Digital pathology system
First Claim
1. A data processing system for aid of a medical pathologist in manual workflow involving review, analysis and reporting on patient case information that includes microscopic images of patient tissue specimens and associated data, comprising:
- a source of digital image data representing images of the patient tissue specimens to a plurality of predetermined magnifications for plural patients including cases to be reviewed by the pathologist;
an image database containing memory for storing the digital image data and associated data relating to the image data;
a workflow database containing memory for storing case management data associated with examination of the specimens by the pathologist;
a computer workstation comprising at least one digital processor coupled to the image database and to the workflow database, the processor being operable under control of a user to obtain and display selected ones of the images for review, to accept user input from the pathologist relating to the examination of the specimens by the pathologist and to record in at least one of the image database and the workflow database information resulting from the user input;
wherein the digital processor is programmed, in conjunction with display of the image data, to present to the user a display based on the case management data in the workflow database, said display comprising visual representations emulating contents of physical case packages that include paper files and glass slides forming workload units to be reviewed, wherein the processor is programmed to select and to display digital image data obtained from the physical case packages upon user selection and manipulation of display icons that graphically represent depictions of the physical case packages and depictions of the glass slides, said emulating including visually representing the case packages and the glass slides as icons that are visibly changed in at least one of a shape, size, orientation, color, blinking characteristic, animation characteristic and position of the icons in a user display for manipulating the case management data in the workflow database to virtually correspond with user handling of physical case packages and the glass slides;
wherein the processor is operable when accessing at least one of the image database and the workflow database, to associate the images with digital document data relating to the case package and its associated patient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A digital pathology system has a central workflow server hosting digital pathology application services and supporting one or more pathology workstations. The digital pathology system may include one or more image servers, providing digital images of sample specimen slides that are associated with medical cases. Residing at and executing on each pathology workstation is a digital pathology application client, which is the counterpart of digital pathology application services at the central workflow server. The combination of digital pathology application services at the central workflow server and digital pathology application client at each pathology workstation support a pathology workflow software module and a slide viewer software module. The present disclosure also describes a method of operation and/or use of the digital pathology system.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A data processing system for aid of a medical pathologist in manual workflow involving review, analysis and reporting on patient case information that includes microscopic images of patient tissue specimens and associated data, comprising:
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a source of digital image data representing images of the patient tissue specimens to a plurality of predetermined magnifications for plural patients including cases to be reviewed by the pathologist; an image database containing memory for storing the digital image data and associated data relating to the image data; a workflow database containing memory for storing case management data associated with examination of the specimens by the pathologist; a computer workstation comprising at least one digital processor coupled to the image database and to the workflow database, the processor being operable under control of a user to obtain and display selected ones of the images for review, to accept user input from the pathologist relating to the examination of the specimens by the pathologist and to record in at least one of the image database and the workflow database information resulting from the user input; wherein the digital processor is programmed, in conjunction with display of the image data, to present to the user a display based on the case management data in the workflow database, said display comprising visual representations emulating contents of physical case packages that include paper files and glass slides forming workload units to be reviewed, wherein the processor is programmed to select and to display digital image data obtained from the physical case packages upon user selection and manipulation of display icons that graphically represent depictions of the physical case packages and depictions of the glass slides, said emulating including visually representing the case packages and the glass slides as icons that are visibly changed in at least one of a shape, size, orientation, color, blinking characteristic, animation characteristic and position of the icons in a user display for manipulating the case management data in the workflow database to virtually correspond with user handling of physical case packages and the glass slides; wherein the processor is operable when accessing at least one of the image database and the workflow database, to associate the images with digital document data relating to the case package and its associated patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for digitally managing selection, examination and reporting upon patient samples by manual operations of a human pathologist or technician user assisted by computational steps using at least one programmed digital processor, comprising:
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obtaining tissue samples and preparing the samples on slides; scanning and digitally encoding microscopic images of at least a predetermined area of the slides encompassing the tissue samples so as to enable display of images of the tissue at plural selectable magnifications; associating data and images defining a pathology patient, a patient case, and a patient tissue sample, and storing digital data files representing the microscopic images in at least one database with associated information identifying the data and images and associated patient information, the images from the slides and the associated patient information defining a virtual case package containing digital images and digital information including the associated patient information; presenting to the user a display interface that emulates a pathologist'"'"'s physical case package containing papers and a set of tissue samples mounted on glass slides by visual presentation of digital icons graphically representing the case package on the display interface as a case package selectable from a pile of case packages, and digital icons graphically representing the digital images in the case package as slides selectable from a slide tray; managing selection and presentation of the digital images and the digital information on the display interface by user manipulation of the digital icons, thereby emulating manipulation and microscopic examination of the slides by manipulation of the digital icons representing the slides, and emulating handling of the case package by revising the digital information during review of the digital images and the digital information during a workflow accomplished by the user; making the digital images and the digital information accessible over a network to plural users of the network; providing a workstation having a digital processor in data communication with the at least one database, at least one display and input devices arranged for manipulation by the user; operating the digital processor under control of a stored data processing program to present to the user options for selection of case packages and portions of case packages forming a workload, displaying to the user on the workstation the images and information and recording and storing in the at least one database, data generated as a result of review of the images and information by the user. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification