Second Opinion Network
First Claim
1. A system for facilitating delivery of digital slide image analysis information, comprising:
- one or more referral source devices each having a digital slide scanning means, wherein a referral source device is configured to scan a glass slide and create a digital slide image that is the subject of the digital slide image analysis, the referral source device further configured to send the digital slide to a scanning center via a data communication network;
one or more scanning centers each having a data storage area configured to store a plurality of digital slides and associated information regarding the plurality of digital slides, the one or more scanning centers each having a digital slide viewing means configured to provide image data from a digital slide to one or more remote viewers, the one or more scanning centers further configured to receive and store digital slide image analysis information and provide said digital slide image analysis information to a referral source device upon request;
one or more consultant devices communicatively coupled with the scanning center and the referral source device via the communication network, wherein the consultant device is configured to operate as a remote viewer and receive an image of a digital slide from the scanning center and provide the image on a display of the consultant device for analysis, the one or more consultant devices configured to facilitate sending of digital slide image analysis information to a scanning center.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
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.
37 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system for facilitating delivery of digital slide image analysis information, comprising:
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one or more referral source devices each having a digital slide scanning means, wherein a referral source device is configured to scan a glass slide and create a digital slide image that is the subject of the digital slide image analysis, the referral source device further configured to send the digital slide to a scanning center via a data communication network; one or more scanning centers each having a data storage area configured to store a plurality of digital slides and associated information regarding the plurality of digital slides, the one or more scanning centers each having a digital slide viewing means configured to provide image data from a digital slide to one or more remote viewers, the one or more scanning centers further configured to receive and store digital slide image analysis information and provide said digital slide image analysis information to a referral source device upon request; one or more consultant devices communicatively coupled with the scanning center and the referral source device via the communication network, wherein the consultant device is configured to operate as a remote viewer and receive an image of a digital slide from the scanning center and provide the image on a display of the consultant device for analysis, the one or more consultant devices configured to facilitate sending of digital slide image analysis information to a scanning center. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A technical system for facilitating delivery of digital slide image analysis information, comprising:
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a referral source device having a digital slide scanning means, wherein the referral source device scans a glass slide to create a digital slide that is the subject of the digital slide image analysis; a scanning center having a data storage area configured to store a plurality of digital slides and associated information regarding the plurality of digital slides, the scanning center having a digital slide hosting means configured to provide image data from a digital slide to one or more remote viewers, the scanning center having a digital slide conference means configured to establish a conference between one or more referral source devices and one or more consultant devices, wherein the scanning center receives the digital slide that is the subject of the digital slide image analysis from the referral source via a communication network; one or more consultant devices communicatively coupled with the scanning center and the referral source device via the communication network, wherein the consultant device receives an image of said digital slide from the scanning center and provides the image on a display of the consultant device for analysis, the consultant device further configure to join a digital slide conference hosted by the scanning center that includes the referral source device.
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12. A computer implemented method for facilitating delivery of digital slide image analysis information, comprising:
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receiving a digital image of a microscope slide and related metadata from a referral source device via a communication network; storing the digital image and the related metadata in a data storage area; providing the digital image to a consultant device via the communication network to allow a consultant to analyze the digital slide and render a digital slide image analysis; receiving analysis information from the consultant device via the communication network; and notifying the referral source device that the analysis information has been received. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A computer implemented method for facilitating delivery of digital slide image analysis information, comprising:
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receiving metadata related to a digital image of a microscope slide (digital slide) from a referral source device via a communication network; storing the digital slide metadata in a data storage area; notifying a consultant device via the communication network that a digital slide image is available for viewing to allow a consultant to analyze the digital slide and render a digital slide image analysis; receiving a request for the digital slide image from the consultant device; facilitating the delivery of the digital slide image from the referral source device to the consultant device via the communication network; receiving digital slide image analysis information from the consultant device via the communication network; and notifying the referral source device that the digital slide image analysis information has been received. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification