ES2535194B1 - Smartphones adapter to a direct ophthalmoscope or otoscope - Google Patents

Abstract

Smartphones adapter to a direct ophthalmoscope or otoscope. # The present invention describes a new adapter (1) that allows a smartphone (100) to be connected to a direct ophthalmoscope (200) or an otoscope (300) for the purpose of capturing images or videos of a patient's eye or ear. The adapter (1) basically comprises three parts: a coupler (2) to which the smartphone (100) is fixed, an intermediate connector (6) designed to allow transverse displacements, and a fixing plate (7) to which the direct ophthalmoscope (200) or otoscope (300).

Description

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DESCRIPTION

Smartphones adapter to a direct ophthalmoscope or otoscope OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is a new adapter that allows a smartphone to be attached to a direct ophthalmoscope or otoscope, with the purpose of capturing images or videos of a patient's eye or elbow.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Mobile phones have developed in recent years at high speed to reach the now called "smartphones." The current smartphones not only have a calculation capacity similar to that of the computers not many years ago, but also have a large number of communication devices (WiFi, Bluetooth, infrared ...), means for capturing image and video, music and video reproduction, etc.

As a result of this spectacular improvement in the performance of smartphones, a wide range of new applications has emerged, among which the applications within the medical field stand out. Many of the new medical applications can take advantage of the high quality of the images obtained with the digital cameras of the smartphones, to improve the health care provided to patients by their responsible doctors. They could even serve to facilitate health care for people located in isolated environments, or simply to avoid having to leave their home to receive medical attention. Do not be strange, in a short time, that the patients themselves can even acquire images or videos that show their status and send them to a medical or control center, where specific protocols created for this purpose, send them to a responsible physician, that can visualize them and decide if the visit to your consultation is necessary, or even make the diagnosis at a distance. Another important use of smartphones is related to teaching in the field of health, as they allow images to be shared with students or colleagues.

An example of this type of applications is related to the use of the instruments used to visualize the patient's eye and elbow, such as the direct ophthalmoscope, the

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slit lamp, Volk's non-contact lens or otoscope. A direct ophthalmoscope is a device to visualize the back of a patient's eye, where the retina, the vitreous humor or the papilla are located. A slit lamp is an optical device that allows you to explore the structures of the anterior portion of the eye, such as the anterior chamber, the cornea or the iris. A non-contact lens of Volk, is a biconvex lens, of different diopters that used, for example, next to the slit lamp, also serves to explore the fundus of the patient's eye. An otoscope is an instrument equipped with a beam of light that serves to visualize the external auditory canal and the tympanum. Despite being, all of them, relatively simple devices, since they essentially only provide enlarged images and / or from different points of view of the patient's eye or ear canal, these instruments are of great importance in the diagnosis of eye diseases and auditory

Recently, the smartphone's digital camera has begun to be used to acquire images through the viewfinder of these instruments. In principle, this can be done simply by holding the smartphone manually so that the camera is in front of the viewfinder of the instrument in question. However, this method has shown to be certainly cumbersome, so clamping devices or adapters have been developed that allow the smartphone to be attached to the instrument in question. These devices mainly serve to stably align the smartphone camera with the viewfinder of the instrument, to avoid unwanted camera movements that inevitably occur if it is held only by hand.

An example of such devices is the iExaminer, manufactured by Wellch Allyn. The iExaminer is an adapter specifically designed to adapt an ophthalmoscope model called Pan Optic, also by Wellch Allyn, to the smartphone called Apple's iPhone.

Another example is the device called CellScope Oto, manufactured by Cellscope. The Oto CellScope is an otoscope equipped with a housing that allows it to be attached to the smartphone called Apple's iPhone.

A third example is the device called "Slit lamp photo iphone adapter", manufactured by New Vision Meditec Co. Limited. This device allows you to attach an Apple iPhone to the viewfinder of a slit lamp.

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In short, although there are some devices designed to attach smartphones to some of the medical instruments described, all of them are designed for the specific coupling of a specific model of medical instrument with a specific model of smartphone. It is obvious that this implies a great limitation to the massive and widespread use of such adapters.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention describes an adapter, called universal, in the sense that it is valid for coupling virtually any model of otoscope direct ophthalmoscope, with any smartphone model. In addition, it includes accessories for coupling also with a slit lamp or with a Volk non-contact lens.

An important advantage of the invention is that it is no longer necessary for the user to use certain specific models of smartphone and direct ophthalmoscope / otoscope, but can adapt any direct ophthalmoscope / otoscope model to any smartphone model. Furthermore, by adapting not only different models of a single instrument, but also different types of instruments (direct ophthalmoscopes, otoscopes, and in preferred embodiments also slit lamps and Volk lenses), avoids the need to accumulate several different adapters for various instruments . This greatly facilitates the task of family or emergency physicians, who can thus quickly and easily obtain high-quality images of both the eye and the elbow of a patient and if necessary send them instantly to other specialists, improving asl the quality of care offered to patients in emergency services or in primary care consultations.

Another advantage of the invention is that, because the adapter of the invention works with direct ophthalmoscopes or with normal commercial otoscopes, the user can alternate the usual way of using these instruments with the taking of images or videos if deemed necessary. Note that this is not possible with some of the adapters that currently exist, since some of them are specifically designed for coupling with a smartphone and do not allow conventional use. Thus, the user can continue using the direct ophthalmoscope / otoscope in the traditional way and only attach it to the smartphone to acquire images in case any lesion or pathology is detected.

In addition, the adapter is a very simple mechanical device and economical fabrication.

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Therefore, it will be an element that is available to any healthcare professional who wishes to use it.

A "smartphone" is a mobile phone built on a mobile computer platform with the ability to store data and perform activities similar to those of a mini computer and with the connectivity of a conventional mobile phone. In general, smartphones have a size that ranges between approximately 8-15 cm in length and approximately between 5-10 cm in width, with thicknesses of less than 1.5 cm. As an example, the Apple iPhone 4 model has dimensions of 11.5 cm in length by 5.9 cm in width and 0.7 cm in thickness, or the Samsung Galaxy S model has dimensions of 12.2 cm long by 6.4 cm wide and 1 cm thick. In this document, it will be interpreted that the term "smartphone" refers in general to any type of mobile phone of this type equipped with at least one camera for the acquisition of images and / or video.

On the other hand, to describe in detail the adapter of the invention the terms "longitudinal" and "transverse" will be used. The term "longitudinal" refers to the shortest direction of the three pieces that constitute the device of the invention and which, during normal use thereof, coincides with the main direction of the direct ophthalmoscope or otoscope. That is, the longitudinal direction is normally vertical during the use of the device. The term "transversal" refers to the longest direction of said parts and is naturally perpendicular to the previous one and horizontal according to the natural position of use of the adapter. The figures shown later in this document illustrate these directions more clearly.

The invention describes a universal smartphone adapter to a direct ophthalmoscope or an otoscope, which essentially comprises three parts: a coupler for smartphones; an intermediate connector; and a fixing plate. Each of these pieces is described in more detail below.

a) Smartphone coupler

The coupler is the part to which the smartphone that will be used for the acquisition of the images of the direct ophthalmoscope or otoscope is attached. It is a piece that normally has an essentially flat shape and that comprises on the first side an adjustable fixing means for smartphones. This means of

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Adjustable fixation can be configured in different ways, although in a preferred embodiment of the invention it comprises a fixed flange and a transversely adjustable flange so that it approaches and moves away from said fixed flange to catch any model of smartphone under pressure between both flanges. The adjustable flange can be displaced transversely to approach and move away from the fixed flange by means of various mechanisms, although preferably a transverse screw fixed to a piece integral with the coupler is used.

On a second face opposite the first, the coupler has a first sliding transverse coupling means that will be used for sliding coupling of the coupler to the intermediate connector described below. As will be seen below, this sliding transverse coupling means preferably comprises complementary tongue and groove rails or rails with others located in the intermediate connector.

Intermediate connector

The intermediate connector is a normally parallelepipedic piece that is arranged in an intermediate position as a sandwich to interconnect, on a first face, the coupler that holds the smartphone, and on a second side opposite the first, with the aid of the plate that The direct ophthalmoscope or otoscope is described below.

The intermediate connector comprises a first face provided with a second sliding transverse coupling means that can be coupled to the first sliding transverse coupling means that the coupler has. These complementary coupling means can be, for example, tongue and groove rails, such that the smartphone coupler can slide transversely relative to the intermediate connector. In this way, a smartphone attached to the coupler can be displaced transversely to place the objective of your digital camera in the most appropriate position for each direct ophthalmoscope or for each particular otoscope. In addition, the adapter of the invention preferably has a locking means to immobilize this sliding connection in a desired position and thus prevent the coupler from sliding in error during image taking.

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c) Fixing plate

The plate is a piece normally of essentially flat shape that is fixed to the intermediate connector in such a way that it catches between both pieces the neck of a direct ophthalmoscope or an otoscope, thus leaving the adapter assembly attached to said instrument.

The fixing plate has a first face connectable to the second face of the intermediate connector such that between said first face of the plate and said second face of the intermediate connector there is an elongated longitudinal cavity to receive the neck of a direct ophthalmoscope or a otoscope This cavity can in principle be located both in the plate and in the intermediate connector, or both pieces can have respective complementary recesses that form said longitudinal cavity adapted to the shape of the neck of an ophthalmoscope or an otoscope when they are fixed to each other. . However, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cavity is disposed on the second face of the intermediate connector.

As for the proper fixation between the intermediate connector and the plate, this can be carried out in various ways provided that it allows an approach between one and the other that allows to catch by pressure the neck of a direct ophthalmoscope or an otoscope in the mentioned cavity . In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said connection is carried out by means of screws and nuts (for example, of a dove type), aided in its mechanism of pressure by washers.

In addition, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, a second face of the plate opposite the first comprises an extension perpendicular to said second face to support the face of a patient during exploration.

This universal adapter, therefore allows you to quickly and easily attach any model of direct ophthalmoscope or otoscope on the market to any smartphone model on the market.

With regard to the coupling of the smartphone, the reason that prevents the use of adapters that currently exist for different models of smartphones is that they not only have different dimensions, but also that their digital cameras are located in different positions.

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To solve this problem, the adapter of the invention allows moving the smartphone, and therefore also its digital camera, both transversely and longitudinally, allowing it to be placed in a desired position that allows it to face the direct ophthalmoscope viewfinder or otoscope in question. On the one hand, the coupler of the invention that catches the smartphone under pressure between two flanges allows it to be placed at different heights in relation to the adapter, which effectively constitutes a way of moving the camera longitudinally to the desired height. On the other hand, the sliding fixation between the coupler and the intermediate connector allows to move the smartphone transversely in relation to the direct ophthalmoscope or the otoscope.

As for the coupling of the direct ophthalmoscope or otoscope, as mentioned above, until now each adapter was specifically designed for very specific models. The inventors of the present application, however, have designed the adapter of the invention taking into account that all direct ophthalmoscopes and all otoscopes have a similar structure that essentially comprises a handle, a neck and a visor. Since the handle and neck are essentially cylindrical and have similar dimensions, the intermediate connector and the adapter plate of the invention form a longitudinal elongated cavity between them designed to receive said neck and catch it under pressure. In addition, the adapter of the invention can be fixed at different heights of the direct ophthalmoscope or otoscope, simply loosening the connection between intermediate connector and plate and sliding the adapter longitudinally along it. This versatility, together with the various possibilities of fixing the smartphone to the coupler described above, allows the viewfinder of any direct ophthalmoscope or otoscope model to be easily compared to the digital camera of any smartphone.

In addition, the adapter of the invention can comprise auxiliary parts that allow it to be coupled to other medical instruments, specifically to a slit lamp and to a non-contact Volk lens.

d) Auxiliary connector for a slit lamp

The slit lamp is no longer a manual instrument similar to the direct ophthalmoscope or otoscope, but it is a large-sized instrument that cannot be easily moved and is equipped with two visors, one for each eye of the doctor. The doctor is located in a position facing the patient and explores, to

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through the slit lamp visors, internal or external structures of the patient's eye.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the adapter further comprises an auxiliary connector for attachment to a slit lamp. Said auxiliary connector can be fixed on one of its faces to the viewfinder of a slit lamp, and on the other to the coupler that holds the smartphone, thus allowing images to be taken through the viewfinder. The auxiliary connector preferably comprises:

- A face provided with a second transverse coupling means slidably coupled to the first transverse coupling means of the smartphone coupler. This second transverse coupling means is identical to that described in relation to the intermediate connector previously described herein, and its function is to allow transverse displacement of the coupler, and therefore also of the smartphone, in relation to the auxiliary connector.

- A circular piece located in a plane parallel to said front face and comprising a coupling means configured to reduce the internal effective radius of said circular piece to catch the essentially cylindrical sight of a slit lamp. Preferably, this coupling means comprises an inner joint coupled to a screw that projects externally to reduce the internal effective radius of the circular piece.

This auxiliary connector allows the smartphone to be attached to any slit lamp model, since it allows the fixing of different models of such lamps to viewers. In fact, the differences between the viewers of different models of slit lamps are small, since they all have a cylindrical shape and the differences are fundamentally reduced to small differences in diameter and / or length. The adjustable coupling means available to the auxiliary connector of the invention is capable of attaching to these visors of different sizes, since it is sufficient that the viewfinder can enter through the hole of the circular piece, being subsequently trapped by means of coupling

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e) Auxiliary part for the connection of a Volk non-contact lens.

In another preferred embodiment, the adapter of the invention further comprises an auxiliary part designed to be coupled to the extension of the adapter plate, and allows a Volk non-contact lens to be coupled. This auxiliary part can be used: associated with the complete adapter (smartphone next to direct ophthalmoscope); associated only with the direct ophthalmoscope, allowing the doctor a direct view of the patient's eye fundus; or associated only with the smartphone, according to the needs of the exploration in each specific patient. With the use of this auxiliary part for a Volk non-contact lens, coupled to the adapter, a more extensive view of the patient's retina is achieved than with the isolated direct ophthalmoscope, although with inverted images of the patient's eye fundus. This auxiliary part includes:

- A means for fixing the extension of the plate in such a way that it is possible to move said auxiliary part to move it away or closer to the plate. This fixing means can be configured in different ways, although in a preferred embodiment of the invention it is simply a slot insertable in said extension.

- A tube perpendicular to the plane of the plate when the auxiliary part is fixed to said extension. This tube is configured to receive a non-contact lens from Volk.

- A cylindrical nut attachable to the tube to fix said Volk non-contact lens, when disposed in the tube.

This auxiliary piece is discreetly movable allowing certain mobility and describing a certain arc of antero posterior movement from its base inserted in the extension of the plate. This displacement allows the lens to zoom in or out of the viewfinder of the direct ophthalmoscope, or the smartphone where appropriate, thus facilitating the focus on the smartphone of different structures of the patient's eye.

In short, these two auxiliary parts complement the most basic version of the adapter, so that the final set allows the smartphone to be fixed to an ophthalmoscope

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direct, to an otoscope, to a slit lamp or to a non-contact lens of Volk. This versatility constitutes the most important advantage in relation to the adapters known so far.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figs. 1a and 1b show two views of a coupler according to an example of an adapter according to the invention.

Figs. 2a and 2b show two views of a connector according to an example of an adapter according to the invention.

Figs. 3a and 3b show two views of a fixing plate according to an example of an adapter according to the invention.

Figs. 4a and 4b show two views of an example of an adapter according to the invention formed by the coupler, connector and fixing plate shown respectively in Figs. 1a-1b, 2a-2b and 3a-3b.

Figs. 5a and 5b show the use of the device of Figs. 4a and 4b to fix a smartphone to a direct ophthalmoscope.

Figs. 6a and 6b show the use of the adapter of Figs. 4a and 4b to fix a smartphone to an otoscope.

Figs. 7a and 7b show two views of an auxiliary connector for slit lamps according to an example of an adapter according to the invention.

Fig. 8 shows the auxiliary connector coupled to the coupler of Figs. 1a and 1b.

Figs. 9a and 9b show the use of the device of Fig. 8 to fix a smartphone to a slit lamp.

Figs. 10a and 10b show two views of an auxiliary part for connection to a Volk non-contact lens according to an example of an adapter according to the invention.

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Fig. 11 shows a view of the device of Figs. 10a and 10b to fix a smartphone to a Volk non-contact lens.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

A particular example of the invention is described below with reference to the attached figures. Figs. 1-3 show respectively in detail the three main parts that constitute the adapter (1). Figs. 4-6 show respectively the mounted adapter (1) and examples of use of the adapter (1) attached to a direct ophthalmoscope (200) and an otoscope (300). And finally Figs. 7-11 show the two auxiliary parts that can complement the adapter (1) and examples of its use for fixing it to a slit lamp (400) and a Volk non-contact lens (500).

Figs. 1a and 1b show two different perspectives of a coupler (2) for smartphones (100). On a first face (2a), the coupler (2) has an adjustable fixing means (3) for receiving the smartphone (100) that is formed essentially by a fixed flange (31) and a transversely adjustable mobile flange (32). That is to say, the mobile flange (32) can be displaced transversely by means of a screw (5) connected to a supportive element with the coupler (2), and when moving transversely, it carries the mobile flange (32) with it. The result is that the mobile flange (32) can approach or move away from the fixed flange (31), thus allowing a smartphone (100) to be caught between them. In addition, in this example the mobile flange (32) has a padded layer to avoid damaging or scratching the smartphone (100).

On a second face (2b), the coupler (2) has a first sliding transverse coupling means (41), which in this example is configured by a pair of rails or rails.

In this example, the coupler (2) for smartphones (100) is essentially configured from a flat plate of plastic material where the coupling means (41) is (the rails) and to which the fixing means (3) is attached adjustable, in this example constituted by a metal plate. However, the coupler (2) can be constituted from a single piece.

In Figs. 1a and 1b have also represented the longitudinal (L) and transverse (T) directions. The longitudinal direction (L) coincides with the direction of smaller width of the coupler (2), while the transverse direction (T) coincides with the direction of greatest

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width of it. Later in this document, when the complete adapter (1) coupled to a direct ophthalmoscope (300) is depicted, these directions will be appreciated in more detail.

Figs. 2a and 2b show an intermediate connector (6) according to the invention. This intermediate connector (6) is essentially in the form of a parallel with a first face (6a) provided with a second sliding cross coupling means (42) constituted by second rails or rails that are coupled and slid along the first rails they constitute the first coupling means (41) belonging to the coupler (2) for smartphones (100). These rails are tongue and groove, so that once coupled they cannot be easily separated, and allow the intermediate connector (6) to slide transversely relative to the coupler (2) of smartphones (100). In addition, although not shown in this document, the adapter (1) can also have a locking means, for example by way of a ratchet or the like, which allows to fix the transverse position of the intermediate connector (6) in relation to the coupler ( 2), preventing it from continuing to slide along the rails (41, 42). This allows the smartphone (100) to be immobilized in the desired position.

In addition, the intermediate connector (6) has on a second face (6b) opposite an elongated first longitudinal cavity (8) designed to receive the neck of an ophthalmoscope (200) or the direct otoscope (300). In this example, it is a cavity (8) semi-cylindrical and equipped with a padded area to better adapt to the shape of various models of direct ophthalmoscopes (200) or otoscopes (300) and at the same time avoid damaging or sanding them .

Also shown in Fig. 2b are the screws (91, 92) which in this example allow the intermediate connector (6) to be fixed to the fixing plate (7) described below.

Figs. 3a and 3b show perspective views of the fixing plate (7). This plate (7) is constituted essentially by a flat plate having a first face (7a) adapted to be counted on the second face (6b) of the intermediate connector (6) by means of the aforementioned screws (91, 92). For this, the plate (7) has a pair of holes corresponding to the position of such screws (91, 92). When the plate (7) is fixed to the connector (6), it closes the longitudinal cavity (8), so that a direct ophthalmoscope (200) or a direct otoscope (300) can be coupled between both parts. The first face (7a) of the plate (7) also has a padded area in the area opposite the cavity (8)

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so that it fits better to the direct ophthalmoscope (200) or otoscope (300) in question and to avoid damaging it.

The plate (7) also has an extension (10) located on its second face (7b) opposite the first. This extension (10) is perpendicular to the plane of the plate (7) and has a padded area adapted for the patient to support their face during exploration when the adapter (1) is being used in combination with a direct ophthalmoscope (200) or otoscope (300).

Figs. 4a and 4b show the adapter (1) of the invention already assembled through the coupling of the three previous parts: coupler (2) for smartphones (100), intermediate connector (6) and fixing plate (7). It can be seen how the coupler (2) for smartphones (100) is slidably coupled to the intermediate connector (6) thanks to the complementary tongue and groove rails (41, 42). In turn, the intermediate connector (6) is fixed to the plate (7) by means of the screws (91, 92), with their respective nuts (pigeon type) and washers, leaving the longitudinal cavity (8) closed. In Fig. 4a the coupler (2) is shown displaced to the left thanks to the rails (41, 42), while in Fig. 4b it is shown centered.

Figs. 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b respectively show a smartphone (100) coupled to a direct ophthalmoscope (200) and an otoscope (300) thanks to the adapter (1) of the invention. It can be seen how the smartphone (100) is caught by the flanges (31, 32) of the adjustable fixing means (3). The smartphone (100) is arranged according to the longitudinal direction (L), and at the time of fixing it to the fixing means (3) it can be arranged at a greater or lesser height. On the other hand, once set it is possible to move the coupler (2) as a whole transversely. Therefore, it is possible to move the smartphone smartphone (100) both longitudinally and transversely to position it in the desired position.

On the other hand, the direct ophthalmoscope (200) or the otoscope (300) is trapped inside the longitudinal cavity (8) when the fixing plate (7) is fixed to the intermediate connector (6) using the screws (91, 92) , with their respective nuts (dove type) and washers. Also in this case, simply loosen the screw nuts (91, 92) so that the adapter (1) can be moved longitudinally up or down along the neck of the direct ophthalmoscope (200) or otoscope (300) , also allowing to adjust the height of the viewfinder of said instrument if necessary.

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In short, it is easy to see how the adapter (1) of the invention allows you to connect any smartphone model (100) with any direct ophthalmoscope model (200) and with any otoscope (300) in a simple and fast way.

Additionally, the adapter (1) of the invention may comprise a pair of auxiliary parts for coupling to a slit lamp (400) or to a Volk non-contact lens. (500).

As shown in Figs. 7a-7b, the auxiliary connector (11) for fixing the adapter (1) to a slit lamp (400) is formed essentially by a parallelepipedic piece similar to the connector (6), since it has a face (11a) that has also a transverse means (43) of sliding coupling with the coupler (2). As in the previous case, the coupler (2) can slide transversely relative to the auxiliary connector (11) to face the smartphone camera (100) to the slit lamp viewer (400).

The auxiliary connector also has a circular part (12) located in a plane parallel to that of said face (11a) and protruding superiorly from said parallelepipedic part. This circular piece has a suitable diameter to receive the sight of a slit lamp (400) and a coupling means (13) configured to effectively close such a diameter with the purpose of being fixed around said viewfinder. Thus, once the sight glass is inside the hole of the circular piece (12), a screw (15) can be used to radially push an inner rubber seal (14) normally made of rubber. This seal eventually comes into contact with the viewfinder until the auxiliary connector (11) is fixed thereto by pressure.

Fig. 8 shows the auxiliary connector (11) slidably fixed thanks to the tongue and groove rails (41, 43) to a coupler (2) similar to that shown in Figs. 1a and 1b above.

Figs. 9a and 9b show the use of a device like the one shown in Fig. 8 to couple a smartphone (100) to a slit lamp (400). In Fig. 9a only the auxiliary connector (11) is fixed to the lamp viewer (400) thanks to the coupling means (13). The first face (11a) of said connector (11) prepared to receive the coupler (2) is also appreciated. Fig. 9b shows the coupler (2) already connected to the auxiliary connector (11) through the tongue and groove rails (41, 43) and with the smartphone (100) fixed thereto. The rails (41, 43) allow to move the smartphone (100) transversely,

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while to move it longitudinally only it is necessary to loosen the adjustable fixing means (3), move the smartphone (100) up or down, and fix it again.

5 Finally, Figs. 10a and 10b show an auxiliary part (16) designed to allow coupling of a Volk non-contact lens (500) to the adapter (1). This piece (16) has a fixing means (17), in this case simply a groove, which allows it to be coupled to the extension (10) of the adapter fixing plate (7) of the invention (1). In addition, the auxiliary part (16) has an elongated sheet at the end of which there is a tube (18) 10 which, when said auxiliary part (16) is connected to the extension (10), is perpendicular to the face (7 a) of the plate (7). The tube (18) is configured to receive a Volk non-contact lens, which once placed is fixed by means of a cylindrical nut (19) that is coupled to the tube (18) by means of a thread.

Thus, starting from the adapter (1) of the invention assembled as shown in Figs. 4a-4b, if the doctor wishes to use the Volk non-contact lens, he only has to attach it to the tube (18), fix it with the help of the nut (19), and connect the auxiliary part (16) to the extension (10) of the adapter (1) with the help of the slot (17).

Claims (12)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 1. Adapter (1) of smartphones (100) to a direct ophthalmoscope (200) or an otoscope (300), characterized in that it comprises: a coupler (2) comprising on a first face (2a) and an adjustable fixing means (3) for smartphones (100); and on a second opposite face (2b), a first sliding transverse coupling means (41); an intermediate connector (6) comprising a first face (6a) provided with a second sliding transverse coupling means (42) attachable to the first sliding transverse coupling means (41) and a second face (6b) opposite the first; Y a fixing plate (7) having a first face (7a) connectable to the second face (6b) of the connector (6) such that between said first face (7a) of the plate (7) and said second face ( 6b) of the connector (6) there is an elongated longitudinal cavity (8) for receiving the neck of a direct ophthalmoscope (200) or an otoscope (300). 2. Adapter (1) according to claim 1, wherein the adjustable fixing means (3) for receiving smartphones (100) comprises a fixed flange (31) and a transversely adjustable flange (32), so as to approach and moves away from said fixed flange (3a). 3. Adapter (1) according to claim 2, wherein the second longitudinally adjustable second flange (32) is moved by a screw (6). 4. Adapter (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first transverse coupling means (41) of the coupler (2) and the second transverse coupling means (42) of the first connector (6) are complementary tongue and groove rails . 5. Adapter (1) according to any of the preceding claims, which further comprises a locking means for immobilizing the first sliding longitudinal coupling means (41) relative to the second sliding longitudinal coupling means (42). 6. Adapter (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cavity (8) for receiving the neck of a direct ophthalmoscope (200) or an otoscope (300) is arranged on the second face (6b) of the connector (6). 5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 7. Adapter (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the connection between the connector (6) and the plate (7) is carried out by means of screws (91, 92), nuts and washers. 8. Adapter (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a second face (7b) of the plate (7) opposite the first face (7a) comprises an extension (10) perpendicular to said second face (7b) to support a patient's face during the scan. 9. Adapter (1) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising an auxiliary connector (11) comprising; a face (11a) provided with a second transverse coupling means (43) slidably coupled to the first transverse coupling means (41); Y a circular piece (12) located in a plane parallel to said face (11a) and comprising a coupling means (13) configured to reduce the internal effective radius of the circular piece (12) to catch an essentially cylindrical sight glass of a slit lamp (400). 10. Adapter (1) according to claim 9, wherein the coupling means (13) comprises an inner seal (14) coupled to a screw (15) projecting externally to reduce the internal effective radius of the part (12) circular. 11. Adapter (1) according to any of the preceding claims 8-10, further comprising an auxiliary part (16) comprising: a means (17) for fixing the extension (10) of the plate (7); a tube (18) perpendicular to the face (7a) of the plate (7) when the auxiliary part (16) is fixed to said extension (10), the tube (18) being suitable for receiving a lens (500) of Volk contact; Y a cylindrical nut (19) attachable to the tube (18) to fix said Volk non-contact lens (500) when disposed in the tube (18). 12. Adapter (1) according to claim 11, wherein the fixing means (17) is a groove attachable to the extension (10).