Network Review in Clinical Hematology

• US 20090041329A1
• Filed: 08/07/2007
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Albert A. Eliasen, Peter W. Nordell, Jr., Triple T. Partners, LLC
• Original Assignee: NextSlide Imaging, LLC
• Inventors: Nordell, Peter W., Eliasen, Albert A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,936,913 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/134
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/016 White blood cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1486 Counting the particles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00603 Reinspection of samples
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/51 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/40 Scaling of whole images or parts thereof, e.g. expanding or contracting
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/698 Matching; Classification
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/70 for mining of medical data, e.g. analysing previous cases of other patients
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for using digital imaging and networked communications in clinical hematology. An Area of Interest (AOI) on a slide is determined. A high resolution image of the AOI is analyzed for sample integrity and adjusted and rescanned based on programmable parameters. Sensitive HIPAA information is removed from the AOI image stored on a server. The server includes Web 2.0 software applications. A remote user reviews the image and adds metadata to the server. The server manages the work flow between the stored AOI images and the available users. A technician accesses information about a particular image file, as well as other topics, through knowledge management and social network applications. Lab reports are generated based on the metadata. The quality of the metadata is subject to quality control processes. The stored images and associated metadata can be mined for subsequent medical research.

Claims

1. A hematology review network comprising:

a slide imager including a low magnification optical path and a high magnification optical path, and configured to receive a blood smear slide, obtain a low magnification image of at least a portion of the slide, and obtain at least one high magnification image of a portion of the blood smear;

an image server operably coupled to the slide imager and configured to compute an area of interest within the low magnification image, direct the slide imager to obtain one or more high magnification images of the entire area of interest, identify a plurality of white blood cells in the one or more high magnification images, and recompute and rescan a larger area of interest if the count of white blood cells identified in the image is below a threshold value;

a web server including a workflow management application, the web server configured to store and disseminate the at least one high magnification image to at least one of a plurality of reviewers, the specific reviewer selected by the workflow management application based on a plurality of programmable parameters; and

at least one review station configured to communicate with the web server, display the at least one high magnification image, and receive an image information input from the specific reviewer, wherein the image information input is stored on the web server.

2. The hematology review network of claim 1 wherein the high magnification optical path of the slide imager includes a 100×

oil immersion objective lens.

3. The hematology review network of claim 1 wherein the high magnification optical path includes a selectable objective head assembly.

4. The hematology review network of claim 1 wherein the slide imager is a line scan system.

5. The hematology review network of claim 1 wherein the web server includes a knowledge management application configured to provide information relating to blood smear images to the plurality of reviewers.

6. The hematology review network of claim 1 wherein the web server includes at least one social networking application configured to allow the plurality of reviewers to interact.

7. The hematology review network of claim 1 wherein the review station is configured to sequentially highlight in the displayed high magnification image the plurality of identified WBCs, wherein the review station displays the feature at higher magnification for detailed examination.

9. The hematology review network of claim 1 wherein the workflow management application is configured to select at least one stored high magnification image and the associated image information input by a first reviewer, wherein the image information is verified by second reviewer.

10. The hematology review network of claim 1 wherein the image information input from the specific reviewer is a cell classification.

11. The hematology review network of claim 10 further comprising an image processing software application configured to output an automated cell classification, wherein the cell classification input from a specific reviewer is compared to the cell classification output from the image processing software application.

12. The hematology review network of claim 1 wherein the web server and image server are configured to aggregate high magnification images of blood smears and related metadata across multiple patient populations, and provide the aggregated image and metadata to a data mining application such that HIPAA-sensitive information is not disclosed.

8. The hematology review network of 7 wherein the review station is further configured to record the position of and highlight in the display a feature within the high magnification image previously identified by the reviewer, wherein the review station displays the feature at higher magnification for detailed examination.

13. A method for obtaining and storing a high magnification image of a blood smear sample, the method including:

storing a low magnification image of the blood smear sample;

determining an area of interest within the blood smear sample based on image analysis of the low magnification image;

obtaining at least one high magnification image of at least a portion of the area of interest;

counting a number of white blood cell in the at least one high magnification image;

adjusting the area of interest within the blood smear sample if the number of white blood cells counted is below a first threshold;

creating an image file which includes the at least one high magnification image and excludes HIPAA-sensitive data; and

uploading the high magnification image of the area of interest to a web server.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

receiving a blood smear slide including the blood smear sample and a sample identification information;

recognizing the sample identification information; and

storing the sample identification information.

15. The method of 14 further comprising linking the sample identification information with the image file with an index, wherein the sample identification information and the image file persist in different storage locations.

16. The method of 13 wherein the area of interest within the blood smear sample is adjusted if the number of white blood cells imaged is above a second threshold value.

17. The method of 13 wherein creating an image file includes assembling a plurality of high magnification images to create an assembled high magnification image of the area of interest.

18. A hematology services outsourcing application embodied on a computer-readable medium for enabling a distributed computer system, comprising:

a web server code segment for residence on a server computer coupled to a plurality of networks to enable the web server to receive, store and disseminate a plurality of blood smear image files;

a client computer code segment including a user interface to enable a user of a computer connected to at least one of the networks to view a blood smear image and enter a white blood cell count, wherein the white blood cell count is stored on the web server;

a scheduling code segment which executes on the web server and controls access to the blood smear image files by the user based on a plurality of workflow parameters;

a quality assurance code segment which executes on the web server and enables a quality technician to review information stored on the web server and enter a quality score, wherein the quality score is stored on the web server; and

a billing code segment which executes on the web server and enables a collection of information on the number of blood smear images viewed by the user, and a computation of costs associated with the user.

19. The hematology services outsourcing application of claim 18 wherein the client computer code segment is further configured to enable the user to identify and enter a description of at least one nucleated red blood cell, and to store a location information and the description of the at least one nucleated red blood cell on the web server.

20. The hematology services outsourcing application of claim 18 wherein the client computer code segment is further configured to enable the user to enter a description of the RBC morphology, and the description is stored on the web server.

21. The hematology services outsourcing application of claim 18 further comprising an auction code segment which executes on the web server and enables the user of the client computer code segment to enter a price for their services, wherein the web server is configured to disseminate the blood smear image based on the price.