Researchers get kamar dard too. How ‘smart’ microscopes have transformed scientific pursuit in India

Institutes such as IIT Guwahati, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)-Delhi, Vellore Institute of Technology, Madras Medical College, Central Muga Eri Research and Training Institute in Jorhat, Lady Hardinge Medical College in New Delhi, hospitals such as Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre in Mumbai, and Military Hospitals, and diagnostic centres and healthcare service providers such as Apollo Diagnostics, Dr. Lal PathLabs, Pathkind Labs, and Tata 1mg have all switched to smart microscopes.

Dr. Padmavathi R. is one of the scientists to have made the switch.

“It has made my workflow more efficient, improved my teaching, and significantly reduced the physical strain I experienced with traditional microscopes,” she says.

Health concerns associated with traditional microscopes

Scientists who continually peer over traditional microscopes have a price to pay. Microscopic work is often associated with health problems for the eyes and the musculoskeletal system.

“Microscope users often bend their head and neck forward, hunching their back for extended periods. While musculoskeletal strain may not be noticeable initially, over time—especially with ageing and a lack of exercise—it results in persistent body pain and muscle spasms. Wrist and forearm pain is common, too, due to extending the hand for prolonged periods while adjusting the microscope,” Dr. Jayshree Krishnamurthy, pathologist, KVC Diagnostic Centre, Mysore, tells ThePrint.

An August 2014 study published in the International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health found that out of 50 professionals and technicians who regularly used microscopes, the ones who reported maximum musculoskeletal problems were those who had been using microscopes for 11-15 years for more than 30 hours a week. Nearly 94 percent of participants reported visual issues. Roughly 44 percent said they felt stressed with the long working hours on the microscope.

Dr. Krishnamurthy says eye strain occurs when lighting conditions are insufficient or too harsh, and continuous exposure to improper lighting aggravates existing vision problems, particularly for individuals with myopia. “The prolonged focus on the microscope lens can lead to increased dryness of the eyes. Additionally, those wearing spectacles face difficulties, as the eyepiece often obstructs the frame, making adjustments uncomfortable.”

Experts say one could avoid health problems caused by using traditional microscopes while ensuring proper alignment for the equipment and maintaining an ergonomic posture. For instance, adjusting the height of the stage of the microscope and sitting in a relaxed position can help reduce strain on the neck and back, according to Dr. Krishnamurthy. Using a screen projection system is another effective solution as it eliminates the need to hunch over the eyepiece. “For eye care, anti-glare filters and lubricating eye drops may help alleviate strain,” Dr. Krishnamurthy says.

Dr. Padmavathi R. recommends changing posture frequently to prevent back and neck issues and minimising prolonged sitting.

Doctors and scientists working on biological specimens mostly use compound microscopes without digital fittings. Though experts suggest adopting better ergonomic practices while using traditional microscopes, they also recommend transitioning to smart microscopes as the most effective solution.

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So, what is smart?

Microscopes evolved into several forms in the centuries since 1600 when Dutch spectacle-makers father-son duo Hans and Zacharias Janssen invented the compound microscope, which magnified minuscule objects to 20 to 30 times their original width. In the 1660s, Dutch scientist Antonie van Leeuwenhoek made compound microscopes with a magnifying power of 200 by grinding his lenses.

Over the centuries, microscopes have evolved—from phase contrast microscopes that enhance the contrast of unstained specimens to electron microscopes that use electrons to produce high-resolution images, and scanning tunnelling microscopes that obtain ultra-high-resolution images at the atomic level without using light or electrons.

The new solution is smart microscopes. Thane-based medical device company MedPrime Technologies, in 2017, started developing the smart microscopes. As digital microscopes, they allow real-time analysis of samples while staying focused on the specimens at all times. These microscopes yield high-quality images with quality control, failure analysis, and documentation. Once there are images, a particular software analyses them, helping quantify measurement data.

“Chronic eye diseases, spondylitis, lower back injuries, stress, and fractures originating from the use of traditional microscopes have been mitigated with the use of cameras at the trinocular eyepieces, followed by AI- or machine learning-enabled data analysis of the images,” Professor Dipankar Bandyopadhyay, head, Jyoti and Bhupat Mehta School of Health Sciences and Technology, IIT Guwahati, tells ThePrint.

Made by MedPrime Technologies, the CILIKA portable smart microscope has an ergonomic design. Its technology, called TrueView, allows the observer to view the whole field, unlike a conventional microscope, which provides a 50 percent reduced view, the company says on its website.

“Digital microscopes have taken a step forward by incorporating built-in cameras and screens, allowing users to move away from eyepieces and enjoy a more comfortable experience. These devices make it easier to visualise samples and reduce physical strain,” Greeshma Unnikrishnan, co-founder and CEO of MedaPrime Technologies, tells ThePrint. “However, early digital microscopes still faced issues like lag, limited field of view, and restricted software capabilities, which held back seamless collaboration and effective analysis.”

Explaining how smart microscopes blend digital imaging with advanced software capabilities, she says AI-powered software integration is one of their distinctive features. “Built-in AI algorithms can help spot patterns, abnormalities, and important diagnostic markers, enhancing accuracy and minimising human error,” she says.

Among other advantages mentioned by Unnikrishnan, smart microscopes allow researchers to maintain an erect structure as a large screen relays the image, provide high-resolution imaging, and enable remote viewing, cloud storage, portability, digital transfer of images and multiple device connectivity.

Dr. Arun Kumar K.P., scientist D at Central Muga Eri Research and Training Institute, Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles, uses MedPrime’s CILIKA. He tells ThePrint that smart microscopes allow researchers to view multiple samples—at once—and are relatively error-free.

“We use these smart microscopes for multipurpose reasons, be it in the lab or on the field where we test disease samples on the spot. The portable ones are quite easy to operate and can be moved easily. Rural and remote areas have no electricity connections, but we can use smart microscopes as they are battery operated,” Dr. Kumar says.

Experts say that the larger field of vision provided by smart microscopes reduces eye strain, and the ability to enlarge images makes it easier to observe details. Capturing and sharing real-time images with clinicians also serves as proof for diagnosis.

“Improved collaboration is a huge advantage. I often share images with my niece, a pathologist, for second opinions. In complex histopathology cases, I can immediately share images with clinicians, providing them with visual proof for conditions, such as granulomas or malignancies,” says Dr. Krishnamurthy. “Unlike traditional microscopes, which sometimes leave room for doubt, smart microscopes provide clear visual evidence, eliminating uncertainty and making the diagnostic process more efficient and accurate.”

How smart microscopes work

The key components of smart microscopes include an optical system, a digital camera, an AI-powered system, software, an autofocus and a motorised stage, a lighting system, and connectivity and cloud storage.

The latest models integrate devices such as smartphones or tablets with the microscope, making the entire experience more seamless and advanced. The high-resolution camera of the tablet or smartphone eliminates the need for a separate external camera.

“When a sample is placed on the microscope stage, the light from the built-in illumination system shines through the sample and passes through an optical system. The optical system consists of objective lenses and other optical components, which magnify the sample image. The magnified image is projected onto the camera of the tablet or the smartphone and displayed on the device screen,” says Unnikrishnan.

She adds that the software that powers smart microscopes plays a crucial role in enhancing their functionality—it lets one tweak aspects such as contrast, brightness, and colour balance.

One can also use smart microscopes to adjust the dyeing colour at their will, generating three-dimensional images.

“Smart microscopes are widely used in disease detection, biotechnology research, education, and industrial material analysis. By leveraging machine learning, they can continuously improve accuracy and efficiency. In short, smart microscopes combine AI, automation and digital technology to revolutionise microscopy, making scientific analysis faster, more precise, and accessible across various fields,” Dr. Bandyopadhyay says.

While smart microscopes are a boon for researchers, they come with certain caveats. For instance, AI may be helpful in the removal of aberration from images, but one must be careful because it may end up adding other data.

Nevertheless, smart microscopes are now an inseparable part of the lives of several researchers.

“I am now completely dependent on it. My day begins and ends with the smart microscope, and I use it for all aspects of my work,” Dr. Padmavathi says.

(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)

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