Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080292159 | Second Opinion Network - Systems and methods are provided 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). 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. | 11-27-2008 |
20090028414 | Data Management in a Linear-Array-Based Microscope Slide Scanner - Systems and methods for processing, storing, and viewing extremely large imagery data rapidly produced by a linear-array-based microscope slide scanner are provided. The system receives, processes, and stores imagery data produced by the linear scanner as a series of overlapping image stripes and combines the data into a seamless and contiguous baseline image. The baseline image is logically mapped into a plurality of regions that are individually addressed to facilitate viewing and manipulation of the baseline image. The system enables dynamic imagery data compression while scanning and capturing new image stripes that eliminates the overhead associated with storing uncompressed image stripes. The system also creates intermediate level images, thereby organizing the baseline image into a variable level pyramid structure referred to as a virtual slide. The system facilitates the use of virtual slides in applications such as telemedicine, telepathology, microscopy education, and analysis of high value specimens like tissue arrays. | 01-29-2009 |
20090116733 | Systems and Methods for Creating and Viewing Three Dimensional Virtual Slides - Systems and methods for creating and viewing three dimensional virtual slides are provided. One or more microscope slides are positioned in an image acquisition device that scans the specimens on the slides and makes two dimensional images at a medium or high resolution. This two dimensional 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 multiple depth levels (Z-planes). The image acquisition device receives a set of parameters for the multiple depth level scan, including a location and a depth. The image acquisition device then scans the specimen at the 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. | 05-07-2009 |
20090169118 | Systems and Methods for Image Pattern Recognition - Systems and methods for image pattern recognition comprise digital image capture and encoding using vector quantization (“VQ”) of the image. A vocabulary of vectors is built by segmenting images into kernels and creating vectors corresponding to each kernel. Images are encoded by creating a vector index file having indices that point to the vectors stored in the vocabulary. The vector index file can be used to reconstruct an image by looking up vectors stored in the vocabulary. Pattern recognition of candidate regions of images can be accomplished by correlating image vectors to a pre-trained vocabulary of vector sets comprising vectors that correlate with particular image characteristics. In virtual microscopy, the systems and methods are suitable for rare-event finding, such as detection of micrometastasis clusters, tissue identification, such as locating regions of analysis for immunohistochemical assays, and rapid screening of tissue samples, such as histology sections arranged as tissue microarrays (“TMAs”). | 07-02-2009 |
20090208134 | Image Processing and Analysis Framework - A system and method for processing and analyzing virtual microscopy digital images (“digital slides”) is provided. The system comprises an algorithm server that maintains or has access to a plurality of image processing and analysis routines. The algorithm server additionally has access to a plurality of digital slides. The algorithm server executes a selected routine on an identified digital slide and provides the resulting data. The digital slide can be accessed locally or remotely across a network. Similarly, the image processing routines can be obtained from local storage or across a network, or both. Advantageously, certain common sub-routines may be stored locally for inclusion in other local or remotely obtained routines. Access to image processing and analysis may be restricted through a monitor process that authenticates requests to process or view digital slides. Variations in restrictions to images provide a rich diversity in access levels that allow sharing of digital slides and demonstrations of image processing algorithms. | 08-20-2009 |
20090231689 | Rapid Microscope Scanner for Volume Image Acquisition - Apparatus for and method of rapid three dimensional scanning and digitizing of an entire microscope sample, or a substantially large portion of a microscope sample, using a tilted sensor synchronized with a positioning stage. The system also provides a method for interpolating tilted image layers into a orthogonal tree dimensional array or into its two dimensional projection as well as a method for composing the volume strips obtained from successive scans of the sample into a single continuous digital image or volume. | 09-17-2009 |
20100177166 | Creating and Viewing Three Dimensional Virtual Slides - Systems and methods for creating and viewing three dimensional virtual slides are provided. One or more microscope slides are positioned in an image acquisition device that scans the specimens on the slides and makes two dimensional images at a medium or high resolution. This two dimensional 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 multiple depth levels (Z-planes). The image acquisition device receives a set of parameters for the multiple depth level scan, including a location and a depth. The image acquisition device then scans the specimen at the 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. | 07-15-2010 |
20100260407 | Viewing Digital Slides - Virtual slide image data and corresponding information are stored in a data storage area on a virtual slide image server. A client viewer requests image data at a particular resolution. The image server obtains corresponding image data from the data storage area at a resolution nearest to the requested resolution. The image data is then sent to the client viewer. The client viewer receives the image data and scales the image data to the requested resolution prior to displaying the image data. | 10-14-2010 |
20100321387 | Viewing Three Dimensional Digital Slides - Systems and methods for retrieving, manipulating, and viewing 3D image objects from 3D virtual microscope slide images (“3D digital slides”) are provided. An image library module provides access to the imagery data in a 3D digital slide and constructs 3D image objects that are coextensive with the 3D digital slide or a 3D sub-portion thereof. From within the 3D image object, cross layer planar views spanning various depths of the 3D digital slide are constructed as well as 3D prisms and other shaped image areas. The image library module allows a 3D image object to be sliced into horizontal and vertical views, skewed cross layer views and regular and irregular shaped 3D image areas for viewing by a user. | 12-23-2010 |
20110044518 | Data Management in a Linear-Array-Based Microscope Slide Scanner - Systems and methods for processing, storing, and viewing extremely large imagery data rapidly produced by a linear-array-based microscope slide scanner are provided. The system receives, processes, and stores imagery data produced by the linear scanner as a series of overlapping image stripes and combines the data into a seamless and contiguous baseline image. The baseline image is logically mapped into a plurality of regions that are individually addressed to facilitate viewing and manipulation of the baseline image. The system enables dynamic imagery data compression while scanning and capturing new image stripes that eliminates the overhead associated with storing uncompressed image stripes. The system also creates intermediate level images, thereby organizing the baseline image into a variable level pyramid structure referred to as a virtual slide. The system facilitates the use of virtual slides in applications such as telemedicine, telepathology, microscopy education, and analysis of high value specimens like tissue arrays. | 02-24-2011 |
20110090223 | CREATING AND VIEWING THREE DIMENSIONAL VIRTUAL SLIDES - Systems and methods for creating and viewing three dimensional digital slides are provided. One or more microscope slides are positioned in an image acquisition device that scans the 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 multiple depth levels (Z-planes). The image acquisition device receives a set of parameters for the multiple depth level scan, including a location and a depth. The image acquisition device then scans the specimen at the 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. | 04-21-2011 |
20110221882 | Data Management in a Linear-Array-Based Microscope Slide Scanner - Systems and methods for processing, storing, and viewing extremely large imagery data rapidly produced by a linear-array-based microscope slide scanner are provided. The system receives, processes, and stores imagery data produced by the linear scanner as a series of overlapping image stripes and combines the data into a seamless and contiguous baseline image. The baseline image is logically mapped into a plurality of regions that are individually addressed to facilitate viewing and manipulation of the baseline image. The system enables dynamic imagery data compression while scanning and capturing new image stripes that eliminates the overhead associated with storing uncompressed image stripes. The system also creates intermediate level images, thereby organizing the baseline image into a variable level pyramid structure referred to as a virtual slide. The system facilitates the use of virtual slides in applications such as telemedicine, telepathology, microscopy education, and analysis of high value specimens like tissue arrays. | 09-15-2011 |
20120002892 | Viewing Digital Slides - Virtual slide image data and corresponding information are stored in a data storage area on a virtual slide image server. A client viewer requests image data at a particular resolution. The image server obtains corresponding image data from the data storage area at a resolution nearest to the requested resolution. The image data is then sent to the client viewer. The client viewer receives the image data and scales the image data to the requested resolution prior to displaying the image data. | 01-05-2012 |
20120011151 | System and Method for Managing Images Over a Network - Images created by one or more image acquisition devices are initially stored in remote data bases at one or more remote or satellite locations and copies of the images are subsequently transferred to a central server at a central storage location over a network and stored in a central data base. A common catalog listing local image files stored at the central data base and remote image files stored at one or more remote data bases is stored at the central location and is accessed by users to search for images. User requests for images associated with local image files result in transfer of the requested images by the central server to the user. User requests for images associated with remote image files are relayed by the central server to the associated remote location, and the requested images are then relayed to the user from the remote location via the central server. | 01-12-2012 |
20120014576 | Signal to Noise Ratio in Digital Pathology Image Analysis - A digital slide analysis system comprises an algorithm server that maintains or has access to a plurality of image processing and analysis routines. The algorithm server additionally has access to a plurality of digital slide images. The algorithm server executes a selected routine on an identified digital slide and provides the resulting data. Prior to the application of selected routine, the system employs a digital pre-processing module to create a metadata mask that reduces undesirable image data such that the image data processed by the selected routine has an improved signal to noise ratio. The pre-processing module uses a classifier that may be implemented as a pattern recognition module, for example. Undesirable image data is therefore excluded from the image data that is processed by the digital pathology image processing and analysis routine, which significantly improves the digital pathology image analysis. | 01-19-2012 |
20120099769 | STORING AND RETRIEVING LARGE IMAGES VIA DICOM - Systems and methods that acquire digital slides and other large images and store these images into commercially available PACS systems using DICOM-standard messaging are provided. A digital slide or other large two-dimensional image is acquired and each separate resolution level of the digital slide or large image is divided into a series of regions that are each identified as a DICOM image. All of the regions at the same resolution in the digital slide or other large image are collectively identified as a DICOM series. A plurality of DICOM series, representing multiple resolution levels in a digital slide are collectively identified and stored as a DICOM study. | 04-26-2012 |
20120113242 | Data Management in a Linear-Array-Based Microscope Slide Scanner - Systems and methods for processing, storing, and viewing extremely large imagery data rapidly produced by a linear-array-based microscope slide scanner are provided. The system receives, processes, and stores imagery data produced by the linear scanner as a series of overlapping image stripes and combines the data into a seamless and contiguous baseline image. The baseline image is logically mapped into a plurality of regions that are individually addressed to facilitate viewing and manipulation of the baseline image. The system enables dynamic imagery data compression while scanning and capturing new image stripes that eliminates the overhead associated with storing uncompressed image stripes. The system also creates intermediate level images, thereby organizing the baseline image into a variable level pyramid structure referred to as a virtual slide. The system facilitates the use of virtual slides in applications such as telemedicine, telepathology, microscopy education, and analysis of high value specimens like tissue arrays. | 05-10-2012 |
20120235994 | Viewing Three Dimensional Digital Slides - Systems and methods for retrieving, manipulating, and viewing 3D image objects from 3D virtual microscope slide images (“3D digital slides”) are provided. An image library module provides access to the imagery data in a 3D digital slide and constructs 3D image objects that are coextensive with the 3D digital slide or a 3D sub-portion thereof. From within the 3D image object, cross layer planar views spanning various depths of the 3D digital slide are constructed as well as 3D prisms and other shaped image areas. The image library module allows a 3D image object to be sliced into horizontal and vertical views, skewed cross layer views and regular and irregular shaped 3D image areas for viewing by a user. | 09-20-2012 |
20120269409 | SIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO IN DIGITAL PATHOLOGY IMAGE ANALYSIS - A digital slide analysis system comprises an algorithm server that maintains or has access to a plurality of image processing and analysis routines. The algorithm server additionally has access to a plurality of digital slide images. The algorithm server executes a selected routine on an identified digital slide and provides the resulting data. Prior to the application of selected routine, the system employs a digital pre-processing module to create a metadata mask that reduces undesirable image data such that the image data processed by the selected routine has an improved signal to noise ratio. The pre-processing module uses a classifier that may be implemented as a pattern recognition module, for example. Undesirable image data is therefore excluded from the image data that is processed by the digital pathology image processing and analysis routine, which significantly improves the digital pathology image analysis. | 10-25-2012 |
20120275671 | System and Method to Determine Slide Quality of a Digitized Microscope Slide - A system that determines the quality of a digital microscope slide by analyzing digital slide images based on complexity and spatial frequencies. An example embodiment detailed in the application may provide visual feedback on the whole slide quality by overlaying the image with a color coded “heat map” of local area quality. A user provided with the overlap image may obtain both an absolute quality measurement for the whole image and quickly identity the quality variability within the slide. | 11-01-2012 |
20120281931 | Image Processing and Analysis Framework - A system and method for processing and analyzing virtual microscopy digital images (“digital slides”) is provided. The system comprises an algorithm server that accesses a plurality of image processing and analysis routines. The algorithm server additionally accesses a plurality of digital slides. The algorithm server executes a selected routine on an identified digital slide and provides the resulting data. The digital slide is accessed locally or remotely across a network. Similarly, the image processing and analysis routines are accessed locally or remotely across a network, or both. Advantageously, certain common sub-routines may be stored locally for inclusion in other local or remotely accessed routines. Use of image processing and analysis routines may be restricted through a monitor process that authenticates requests to process or view digital slides. Variations in restrictions to images provide rich diversity in access levels that allow sharing of digital slides and demonstrations of image processing algorithms. | 11-08-2012 |
20130279807 | IMAGE PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS FRAMEWORK - A system and method for processing and analyzing virtual microscopy digital images (“digital slides”) is provided. The system comprises an algorithm server that accesses a plurality of image processing and analysis routines. The algorithm server additionally accesses a plurality of digital slides. The algorithm server executes a selected routine on an identified digital slide and provides the resulting data. The digital slide is accessed locally or remotely across a network. Similarly, the image processing and analysis routines are accessed locally or remotely across a network, or both. Advantageously, certain common sub-routines may be stored locally for inclusion in other local or remotely accessed routines. Use of image processing and analysis routines may be restricted through a monitor process that authenticates requests to process or view digital slides. Variations in restrictions to images provide rich diversity in access levels that allow sharing of digital slides and demonstrations of image processing algorithms. | 10-24-2013 |
20140044346 | Creating and Viewing Three Dimensional Virtual Slides - Systems and methods for creating and viewing three dimensional digital slides are provided. One or more microscope slides are positioned in an image acquisition device that scans the 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 multiple depth levels (Z-planes). The image acquisition device receives a set of parameters for the multiple depth level scan, including a location and a depth. The image acquisition device then scans the specimen at the 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. | 02-13-2014 |
20140046686 | Second Opinion Network - Systems and methods are provided 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). 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. | 02-13-2014 |
20140068442 | Viewing Digital Slides - A system for collaborative viewing of a digital slide image. In an embodiment, a session is established for viewing a digital slide image by a plurality of client viewers. A leader client viewer and non-leader client viewers are identified for the session. When a command is received from the leader client viewer, the command is sent to each of the non-leader client viewers to synchronize a view of the digital slide image at the non-leader client viewers with the view of the digital slide image at the leader client viewer. | 03-06-2014 |
20140111509 | Viewing Three Dimensional Digital Slides - Systems and methods for providing a view of a digital slide image. In an embodiment, a digital slide image file is accessed. The digital slide image file may comprise a plurality of first image planes representing an image of at least a portion of a slide specimen at varying focal depths. Then, a three-dimensional object is constructed from the digital slide image file. The three-dimensional image object comprises a plurality of second image planes that are derived from one or more of the first image planes and may comprise at least one image plane that has been interpolated from one or more of the first image planes. In addition, a two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional view of the three-dimensional object may be generated. | 04-24-2014 |
20140250148 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING IMAGES OVER A NETWORK - Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for managing image files over a network. In an embodiment, a notification is received from a remote server. The notification may comprise an identifier of an image file that comprises scanned slide data and is stored at the remote server. In response to the notification, the identifier of the image file may be added in association with an indication that the image file is stored at the remote server to a stored catalog of image files, and a file-transfer operation may be initiated to transfer a copy of the image file from the remote server to a central database. Following completion of the file-transfer operation, the stored catalog may be updated to indicate that the image file is stored in the central database, and a request may be sent to the remote server to delete the image file at the remote server. | 09-04-2014 |
20140294267 | STORING AND RETRIEVING LARGE IMAGES VIA DICOM - Systems, methods, and media for storing a digital image using the Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) standard. In an embodiment, a digital image at a first resolution is divided into a plurality of regions. Each of the plurality of regions is stored as a separate DICOM image file. In addition, each of the DICOM image files is associated with a DICOM series representing the digital image at the first resolution. | 10-02-2014 |
20140301664 | IMAGE PROCESSING AND ANALYSIS FRAMEWORK - Method, systems, and media for processing a digital slide image. In an embodiment, an identification of a macro, representing a plurality of algorithms, and an identification of digital slide image(s) are received over a network. Parameter data is obtained for the identified macro, and the digital slide image(s) are retrieved. The plurality of algorithms represented by the identified macro are executed on the digital slide image(s) according to the parameter data. | 10-09-2014 |
20140313314 | Data Management in a Linear-Array-Based Microscope Slide Scanner - Systems and methods for capturing image data using a line scan camera. In an embodiment, a line scan camera captures image data of a sample as a plurality of image stripes. A processor may coarsely align two or more of the plurality of image stripes according to a synchronization process while the line scan camera is capturing at least one of the plurality of image stripes. Subsequently, the processor may also finely align the two or more image stripes using pattern matching. | 10-23-2014 |
20140333613 | VIEWING THREE DIMENSIONAL DIGITAL SLIDES - Systems, methods, and media for providing a view of a digital slide image. In an embodiment, a digital slide image file is accessed. The digital slide image file may comprise a plurality of first image planes representing an image of at least a portion of a slide specimen at varying focal depths. Then, a three-dimensional object is constructed from the digital slide image file. The three-dimensional image object is constructed by determining a surface that crosses two or more of the plurality of first image planes, and determining image data that are interior to the determined surface, based on one or more of the plurality of first image planes. A view is generated from the three-dimensional image object. | 11-13-2014 |
20150015578 | CREATING AND VIEWING THREE DIMENSIONAL VIRTUAL SLIDES - Systems and methods for creating and viewing three dimensional digital slides are provided. One or more microscope slides are positioned in an image acquisition device that scans the 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 multiple depth levels (Z-planes). The image acquisition device receives a set of parameters for the multiple depth level scan, including a location and a depth. The image acquisition device then scans the specimen at the 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. | 01-15-2015 |