Development of telemedicine system with slit lamp 3D transmission system

Abstract

Purpose: To develop telemedicine system with slit lamb 3D transmission system.

Methods: Telemedicine system was developed with two connecting Hi-Vision cameras, “Side by Side” 3D image with each output by 3D processor, and outputs 3D image to the monitor. 3D monitor is composed of circularly-polarized system of high-intensity with a wide viewing angle, and provides the 3D image using polarize glasses. Three types of artificial eyes was evaluated under the slit lamp 3D transmission system (3D imaging), 2D system (2D imaging), and the conventional slit lamp (direct viewing) by 5 ophthalmologists. Artificial eyes were graded 0 to 3 about stereoscopic effect, anterior chamber depth and conjunctive injection.

Results: Stereoscopic effect was graded to be 2.3±0.8 in 3D imaging, 0.2±0.4 in 2D imaging, and 1.1±0.3 in direct viewing (p=0.001, ANOVA on ranks). Anterior chamber depth was evaluated to be 2.2±0.6 in 3D imaging, 1.9±0.6 in 2D imaging, and 2.0±0.6 in direct viewing (p=0.317, ANOVA on ranks). Conjunctive injection was 0.5±0.5 for all evaluation. (p=1.0, ANOVA on ranks).

Conclusions: Our study demonstrates the potential benefit of ophthalmic assessment by the newly developed slit-lamp 3D transmission system for remote medicine. This system can promote spreading advanced medicine including regenerative medicine.

Keywords: 550 imaging/image analysis: clinical • 421 anterior segment