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The Eyes Have It: Microscope Manufacturer Chooses Cybernet
You sit down at a fancy machine, put your chin in the little cradle and focus on a pretty picture. Then the doctor snaps a picture of one eye, then the other. It’s all a normal part of the typical eye exam and that fancy diagnostic machine is called a specular microscope. Combining precision optics and advanced electronics to determine the health of the inner eye, specular microscopes are also used both before and after laser vision correction and lens replacement for cataracts. The best are made by Konan Medical USA of Torrance, California, considered the “gold standard” in the industry. With over 1,600 patents to prove it, Konan Medical works hard to maintain market leadership through continual product improvement, which includes choosing the best computer to bundle with their microscope to provide their customers a total diagnostic solution.
One of the people most responsible for developing Konan’s latest bundled solution is Dean Mimura, Director of Technology and Training. Previously the package included a mini-PC mounted under the tabletop, with the microscope, a monitor, a 5 x 7 color photo printer, a keyboard, a mouse and an external hard drive, all on a 2’ x 4’ table. Dean knew that anything he could do to eliminate or combine any of the required components to save space, make the examination station less cluttered and reduce the unsightly tangle of wires – without compromising its function – would be a significant enhancement.
He was aware of the advantages of all-in-one computers and thought one might meet this first requirement. Another important goal was to add a touch-screen monitor, because Dean realized that this would allow the operator to control the most common procedures more quickly. He decided he’d try to incorporate both improvements into the next-generation product. Going online and entering an Internet search for “touch screen all-in-one computer,” Dean found Cybernet Manufacturing.
He learned that Cybernet’s iOne-GX31 not only provides the all-in-one pc design and touch-screen operation he sought, it has one other critical advantage over its competition. The iOne-GX31 is unique because it comes equipped with three 9-pin serial port, making it compatible “right off the shelf” with an extended range of devices. Because Konan’s specular microscope happens to require a 9-pin serial connection, the iOne-GX31 was the only product in its class that needed no customization and therefore no additional cost.
For Konan’s evaluation process, Cybernet provided a 17” iOne-GX31 all-in-one with touch-screen technology for 30 days. The installation was simply plug-and-play, and within moments the test system was up and running Konan’s examination software without a glitch. The touch screen allowed the operator to instantly initiate the principle functions of the microscope, minimizing patient discomfort during the exam. The integrated computer and monitor streamlined the tabletop and cable management issues, creating a cleaner overall appearance and a better professional image.
“The simplified configuration looks more like a medical device,” Dean said, “which increases patient confidence in the equipment and the procedure.” He added that although the 17” monitor worked great, the development team preferred the look of the 19” monitor instead, so they chose it for the new product bundle.
Dean noted that the final benefit was cost, because the “iOne is very cost efficient compared to the previous systems. Installation costs are reduced in time and effort because of its integrated, all-in-one design.”
So, in the big picture, it’s clear that the iOne’s integrated design and touch-screen functionality, its standard serial ports and plug-and-play installation, its improved professional appearance and reduced costs all mean that Cybernet is now helping make Konan Medical’s newest microscope bundle for eye exams – and Dean Mimura – look very good indeed.
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