Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a whole slide fluorescence digital pathology system using a monochrome TDI line scan camera.SOLUTION: The fluorescence digital pathology system is particularly useful in fluorescence scanning where a signal is typically much weaker than in brightfield microscopy. The system uses oblique brightfield illumination for fast and accurate tissue finding and employs a unique double sweep focus scoring and objective lens height averaging technique to identify focus points and create a focus map that can be followed during subsequent scanning, to provide autofocusing capability. The system also scans and analyzes image data to determine an optimal line rate for the TDI line scan camera to use during subsequent scanning of the digital slide image and it also creates a light profile to compensate for loss of illumination light due to roll off.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system and method to facilitate consultations between a referral source (e.g., labs, pathologists and patients) and a consultant (e.g., pathologist, radiologist, or other digital image analyst).SOLUTION: Links between the various referral sources and consultants are established through a scanning center via a data communication network such as the Internet. The referral source sends a slide to the scanning center where the corresponding digital slide is posted for review and analysis by the consultant. Upon completion of the analysis and report, a digital slide conference is conducted through the scanning center that provides a venue for direct communication regarding the consultation. The scanning center may also facilitate payment from the referral source to the consultant.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a systems and a method for creating and visualizing a three dimensional virtual slide.SOLUTION: One or more microscope slides are disposed in an image acquisition device that scans specimens on the slides and makes two dimensional images at medium resolution or high resolution. These two dimensional images are provided to an image visualizing workstation where these images are visualized by an operator. The operator pans and zooms the two dimensional image and selects an area of interest for scanning at a plurality of depth levels (Z-planes). The image acquisition device receives a set of parameters for scanning at the plurality of depth level scans including a location and depth. The image acquisition device then scans the specimen at a location in a series of Z-plane images where each Z-plane image corresponds to a depth level portion of the specimen within a depth parameter.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for and a method of fully automatically and rapidly scanning and digitizing an entire microscope sample, using a computer controlled microscope slide scanner for composing image strips obtained by continuous scanning of the sample into a single continuous digital image.SOLUTION: An optical microscope system 10 includes a microscope slide scanner 11. All of the microscope slide scanners 11 have a primary connection to a network 42. A preferred sample 12 is a microscope slide. An illumination optics system 32 and an imaging optics system 34 are consistent with a transmission mode optics system optimized for a diffraction-limited digital image.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a data management tool suitable to manage a small number of relatively large (to 200MB) image stripes that are captured by a line scan image striping system. SOLUTION: Large capacity image data is generated by a microscope slide scanner of linear array type and is generated with about 3GB every minute. Data of a series of image stripes which are roughly adjusted and overlapped slightly at a time is received, and the heterogeneity and chromatic aberration of images are corrected to obtain a reference image that is seamless and has no break by arranging the images with precision. The reference image is logically mapped into a plurality of areas with an address attached separately so that the reference image is easily appreciated and operated. COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system and a method for retrieving, operating, and browsing an object of 3D imaging among 3D virtual microscope slide images.SOLUTION: An image library module provides access to image data on a 3D virtual slide and generates the object of 3D imaging which spreads out in the same space at the 3D virtual slide or its 3D sub part. From the object of 3D imaging, a cross layer plane representation which covers various depths of the 3D virtual slide is generated similarly to a 3D prism and other formed image areas. The image library module can slice the object of 3D imaging into horizontal and vertical representations, and a cross layer representation and 3D image areas in a standard and an irregular shape can be distorted for a presentation by a user.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide systems and methods for assessing virtual microscope slide image quality.SOLUTION: In order to determine whether a virtual slide image has any out of focus areas and is therefore a candidate for manual inspection, the various focus points used to scan the virtual slide image are used to calculate a best fit surface for the virtual slide image. The distance of each focus point from the best fit surface is then calculated and the largest distance is compared to a predetermined value. If the largest distance from a focus point to the best fit surface is larger than the predetermined value, then the virtual slide image is designated as needing a manual inspection and possible re-scan.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a virtual slide browsing system and a browsing method.SOLUTION: For a storage image containing image data of a plurality of resolutions and annotation data associated with a specific location in relation to a base resolution of an image, a request for a specific region of the storage image and a specific resolution of a request image is confirmed in an image server 30 which receives an image request from a client viewer 70. It is determined that a region requested with the base resolution of the storage image is associated with the annotation data, a coordinate associated with the base resolution of the storage image for the associated annotation data is determined, and the associated annotation data are scaled (enlarged/reduced) from the base resolution to a requested resolution associated with the coordinate in accordance with the coordinate. In providing request image data and associated annotation data scaled for display of the client viewer, the annotation data are indicated on a display as an overlay of request image data on that coordinate.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a systems and a method for creating and viewing a three dimensional digital slide.SOLUTION: One or more microscope slides are positioned in an image acquisition device that scans specimens on the slides and makes two dimensional images at a medium or high resolution. These two dimensional digital slide images are provided to an image viewing workstation where they are viewed by an operator who pans and zooms the two dimensional image and selects an area of interest for scanning at a plurality of depth levels (Z-planes). The image acquisition device receives a set of parameters for a plurality of depth level scans including a location and a depth. The image acquisition device then scans the specimen at a location in a series of Z-plane images where each Z-plane image corresponds to a depth level portion of the specimen within the depth parameter.