1/patient). Each telephone call lasted for a mean duration of 18 min (range 8-34). The patient satisfaction data showed that all the aspects studied were evaluated in a very positive way, with 96% of the patients completely satisfied with the attention received by the mobile health application.