System and method for quality assurance in pathology

• US 8,165,363 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2008
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leica Biosystems Imaging Inc. (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Aperio Technologies Incorporated (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Soenksen, Dirk, Zirker-Smith, Kathy
• Primary Examiner(s): MAHONEY, CHRISTOPHER E
• Application Number:
  US12/114,627
• Publication Number:
  US 20080273788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,453 Days
• Field of Search: 382/128
• US Class Current: 382/128
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/365 Control or image processing arrangements for digital or video microscopes G02B21/361, G02B21/362 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10024 Color image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10056 Microscopic image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30024 Cell structures in vitro; Tissue sections in vitro
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/00 Image enhancement or restoration
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0002 Inspection of images, e.g. flaw detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/987 with the intervention of an operator
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/69 Microscopic objects, e.g. biological cells or cellular parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/693 Acquisition
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

Systems and methods for improving quality assurance in pathology using automated quality assessment and digital image enhancements on digital slides prior to analysis by the pathologist are provided. A digital pathology system (slide scanning instrument and software) creates, assesses and improves the quality of a digital slide. The improved digital slide image has a higher image quality that results in increased efficiency and accuracy in the analysis and diagnosis of such digital slides when they are reviewed on a monitor by a pathologist. These improved digital slides yield a more objective diagnosis than reading the corresponding glass slide under a microscope.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for improved quality assurance in pathology comprising:

receiving a glass slide with a tissue sample disposed on a surface of the glass slide, wherein the tissue sample has been counterstained with at least two stains;

digitally scanning the glass slide to create a digital slide image of the tissue sample;

digitally analyzing the digital slide image to assess the quality of the digital slide image;

comparing the assessed quality of the digital slide image to a set of predetermined criteria;

determining that the quality of the digital slide image meets the set of predetermined criteria;

identifying one or more regions of the digital slide image having a first color corresponding to a first of said at least two stains;

changing the first color in the identified one or more regions of the digital slide image to a second color in the digital slide image to create an enhanced digital slide image; and

providing the enhanced digital slide image on a digital image viewer for review by a pathologist.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying a brightness characteristic of the digital slide image and digitally enhancing the identified brightness characteristic.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying a contrast characteristic of the digital slide image and digitally enhancing the identified contrast characteristic.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying a spatial resolution characteristic of the digital slide image and digitally enhancing the identified spatial resolution characteristic.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying a pattern characteristic of the digital slide image and digitally enhancing the identified pattern characteristic.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein digitally enhancing the pattern characteristic comprises identifying the location of one or more patterns.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the resolution of the digital slide image is a diagnostic resolution for the tissue sample.

8. A computer implemented method for improved quality assurance in pathology comprising:

receiving a glass slide with a tissue sample disposed on a surface of the glass slide;

digitally scanning the glass slide to create a digital slide image of the tissue sample;

digitally analyzing the digital slide image to assess the quality of the digital slide image;

comparing the assessed quality of the digital slide image to a set of predetermined criteria;

determining that the quality of the digital slide image meets the set of predetermined criteria;

determining a pattern in the digital slide image;

searching a database of reference images for an image having a pattern that matches the determined pattern in the digital slide image;

identifying a reference image having a pattern that matches the determined pattern in the digital slide image; and

providing the digital slide image on a digital image viewer for review by a pathologist and providing the reference image on the digital image viewer for review by the pathologist in association with the digital slide image.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the resolution of the digital slide image is a diagnostic resolution for the tissue sample.

10. A computer implemented method for improved quality assurance in pathology comprising:

receiving a glass slide with a tissue sample disposed on a surface of the glass slide;

digitally scanning the glass slide in accordance with a set of scanning parameters to create a digital slide image of the tissue sample;

digitally analyzing the digital slide image to assess the quality of the digital slide image;

comparing the assessed quality of the digital slide image to a set of predetermined criteria;

determining that the quality of the digital slide image fails the set of predetermined criteria;

modifying a parameter in the set of scanning parameters to decrease the amount of light during scanning; and

digitally rescanning the glass slide with decreased light in accordance with the modified set of scanning parameters to create a second digital slide image of the tissue sample.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

digitally analyzing the second digital slide image to assess the quality of the second digital slide image;

comparing the assessed quality of the second digital slide image to the set of predetermined criteria;

determining that the quality of the second digital slide image meets the set of predetermined criteria; and

providing the second digital slide image on a digital image viewer for review by a pathologist.

12. A digital pathology system, comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium configured to store executable programmed modules;

a processor communicatively coupled with the non-transitory computer readable medium configured to execute programmed modules stored therein;

a slide scanner configured to create a digital slide image of a tissue sample on a glass slide, wherein the tissue sample has been counterstained with at least two stains;

a digital slide analysis module configured to analyze the digital slide image to assess the quality of said digital slide image;

a digital slide enhancement module configured to identify one or more regions of the digital slide image having a first color corresponding to a first of said at least two stains and change the first color in the identified one or more regions of the digital slide image to a second color in the digital slide image to create an enhanced digital slide image.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the second color is standardized for consistent appearance on a viewing station monitor.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the digital slide enhancement module is further configured to apply an image sharpening filter to enhance spatial details in the digital slide image.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the digital slide enhancement module is further configured to apply an image deconvolution filter to enhance spatial details in the digital slide image.