Recently, Medical Robotics Magazine highlighted an intriguing development regarding The Imaging Source’s cameras and their expanding role beyond standard medical robotics into specialized fields like optometry.

An Emerging Role for Commercial Cameras

Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, The Imaging Source specializes in vision components. While their products are already integrated into various healthcare scenarios—including robotic assembly lines—optometry represents a rapidly growing application area.

As noted by John W. Berryman, General Manager at The Imaging Source:

“The field of optometry and ophthalmology is becoming one of the largest sectors within medicine to adopt commercially available cameras.”

Robotic Assembly-Line Applications

These cameras are frequently used by integrators like Industrial Dynamics, a Torrance-based company specializing in bottle inspection systems. Instead of purchasing expensive pre-built robots, Industrial Dynamics constructs custom robotic assembly lines using The Imaging Source’s QC camera (model DMK 31AG03).

Berryman explained:

“Their automation processes require database integration to verify pill contents within bottles and capture bar code images.” This technology was showcased at the AUTOMATE conference in Chicago.

Future Medical Research

In preparation for ARVO’s upcoming meeting, an abstract is set to outline a clinical trial utilizing The Imaging Source’s 1/3" CCD camera (DMK 31AG03) within optometry. Additionally, Berryman mentioned ongoing cardiac tissue examination via phosphorescence angiography using another model—DMK 31BF03-Z2—which features an integrated optical zoom lens.

Broader Healthcare Integration

Beyond optometry and cardiology, The Imaging Source’s cameras are also leveraged in dentistry through Periogen’s gum inspection device. These developments underscore the versatility of their hardware across diverse medical imaging needs.

Last Updated: 2025-09-05 01:42:38