EP3874314A2

EP3874314A2 - System for activating digital acquisition of a sample through an optical instrument

Info

Publication number: EP3874314A2
Application number: EP19797261.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Miguel LUENGO OROZ; Daniel CUADRADO SÁNCHEZ; Maria Postigo Camps; Jaime GARCIA VILLENA; Alexander VLADIMIROV BAKARDIJIEV; Adriana Illana Otero; Jose Alberto NISTAL HERNAN-SAIZ; Jose Emilio TORRES MATESANZ
Original assignee: Spotlab SL
Current assignee: Spotlab SL
Priority date: 2018-10-31
Filing date: 2019-10-30
Publication date: 2021-09-08
Also published as: WO2020089289A3; WO2020089289A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to the digitalization of images, and more specifically to a system for activating the digital acquisition of an image with a digitalization device coupled to an optical instrument such as, for example, a microscope, a telescope, a retinograph or a colposcope, which is activated with the foot. Furthermore, the digitalization device is coupled to the optical instruments by means of an adapter element which maybe able to adapt to different sizes or shapes of such devices and instruments, the adapter having a simple manufacturing process, and a reduced manufacturing cost.

Description

SYSTEM FOR ACTIVATING DIGITAL ACQUISITION OF A SAMPLE THROUGH AN

OPTICAL INSTRUMENT

The present application claims the benefit of Spanish Utility Model U201831660 filed October 31^st, 2018, and Spanish Utility Model U201931392 filed on August 21^st, 2019.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of digitalization of images, and more specifically to the field of digitalization of microscopic images. In particular, it relates to techniques applicable to acquiring photos or videos in a simple manner with a device coupled to an optical instrument.

BACKGROUND ART

The standard method of digitization of microscopic samples is the use of a microscope that directly allows this option since it has a camera incorporated in its inside and may be connected to a computer. When the user wants to save an image, she or he presses a button on the keyboard, mouse or screen of a microscope interface.

An alternative to this system includes aligning the camera of a digitalization system such as, for example, a mobile phone with the ocular of the microscope to take a photo or video. This alignment may be done by hand or by using an adapter that couples and fixes the mobile phone in the correct position with the ocular of the microscope. In both cases, it is necessary to touch the touch screen of the smartphone to take the photo.

None of the existing solutions allow obtaining photos or videos periodically, in line with the normal use of a microscope, wherein both hands are occupied in the focus and position adjustments of the microscope.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION In view of the limitations of the state of the art, there is therefore a need for having the capability to take photos or make videos accurately with an optical instrument of an object, sample or body, without these tasks interfering with the observation task. The present invention relates to a system for activating the digital acquisition of an image with a digitalization device coupled to an optical instrument such as a microscope, a telescope, a retinograph or a colposcope, which is activated with the foot, preferably in the form of a pedal or button, which is connected to a digitalization device, generally a mobile smartphone whose camera is coupled to the ocular of said optical instrument through a coupling element that aligns both devices properly.

Advantageously, by means of the present invention, it is accelerated both observation and the quality of the acquired images is improved.

The system for activating the digital acquisition of a sample through an optical instrument includes a digitalization device for acquiring a digital image, an adapter element for coupling the digitalization device to the optical instrument, a push button element, operable with the foot, for sending an activation signal to the digitalization device and acquiring a digital image of the sample observed with the optical instrument.

Optionally, the digitalization device may be a mobile smartphone.

Optionally, the push button element may be wired with the mobile smartphone to send an activation signal.

Optionally, the push button element may include a wireless emitter to send a wireless activation signal to the mobile smartphone.

Optionally, the push button element may include at least one button operable with the foot.

Optionally, the optical instrument may be a microscope, a telescope or other optical device for the acquisition of medical images such as a retinograph or a colposcope.

Optionally, a control program or app is installed on the mobile smartphone to receive the activation signal and take a photo of the sample.

Alternatively, upon receiving the activation signal, a video of the sample may be recorded with the control app of the mobile smartphone.

Additionally, the digitized image may be processed through artificial intelligence algorithms with the control app of the mobile smartphone. According to an aspect of the present invention, the digitalization device comprises at least one lens, and the optical instrument comprises at least one eyepiece, and the adapter further comprises a first support means to support the optical instrument, a second support means to support the digitalization device, and a connector mounted between the first and second support means, and wherein the connector comprises at least one axis of rotation to situate the first and second support means in a coupling position in which the lens corresponds with the eyepiece. In the context of this invention, the lens of the digitalization device must be understood as any combination of any type of optical components used by the digitalization device to refocus or recondition light or any other type of electromagnetic radiation, so that it can be digitized by the digitalization device. Such an adapter has a simple manufacturing process, and its manufacturing cost is reduced compared with other adapters found in the state of the art. Furthermore, the axis of rotation enables to adapt the relative positions between the first support means and the second support means, in a manner which enables easy and rapid coupling between digitalization devices and optical instruments of different sizes and designs.

The digitalization devices may be, for example, a mobile phone, such as a smartphone, a tablet device or a similar device comprising a camera with one or more lenses for obtaining images, or a digital camera comprising one or more lenses. Also, the optical instrument may be a microscope, a telescope, a telescopic sight or scope, a medical device (such as a colposcope) or other similar optical instruments, comprising at least one eyepiece (for example, binoculars or a microscope comprise two eyepieces).

In use, the rotation of the first and second support means, resulting from the axis of rotation of the connector, enables rotation between a mounted or rest position, and a coupling position. Thus, when the optical instrument and the digitalization device are supported by the first and second support means, respectively, the coupling position is such that the lens and the eyepiece are at least partially coincident, enabling acquisition of part or the entirety of the image of the optical instrument. Moreover, in the mounted or rest position, the first and second support means are easily accessible to mount the digitalization device and the optical instrument thereto, with adjustment thereof prior to use in the coupling position.

The first support means may be, for example, a bracket, a clamp, or two grips, one fixed and the other mobile, which when activated, clasp and support the eyepiece in an optimal manner, enabling the fixation of the eyepiece with respect to the system. Preferably, the support means enable sufficient firmness to support the weight of the entire system together with the digitalization device, and for the maintenance thereof in the desired orientation during the use thereof, given that normally, the instrument is dimensionally larger than the digitalization device or the entirety of the system with the device. Thus, for example, the optical instrument is supported on a surface, such as for example a laboratory desk, and the coupling system together with the digitalization device are supported on the optical instrument, without any other support point.

The second support means may be a support for a mobile phone, such as a smartphone, in the form of a clamp, a stand or any other anchorage element which maintains the telephone in a fixed position. In this manner, once the system is in the coupling position, the smartphone may be removed from the second support means, and may be later disposed once more in the exact original position and orientation thereof, without varying the relative positions of the first and second support means.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the first and second support means have means to fix their relative positions, in a manner that the user cannot accidentally change the position thereof during the use of the system, once both means are fixed.

By using a connector with an axis of rotation between both support means, the necessity to incorporate other more complex parts to displace the instrument with respect to the device, or vice a versa, such as guides, slide chutes, metallic racks, etc. is eliminated, thus simplifying the design of each component part of the system, and enables the manufacture of all of the parts at a lower cost, or by more practical and fast methods, such as for example, 3D printing, such as fused filament fabrication. This way, the parts can be printed and assembled easily, maintaining the provision of other existent accessories in the market, at a lesser cost.

In one embodiment, in the coupling position, the optical axis of the lens of the

digitalization device and the optical axis of the eyepiece of the optical instrument are parallel, in such way that the image obtained by the digitalization system is not distorted with respect to that obtained by the optical instrument.

When the digitalization device is mounted on the second support means, the axis of rotation of the connector may be parallel to the optical axis of the lens of the digitalization device. Thus, the second support means are moved in a perpendicular plane to the optical axis of the lens by rotating around the axis of rotation. As a result, disposition of the system in the coupling position, which is to say, making the lens of the digitalization device correspond to the eyepiece of the optical instrument, is simple and reliable.

Alternatively, the axis of rotation may have other orientations, such as for example, it may be perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens of the digitalization device when the digitalization device is mounted on the second support means.

The connector may comprise two axes of rotation. For example, the connector may comprise an articulated arm, at one end thereof with the first support means via a first axis of rotation, and at the other end thereof with the second support means via a second axis of rotation.

This way, the rotation about both axes helps to position the first and second support means in the coupling position with greater precision.

The system may additionally comprise a displacement guide and a corresponding runner between the connector and the second support means, while the guide is parallel to the optical axis of the eyepiece of the optical instrument when the optical instrument is mounted on the first support means, such that the connector and the first support means may be displaced parallel to the optical axis of the eyepiece of the optical instrument.

The system may also comprise a displacement guide and a corresponding runner between the connector and the first support means, while the guide is parallel to the optical axis of the eyepiece of the optical instrument, when the optical instrument is mounted on the first support means, such that the connector and the second support means may be displaced parallel to the optical axis of the eyepiece of the optical instrument.

In both cases, the relative displacement between the connector and one or other support means, when the system is in the coupling position, which is to say, after enabling the correspondence between the lens and the eyepiece, enables adjustment of the frame, in other words, enables the acquisition by the digitalization device of a greater or lesser part of the image obtained by the optical instrument.

In either case, the connector may have the guide fixed thereto, or may be fixed to the runner. Furthermore, the adapter may further comprise mobilization means to displace the connector, which may be manual or motorized, in the form of, for example, at least one electric motor which, when activated, displaces the connector to a desired position.

Throughout the description and claims the word "comprise" and variations of the word, are not intended to exclude other technical features, additives, components, or steps. Furthermore, the word "comprise" encompasses the case of "consisting of". Additional objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the description or may be learned by practice of the invention. The following examples and drawings are provided by way of illustration, and they are not intended to be limiting of the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention covers all possible combinations of particular and preferred embodiments described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Hereafter, various non-limiting embodiments of the present system are described while referring to the attached figures, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the system according to the present invention, connected to a mobile phone and a conventional optical microscope. Figure 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the adapter according to the present invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the adapter according to the present invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the adapter according to the present invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective view, from a different angle, of the embodiment represented in figure 4 according to the present invention.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the adapter represented in figures 4 and 5 with a smartphone mobile phone.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the adapter represented in figures 4 to 6, employing a smartphone mobile phone and a microscope.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 shows an embodiment example of the system for activating the digitalization formed with a pedal 101 , operable with the foot, which sends an electrical activation signal to a smartphone 6 which is interpreted as an instruction to take a photo or to record a video. With a coupler element 1 , it allows aligning the camera of the smartphone 6 with the objective of a microscope 10. In this embodiment, there is a cable 102 as a means of connection between the pedal 101 and the smartphone 6. However, in other embodiments, it could be a wireless connection. In such a case, the signal would be wireless and the phone 6 should be able to receive said wireless signal and to interpret it properly, as well as the pedal 101 has to incorporate a wireless emitter. In this way, it is easy to obtain a digital photo or video of the sample examined under the microscope 10.

Optionally, more complex functions may be encoded with the pedal 101 to be transmitted to the phone 6. For example, the periodic taking of photos depending on the time interval defined between two steps on the pedal.

As mentioned above, the pedal 101 is coupled to the phone 6 in two different ways. One is generally wired through the jack for headphones. Another one is wireless using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

Optionally, more than one pedal 101 may be added in order to have a greater number of instructions to be transmitted to the phone 6 with a simple step.

Alternatively, instead of a pedal 101 , or additionally therewith, the device for activating the digitization may include buttons controllable with one foot or both feet to perform multiple functions related to the digitization of images.

As it may be seen, the digitalization device with which the pedal 101 interacts is adaptable to an ocular of an optical instrument different from a microscope 10, such as for example the case of a telescope or optical instruments for the acquisition of medical images such as a retinograph or a colposcope.

Regarding the control app for the digitization of samples, it is installed on and controls the operation of the phone 6. In particular, the app verifies the correct connection with the pedal 101. Depending on how it is configured, the action of the pedal 101 may have several functions inside. For example, it may be configured to take photos with a determined frequency of time, and which is fixed by the time between two actions of the pedal 101. Also, recording video while the pedal 101 is stepped on. A photo may be taken when the pedal is raised instead of stepped on, etc...

The control app, once activated by the pedal, may also execute artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms on the captured image for the quantification in real-time of elements in the digitized samples. These algorithms may be based on neural networks and mathematical morphology techniques and perform functions such as the

identification and counting of cells or parasites, the delimitation of relevant regions as tumour regions or the classification of the image in a typology as healthy tissue or tissue with pathology.

When the control app is not installed on the mobile phone 6, then the action of the pedal 1 acts on the software installed on the phone 6 that controls the functions of taking photos / recording video.

Thanks to the advantages described, it is possible to dedicate the hands to control the operation and adjustment of the optical instrument. In addition, a common device such as a mobile smartphone 6 is provided with new functionalities in the scientific context.

In conclusion, the system described in this invention resolves in a simple, fast and efficient manner the taking of images with an optical instrument, either a microscope, a telescope or another optical device with a simple action of the foot.

Figure 2 illustrates an embodiment of an adapter 1 according to the present invention, which comprises the first support means, which in this case is a clamp 2 to support an eyepiece of the optical instrument (a microscope in this and subsequent embodiments), although in other examples the microscope may comprise more than one eyepiece. The system also comprises a second support means, which in this case is a support 3 for the image digitalization device (a smartphone in this case) which comprises a camera with a lens (although it could comprise more than one). Furthermore, the system comprises a connector 50A mounted between the clamp 2 and the support 3, which comprises an articulated arm 51. The arm 51 is articulated at one end with the clamp, 2 via a first axis of rotation 52A, and with the support 3 on the other end, via a second axis of rotation 54A.

Thus, the connector 50A may be displaced, by means of the axes of rotation 52A and 54A, when the mobile phone and the optical instrument are supported by means of the support for the mobile phone 3 and the clamp 2, respectively, such that the movement of the connector 50A is accomplished along the plane perpendicular to the optical axes of the lens of the camera of the mobile telephone, and that of the eyepiece, and enables correspondence between said optical axes to enable a coupling position wherein the camera of the mobile phone may acquire at least part of the image obtained by the microscope.

Alternatively, the system of figure 2 may have only one axis of rotation 54A, such that the arm 51 and that clamp 2 are in solidarity. Nevertheless, the components of the system of this embodiment would have such means that, in use, the system would be appropriate for certain sizes or designs of microscopes and specific mobile telephones, but be less versatile than the embodiment of figure 2.

Figure 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the system 1 according to the present invention, in which the connector 50B comprises a first articulated arm 51 A and a second articulated arm 51 B between the clamp 2 and the support 3. The first arm 51 A is articulated at one end with the clamp 2, via a first axis of rotation 52B, and at the other opposite end with a second arm 51 B, via a second axis of rotation 54B. At the same time, the second arm 51 B is articulated at one end with the first arm 51 A via the second axis of rotation 54B, and at the opposite end, with the support 3 via a third axis of rotation 53.

By means of the axes of rotation 52B, 53 and 54B, the connector 50B may be displaced in such a manner that when the mobile phone and the instrument are supported via the support for mobile phones 3 and the clamp 2, respectively, the movement of the connector 50B is enabled along the plane perpendicular to the optical axes of the lens of the camera of the mobile phone, and that of the eyepiece, enabling correspondence between said optical axes to arrive at the coupling position. By being in correspondence, the camera of the mobile telephone can now obtain the image captured by the

microscope.

In all of the previous embodiments, notwithstanding that they were not represented in detail but only schematically, the support 3 may comprise two parallel parts to grasp the lateral parts of a mobile phone in a vertical position, to enable positioning the camera in the upper part of the support 3, directed towards the clamp 2, to enable the lens of the camera of the mobile phone to correspond with the eyepiece of the microscope in the coupling position. More specifically, the two parallel parts may have a claw/clamp type design with one of the parts being fixed and the other being mobile.

Figure 4 illustrates a third embodiment of an adapter 1 according to the present invention, wherein the clamp 2 comprises a mobile clamp part 21 , a fixed clamp part 22, and an actuator element 23 in the form of a wheel connected to the mobile clamp part 21 via a shank (in the interior of the clamp 2). The rotation of the actuator element 23 moves the shank utilizing a screw type mechanism such as, for example, an endless screw type mechanism, and enables movement of the mobile clamp part 21 in the direction of the fixed clamp 22, to grasp and support an eyepiece of the microscope, or in the opposite direction for the liberation thereof.

The surfaces of the fixed clamp part 22 and the mobile clamp part 21 which are in contact with the eyepiece for the clamping thereof, may provide a cushioned zone with flexible plastic designed to contact and press the eyepiece, avoiding scratching or other imperfections thereon.

The surface of the mobile clamp part 21 and the fixed clamp part 22, which face each other to clamp the eyepiece, may additionally have a trapezoidal profile adapted to support eyepieces of the usual sizes of eyepieces from, for example, microscopes, telescopes or medical devices such as a colposcope.

In this embodiment, the first 151 A and the second 151 B arms of the connector 150 comprise an articulated parallelogram each. More specifically, the first arm 151 A may be comprised of a parallelogram which is articulated with the clamp 2, via a joining piece of the clamp 55. The movement between the joining piece 55 and the parallelogram of the first arm 151 A is enabled by the two axes of rotation therebetween 152 and 252, which connect the bars of the corresponding parallelogram. The opposite end of the first arm 151 A is connected articulated with an intermediate part 56 of the connector 150, via the axes of rotation 154 and 354, which connect the corresponding bars of the parallelogram with the part 56.

In an analogous manner, the second arm 151 B also comprises a parallelogram, and one of the ends of the arm 151 B is connected articulated with intermediate part 56, via the axes of rotation 254 and 354. The connection of the opposite end of the second arm 151 B to the support 3 is shown in following figure 5.

Figure 5 is a further perspective view of the same embodiment of the adapter 1 of previous figure 4, from another angle. It should be noted that the end of the second arm 151 B, opposite to the intermediate part 56, is connected to a runner part 58. More specifically, the two parallelograms which comprise the second arm 151 B are articulated connected to the runner part 58 via two axes of rotation 153 and 253.

The runner part 58 is mounted displaceable along a guide 59, which is fixed to the support 3 for the mobile phone. In this embodiment, the support 3 also comprises a displacement wheel 60 connected to the runner 58, in such a manner that, upon rotation of the wheel, the assembly of the connector 150 and the clamp 2 are slid to approach or move away from the support for the mobile phone 3. This movement is parallel to the optical axes of the eyepiece of the microscope and of the lens of the mobile telephone, when the microscope and the telephone are fixed to the corresponding support means thereof. Thus, by displacing the connector 150 and clamp 2 assembly along the length of the guide 59, the distance between the support 3 and the connector 150 and clamp 2 assembly may be varied, enabling adjustment of the maximum frame that the camera of the mobile phone can acquire of the image captured by the microscope.

Attachment means of the connector 150 are illustrated which are in the form of an attachment wheel 57 connected to the rotation axis 354 such that, on tightening the wheel, the position of the connector 150 remains fixed and the turning of the arms 151 A and 151 B is disabled.

Figure 6 represents an embodiment of the adapter according to the present invention shown in figures 4 and 5 when in use, wherein a mobile phone 6 has been mounted on the support for a mobile phone 3, and the position of the connector 150 has been fixed, via the attachment wheel 57, in the coupling position.

Figure 7 depicts an embodiment of the adapter 1 of the present invention shown in figures 4 to 6, when in use with a mobile phone 6 and a desktop microscope 10. The figure illustrates how the phone 6 is fixed to the support for mobile phones 3, the eyepiece of the microscope 10 is fixed via the clamp 2, and the adapter 1 is in the coupling position, in such a way that the lens of the camera of the phone 6 is in correspondence with the lens of the eyepiece of the microscope 10. It may also be observed that the screen 9 of the telephone is active and displays the image which is being obtained via the eyepiece of the microscope 10, wherein a previous adjustment of the distance between the connector 150 and the support 3 via the system formed by the guide 59 and the runner 58 (refer to figure 5) has been performed. Thus, when in use, the optical axis of the lens of the camera 7 and the eyepiece can be made to correspond, to enable obtaining an image of the eyepiece via the camera 7 of the mobile telephone 6.

In all the examples of the previous embodiments, the component parts of the system are preferably manufactured by methods of 3D printing, more specifically, 3D printing by fused filament fabrication, in PLA plastic or other plastic of a similar viscosity. Flexible zones may be added to the system by varying the composition of the plastic used in printing each part, or by adding an extra part later as in the case of, for example, the cushioned zone of the fixed clamp 22.

For reasons of completeness, various aspects of the present disclosure are set out in the following numbered clauses:

Clause 1. Adapter device for coupling a digitalization device to an optical instrument, the digitalization device comprising at least one lens, the optical instrument comprising at least one eyepiece, and the adapter comprising:

- First support means (2) to support the optical instrument, and second support means (3) to support the digitalization device;

- A connector (50A, 51 A, 150) mounted between the first (2) and the second (3) support means,

wherein the connector (50A, 51 A, 150) comprises at least one axis of rotation (54A, 54B, 52A, 52B, 53, 152, 252, 153, 253, 154, 254, 354) to situate the first and second support means in a coupling position in which the lens corresponds with the eyepiece.

Clause 2. Adapter device according to clause 1 , wherein the axis of rotation (54A, 54B, 52A, 52B, 53, 152, 252, 153, 253, 154, 254, 354) is parallel to the optical axis of the lens when the digitalization device is mounted on the second support means.

Clause 3. Adapter device according to clause 1 , wherein the connector (50A) comprises two axes of rotation (52A, 54A).

Clause 4. Adapter device according to clause 3 wherein the connector (50A) comprises a first arm (51 ) articulated at one end to the first support means (2), by means of a first axis of rotation (52A), and articulated at another end to the second support means (3), by means of a second axis of rotation (54A, 54B).

Clause 5. Adapter device according to clause 3 wherein the connector (50B) comprises a first arm (51 A) and a second arm (51 B), wherein the first arm (51A) is articulated at one end to the first support means (2), by means of a first axis of rotation (52B), and at another end to the second arm (51 B), by means of a second axis of rotation (54B), and the second arm (51 B) is articulated at one end to the first arm (51 A), by means of the second axis of rotation (54B), and at another end to the second support means (3), by means of a third axis of rotation (53). Clause 6. Adapter device according to clause 5 wherein the first arm (51 A) and the second arm (51 B) comprise corresponding articulated parallelograms.

Clause 7. Adapter device according to any of clause 1 to 6, wherein the adapter element further comprises a displacement guide (59) and a corresponding runner (58) between the connector (151 B) and the second support means (3), wherein the guide is parallel to the optical axis of the eyepiece of the optical instrument when the optical instrument is mounted on the first support means.

Clause 8. Adapter device according to any of clause 1 to 6, wherein the adapter element further comprises a displacement guide and a corresponding runner between the connector and the first support means (2), wherein the guide is parallel to the optical axis of the eyepiece of the optical instrument when the optical instrument is mounted on the first support means.

Clause 9. Adapter device according to any of clause 1 to 8, wherein the first support means (2) comprise at least one fixed clamp (22) and one mobile clamp (21 ).

Clause 10. Adapter device according to any of clause 1 to 9, wherein the optical instrument is selected from any of:

- a microscope;

- a telescope;

- a colposcope.

Clause 11. Adapter device according to any of clause 1 to 10, wherein the digitalization device is selected from any of:

- a mobile phone comprising a camera;

- a tablet comprising a camera;

- a digital camera.

Clause 12. Adapter device according to any of clause 1 to 1 1 , wherein the connector comprises attachment means (57) of the connector (150) position connected to at least one axis of rotation (354).

Clause 13. Adapter device according to clause 12, wherein the attachment means (57) are an attachment wheel (57).

Clause 14. Adapter device according to any of clause 1 to 13, wherein the adapter element further comprises mobilization means to displace the connector.

Clause 15. Adapter device according to clause 14, wherein the mobilization means are motorized mobilization means.

Although only a number of examples have been disclosed herein, other alternatives, modifications, uses and/or equivalents thereof are possible. Furthermore, all possible combinations of the described examples are also covered. Thus, the scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by particular examples, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow. If reference signs related to drawings are placed in parentheses in a claim, they are solely for attempting to increase the intelligibility of the claim, and shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claim.

Further, although the examples described with reference to the drawings comprise computing apparatus/systems and processes performed in computing

apparatus/systems, the invention also extends to computer programs, particularly computer programs on or in a carrier, adapted for putting the system into practice.

Claims

1. System for activating the digital acquisition of a sample through an optical instrument, comprising:

- a digitalization device configured to acquire a digital image;

characterized by further comprising:

- an adapter element (1 ) configured to couple the digitalization device to the optical instrument;

- a push-button element, actionable with the foot, configured to send an activation signal to the digitalization device and to acquire a digital image of the sample observed with the optical instrument.

2. System according to claim 1 , wherein the digitalization device is a mobile smartphone

(6).

3. System according to claim 2, wherein the push-button element is wired with the mobile smartphone (6) to send an activation signal.

4. System according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the push-button element comprises a wireless emitter for sending a wireless activation signal to the mobile smartphone (6).

5. System according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the push button element comprises at least one button actionable with the foot.

6. System according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the optical instrument is one of the following devices: a microscope (10), a telescope, a retinograph or a colposcope.

7. System according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the mobile smartphone (6) is configured with a control app to receive the activation signal and take a photo of the sample.

8. System according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the mobile smartphone (6) is configured with a control app to receive the activation signal and to record a video of the sample.

9. System according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the mobile smartphone (6) is configured with a control app to receive the activation signal and to process the digitized image using artificial intelligence algorithms.

10. System according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the digitalization device comprises at least one lens, the optical instrument comprises at least one eyepiece, and wherein the adapter element comprises:

1 1. System according to claim 10, wherein the axis of rotation (54A, 54B, 52A, 52B, 53, 152, 252, 153, 253, 154, 254, 354) is parallel to the optical axis of the lens when the digitalization device is mounted on the second support means.

12. System according to claim 10, wherein the connector (50A) comprises two axes of rotation (52A, 54A).

13. System according to claim 12 wherein the connector (50A) comprises a first arm (51 ) articulated at one end to the first support means (2), by means of a first axis of rotation (52A), and articulated at another end to the second support means (3), by means of a second axis of rotation (54A, 54B).

14. System according to claim 12 wherein the connector (50B) comprises a first arm

(51 A) and a second arm (51 B), wherein the first arm (51 A) is articulated at one end to the first support means (2), by means of a first axis of rotation (52B), and at another end to the second arm (51 B), by means of a second axis of rotation (54B), and the second arm (51 B) is articulated at one end to the first arm (51 A), by means of the second axis of rotation (54B), and at another end to the second support means (3), by means of a third axis of rotation (53).

15. System according to claim 14 wherein the first arm (51 A) and the second arm (51 B) comprise corresponding articulated parallelograms.

16. System according to any of claims 10 to 15, wherein the adapter element further comprises a displacement guide (59) and a corresponding runner (58) between the connector (151 B) and the second support means (3), wherein the guide is parallel to the optical axis of the eyepiece of the optical instrument when the optical instrument is mounted on the first support means.

17. Systems according to any of claims 10 to 15, wherein the adapter element further comprises a displacement guide and a corresponding runner between the connector and the first support means (2), wherein the guide is parallel to the optical axis of the eyepiece of the optical instrument when the optical instrument is mounted on the first support means.

18. System according to any of claims 10 to 17, wherein the first support means (2) comprise at least one fixed clamp (22) and one mobile clamp (21 ).

19. System according to any of claims 10 to 18, wherein the optical instrument is selected from any of:

- a microscope;

- a telescope;

- a colposcope.

20. System according to any of claims 10 to 19, wherein the digitalization device is selected from any of:

- a mobile phone comprising a camera;

- a tablet comprising a camera;

- a digital camera.

21. System according to any of claims 10 to 20, wherein the connector comprises attachment means (57) of the connector (150) position connected to at least one axis of rotation (354).

22. System according to claim 21 , wherein the attachment means (57) are an attachment wheel (57).

23. System according to any of claims 10 to 22, wherein the adapter element further comprises mobilization means to displace the connector.

24. System according to claim 23, wherein the mobilization means are motorized mobilization means.