Telepathology diagnostic network
First Claim
1. A telepathology diagnostic system which allows a pathologist located at a diagnostic center to render pathology diagnostic opinions in connection with specimens located at a site which is remote from the diagnostic center, which system comprises:
- a microscope located at the remote site including robotic means for adjusting the relative position of a specimen to the lens, the magnification of the specimen, and the focus of the specimen;
video camera means for collecting video signals from the microscope;
bidirectional communication means for communicating signals between the remote site and the diagnostic center;
a pathologist workstation located at the diagnostic center and comprising a monitor for viewing the video signals collected by the video camera means which signals are sent over the bidirectional communication means, and further comprising microscope control means by which the pathologist generates control signals which are sent over the bidirectional communication means to the robotic means of the microscope so that the pathologist can thereby remotely adjust the relative position of the specimen to the lens, the magnification of the specimen, and the focus of the specimen; and
means for determining and storing coordinates corresponding to the relative position of the specimen to the lens of selected microscopic fields of interest;
whereby the system provides the pathologist located at the diagnostic center with the ability to remotely adjust the relative position of the specimen to the lens, the magnification of the specimen, and the focus of the specimen to thereby make observations of various microscopic fields on the specimen necessary for rendering a pathology diagnostic opinion, and the ability to store the coordinates of said selected microscopic fields of interest for later reference.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system is disclosed for providing pathology diagnostic opinions to physicians at sites remote from where the consulting pathologist is physically located. The system includes a robotically controlled microscope at the remote site equipped with a video camera means for collecting video signals from the microscope. The system also uses a bidirectional communication means to link the microscope with a pathologist workstation. The workstation includes a monitor for viewing images received from the video camera means and control means for generating control signals which are sent over the bidirectional communication means to thereby remotely control the microscope. Preferably, the system also includes means for electronically storing the X, Y, and Z microscope stage coordinates for particular points of the specimen viewed by the pathologist together with means for storing electronically and reproducing photographically the images viewed.
173 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A telepathology diagnostic system which allows a pathologist located at a diagnostic center to render pathology diagnostic opinions in connection with specimens located at a site which is remote from the diagnostic center, which system comprises:
-
a microscope located at the remote site including robotic means for adjusting the relative position of a specimen to the lens, the magnification of the specimen, and the focus of the specimen; video camera means for collecting video signals from the microscope; bidirectional communication means for communicating signals between the remote site and the diagnostic center; a pathologist workstation located at the diagnostic center and comprising a monitor for viewing the video signals collected by the video camera means which signals are sent over the bidirectional communication means, and further comprising microscope control means by which the pathologist generates control signals which are sent over the bidirectional communication means to the robotic means of the microscope so that the pathologist can thereby remotely adjust the relative position of the specimen to the lens, the magnification of the specimen, and the focus of the specimen; and means for determining and storing coordinates corresponding to the relative position of the specimen to the lens of selected microscopic fields of interest; whereby the system provides the pathologist located at the diagnostic center with the ability to remotely adjust the relative position of the specimen to the lens, the magnification of the specimen, and the focus of the specimen to thereby make observations of various microscopic fields on the specimen necessary for rendering a pathology diagnostic opinion, and the ability to store the coordinates of said selected microscopic fields of interest for later reference. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A telepathology diagnostic system which allows a pathologist located at a diagnostic center to render pathology diagnostic opinions in connection with specimens located at a site which is remote from the diagnostic center, which system comprises:
-
a microscope located at the remote site including robotic means for adjusting the relative position of a specimen to the lens, the magnification of the specimen, and the focus of the specimen; video camera means for collecting video signals from the microscope; bidirectional communication means for communicating signals between the remote site and the diagnostic center; a pathologist workstation located at the diagnostic center and comprising a monitor for viewing the video signals collected by the video camera means which signals are sent over the bidirectional communication means, and further comprising microscope control means by which the pathologist generates control signals which are sent over the bidirectional communication means to the robotic means of the microscope so that the pathologist can thereby remotely adjust the relative position of the specimen to the lens, the magnification of the specimen, and the focus of the specimen to thereby observe microscopic fields of interest; and means for storing video images of selected microscopic fields of interest; whereby the system provides the pathologist located at the diagnostic center with the ability to remotely adjust the relative position of the specimen to the lens, the magnification of the specimen, and the focus of the specimen to thereby make observations of various microscopic fields on the specimen necessary for rendering a pathology diagnostic opinion, and the ability to select microscopic fields of interest and have the video image of said selected microscopic fields of interest stored. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A telepathology diagnostic system which allows a pathologist located at a diagnostic center to render pathology diagnostic opinions in connection with specimens located at a site which is remote from the diagnostic center, which system comprises:
-
a microscope located at the remote site including robotic means for adjusting the relative position of a specimen to the lens, the magnification of the specimen, and the focus of the specimen, and means for generating locations signals corresponding to the relative location of the specimen to the lens; video camera means for collecting video signals from the microscope; bidirectional communication means for communicating signals between the remote site and the diagnostic center; a pathologist workstation located at the diagnostic center and comprising a monitor for viewing the video signals collected by the video camera means which signals are sent over the bidirectional communication means, and further comprising microscope control means by which the pathologist generates control signals which are sent over the bidirectional communication means to the robotic means of the microscope so that the pathologist can thereby remotely adjust the relative position of the specimen to the lens, the magnification of the specimen, and the focus of the specimen; means for selecting microscopic fields of interest and for converting the location signals into coordinates corresponding to the relative position of the specimen to the lens at said selected microscopic fields of interest; and means for storing said coordinates; whereby the system provides the pathologist located at the diagnostic center with the ability to remotely adjust the relative position of the specimen to the lens, the magnification of the specimen, and the focus of the specimen to thereby make observations of various microscopic fields on the specimen necessary for rendering a pathology diagnostic opinion, and the ability to store the coordinates of said selected microscopic fields of interest for later reference. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification