Home Ocular Imaging for Remote Pre-Diagnostic Screening
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a shortage of qualified specialists to conduct timely ocular examinations for patients with conditions like diabetic retinopathy and maculopathy, exacerbated by COVID-19, and the need for social distancing has reduced in-person office visits, necessitating a system for patients to self-monitor and enable remote pre-diagnostic evaluations.
Innovation Solution
A home monitoring system that includes an ocular imaging unit connected to a personal computing device, allowing patients to capture images of their ocular anatomy, which are transmitted to a remotely located physician for a pre-diagnostic assessment, with the option for remote initial diagnostic evaluations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If in-person office visits are used for ocular examinations, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but patient access and timeliness are worsened due to specialist shortage and scheduling delays
Solution Approach 1:
The diagnostic process is segmented into two distinct stages: (1) remote pre-diagnostic evaluation using home imaging devices to capture and transmit ocular images for initial assessment, and (2) in-person diagnostic examination for confirmed cases requiring physical presence. This segmentation allows most patients to receive timely preliminary assessments without scheduling delays, while maintaining the option for accurate in-person diagnostics when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
A telemedicine platform serves as an intermediary between patients and specialists, enabling remote transmission of ocular images and facilitating pre-diagnostic evaluations. This intermediary system bridges the gap between patient need and specialist availability, allowing initial assessments to occur without direct in-person contact while preserving the pathway to in-person examination when required.
2Productivity
If more specialists are hired to reduce waiting times, then patient access is improved, but operational cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Patients perform self-screening at home using portable imaging devices and automated guidance systems. The system enables patients to capture their own ocular images and initiate evaluations without requiring specialist time for routine screenings. This self-service approach dramatically increases screening capacity while avoiding the need to hire additional specialists for routine assessments.
Solution Approach 2:
Digital copies of ocular images are created and transmitted remotely for pre-diagnostic evaluation. Instead of requiring physical presence for every assessment, the system uses image copies to enable remote review by specialists or AI algorithms, significantly expanding the number of patients that can be evaluated without proportionally increasing specialist headcount or operational costs.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If in-person visits are reduced for social distancing, then patient safety is improved, but diagnostic capability is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The initial diagnostic evaluation function is extracted from the in-person visit setting and relocated to a remote telemedicine platform. Patients can complete pre-diagnostic assessments from home, eliminating COVID-19 exposure risk for both patients and specialists during the screening phase. The system extracts only the essential imaging and initial evaluation functions that can be performed remotely, while preserving in-person visits for cases requiring physical examination.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of monitoring an ocular anatomy of a patient is described. The method includes initiating remote monitoring of the ocular anatomy of the patient at a location of the patient. At least one first image of the ocular anatomy of the patient is captured using a first imaging unit at the location of the patient. The at least one first image is transmitted to a location of a physician remote from the location of the patient over a network. A command to change a parameter of the first imaging unit is received from the location of the physician. At least one second image of the ocular anatomy of the patient is captured using the first imaging unit with the changed parameter. The at least one second image is then transmitted to the location of the physician.