Ideal for the growing market of telemedicine, Topcon’s TRC-NW8 features automated functions that allow anyone to quickly and easily capture high-quality images.
Combining the TRC-NW8 retinal camera with IMAGEnet Lite provides an easy-to-use telemedicine color fundus screening package.
With any new instrumentation, you can expect to experience a learning curve. After all, variables in operational skills and perception can result in variable results. Using the correct flash, having the patient maintain fixation, and getting sufficient field to achieve the imagery needed are significant issues in retinal imaging. Topcon Medical Systems, Inc. understands these issues and its latest addition, the TRC-NW8 Non-Mydriatic Retinal Camera, addresses them all…and more.
FULLY AUTOMATIC The TRC-NW8 is a fully automatic non-mydriatic retinal camera. There is no need for guessing if the focus is correct. Instead, the technician aligns the patient’s eye and the instrument automatically focuses and captures the image. To increase the quality of the digital image, the instrument has nine flash levels. It also has an auto small pupil mode as well as blink detection, so it’s pretty difficult to take a bad image.
There is a built-in standard central fixation point available, but there are times when the locations of the site to be photographed are located further into the periphery. The TRC-NW8 offers eight peripheral fixation points for getting the patient gaze situated correctly to gain the most accurate image. An optional external fixation device is offered as well.
NON-MYDRIATIC If you have ever had retinal photography performed when your eyes are dilated, you understand how uncomfortable it can be. The TRC-NW8 takes images without dilation so patients will be more relaxed for the photography and technicians have an easier time doing their job. The image is displayed immediately so you can decide if it can be stored or needs retaking. Inci-dentally, the TRC-NW8 has a built-in optical green filter to provide true optical red-free photography. This is a critical element in the care and management of glaucoma patients.
IMAGE STORAGE The TRC-NW8 includes a PC with IMAGEnet Lite™ software. Images are saved on an array of drive partitions in the PC’s dual hard drives. They can also be archived to a CD or DVD, external hard drives, or network servers. Patient data is also stored with the archived image. The clinician fills in a number of fields including detailed patient information, the diagnosis, the doctor’s name, notes, and much more. The image is stored as a tif, jpg, or png file format, all of which can be reviewed with any PC photo program.
VIEWING AND MANIPULATION
Once the digital images have been taken, Topcon’s IMAGEnet Lite Software facilitates stereo viewing, image manipulation, measurement tools, and an AutoMosaic module for the operator to automatically merge several images to create a composite view of up to a 100° field. It also comes with a photo quality inkjet printer for paper documentation of images.
The TRC-NW8 is one of a long series of non-mydriatic cameras developed by Topcon. Yet this latest camera not only makes retinal imaging simple for clinicians, but reproducible as well.
Jill Luebbert is a certified paraoptometric and optician practicing in northeast Nebraska.
WHERE TO FIND IT Topcon Medical Systems, Inc. 800-223-1130 • topconmedical.com
