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LETTER TO EDITOR |
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Year : 2018 | Volume
: 7
| Issue : 1 | Page : 14-15 |
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Applicability of ‘simple smartphone adapter for digital photomicrography’ in reducing operator effort in photomicrography
Himel Mondal1, Shaikat Mondal2
1 Department of Physiology, MKCG Medical College, Ganjam, Odisha, India 2 Department of Physiology, Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Date of Submission | 05-Nov-2017 |
Date of Acceptance | 08-Dec-2017 |
Date of Web Publication | 11-Mar-2022 |
Correspondence Address: Himel Mondal Department of Physiology, MKCG Medical College, Ganjam - 760 004, Odisha. India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/ijhi.ijhi_9_17
How to cite this article: Mondal H, Mondal S. Applicability of ‘simple smartphone adapter for digital photomicrography’ in reducing operator effort in photomicrography. Int J Histopathol Interpret 2018;7:14-5 |
How to cite this URL: Mondal H, Mondal S. Applicability of ‘simple smartphone adapter for digital photomicrography’ in reducing operator effort in photomicrography. Int J Histopathol Interpret [serial online] 2018 [cited 2023 Sep 22];7:14-5. Available from: https://www.ijhi.org/text.asp?2018/7/1/14/339329 |
Sir,
It is well documented that smartphone cameras can be used to capture image from microscope; however, the major difficulty is focusing through the eyepiece.[1] Smartphone adapters are available to overcome the difficulty. However, procurement of these devices is not possible from all the countries, and the cost is relatively high.[2] A simple smartphone adapter for digital photomicrography (sSADP) has been developed for stable focusing during image capture from microscope. This is made up of a metallic cylinder attached to a cardboard which has an opening for the camera lens. This adapter can be made with common tools available in every household and with scrap material.[3] Hence, the cost of this device is nominal. This type of sSADP can be made in any setting where advanced microscope with image capture facility is not available.
The aim of this study was to check the feasibility and applicability of the sSADP in reducing operator effort in capturing photomicrograph.
Fourteen of our colleagues who previously captured image from microscope with freehand technique from the department of physiology, microbiology and pathology were invited to photomicrography by smartphone aided with sSADP. Each participant was requested to capture image from microscope with smartphone camera with barehand technique for 3 times. Time from starting camera program to capture image was noted down. Then, the procedure of capturing image by smartphone camera aided with sSADP was described to them. After that, they captured image from the microscope with smartphone and sSADP. The time between holding smartphone and sSADP to capture image was recorded for 3 times. Time between initial contact of metallic cylinder with eyepiece to capture image were also noted. [Figure 1] shows two photographs captured from different angle during photomicrography by a mobile device aided with sSADP. | Figure 1: Photographs showing a participant capturing image from microscope eyepiece with mobile phone aided with simple smartphone adapter for digital photomicrography (a) photo captured from front of the operator, (b) photo captured from back of the operator
Click here to view |
After data collection, mean and standard deviation of the required time were calculated with the help of Spreadsheet software. Paired t-test was used to compare the mean time to capture image with freehand technique and the method aided with sSADP.
All participants were able to capture image from microscope with barehand technique and aided with sSADP. Mean time for capturing image from microscope with barehand technique and with sSADP is shown in [Table 1]. There was significant reduction (P < 0.001) in time for capturing image with smartphone camera aided with sSADP while compared with barehand technique. Mean time from initial contact of metallic cylinder with the eyepiece to capture image was 8.24 ± 0.77 s. | Table 1: Comparison of time required to capture image from microscope by smartphone camera unaided and aided with simple smartphone adapter for digital photomicrography by 14 operators
Click here to view |
From this study, it is evident that sSADP helps in reducing time for focusing through the microscope eyepiece, and this reduces the effort of the operator in digital photomicrography.
Acknowledgement | |  |
We thank Dr. Shaik Taheruddin, Department of Microbiology, MKCG Medical College, Odisha, for his help in photography during this study. We thank the participants who actively participated in this study.
Financial support and sponsorship | |  |
Nil.
Conflicts of interest | |  |
There are no conflicts of interest.
References | |  |
1. | Maude RJ, Koh GC, Silamut K. Taking photographs with a microscope. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2008;79:471-2. |
2. | Roy S, Pantanowitz L, Amin M, Seethala RR, Ishtiaque A, Yousem SA, et al. Smartphone adapters for digital photomicrography. J Pathol Inform 2014;5:24.  [ PUBMED] [Full text] |
3. | Mondal H, Mondal S, Das D. Development of a simple smartphone adapter for digital photomicrography. Indian Dermatol Online J 2017;8:485-6.  [ PUBMED] [Full text] |
[Figure 1]
[Table 1]
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