Validation of a Low-Cost Method for Recording and Supervising Otolaryngology Trainee Endoscopies.
Mark Lee, Michelle Yu, Elliot Morse and 1 others
PMID 39609221WHAT IT FOUND
A low-cost 3D-printed smartphone adaptor for endoscopy was rated highly for usability and portability by trainees and attendings.
It provided adequate image quality for supervision in inpatient and emergency settings, offering a viable alternative when commercial adapters are unavailable or too expensive.
Key findings
01Users and reviewers rated the device's usability as excellent, with mean System Usability Scale scores above the threshold for average usability.
02Image quality from the smartphone adaptor was statistically comparable to traditional fiberoptic systems and single-use scopes, though inferior to rigid laryngoscopy.
03The adaptors were inexpensive to fabricate, costing between $0.41 and $93.84 depending on the model and components used.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they found
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What it does not show
The study had a small sample size of 20 participants. It was conducted at a single institution, limiting generalizability. The custom survey questions regarding clinical utility were not validated measures. New users reported a learning curve for adjusting focus and brightness manually.
Declared interests
The authors applied for a US patent for the device through Cornell University. One author serves as a medical advisor for two health technology companies.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this device replaces high-resolution rigid endoscopy or commercial towers for all diagnostic needs. While image quality was adequate for supervision, it was objectively inferior to rigid laryngoscopy, and new users required practice to achieve consistent image quality.