Method and apparatus for internet, intranet, and local viewing of virtual microscope slides

• US 6,674,881 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2001
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Evident Scientific Incorporated (Evident Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bacus Laboratories Incorporated (Olympus Corporation)
• Inventors: Bacus, James W., Bacus, James V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johns, Andrew W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NAKHJAVAN, SHERVIN K
• Application Number:
  US10/017,673
• Publication Number:
  US 20020135678A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 382/128, 382/129, 382/133, 382/134, 348/79, 359/109, 359/363, 359/368, 359/381, 396/56, 396/429, 396/432
• US Class Current: 382/128
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/312 for samples mounted on planar substrates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/1468 with spatial resolution of the texture or inner structure of the particle
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/0004 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/367 providing an output produced by processing a plurality of individual source images, e.g. image tiling, montage, composite images, depth sectioning, image comparison
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/4038 Image mosaicing, e.g. composing plane images from plane sub-images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/69 Microscopic objects, e.g. biological cells or cellular parts
• 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 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring

Abstract

A method of and apparatus for viewing microscopic images include transmitting tiled microscopic images from a server to a client. The client assembles the tiled images into a seamless virtual slide or specimen image and provides tools for manipulating image magnification and viewpoint. The method and apparatus also provides a virtual multi-headed microscope function which allows scattered viewers to simultaneously view and interact with a coherent magnified microscopic image.

Claims

1. A method for viewing virtual microscope slides comprised of a magnified image of a tissue specimen or a substantial portion thereof over a common communication channel, the method comprising:

providing a transmitting station connected to the common communication channel and accessible by a number of remote receiving stations connected to the common communication channel;

storing a plurality of sets of virtual microscope, digitized slide images of tissue specimens at the transmitting station;

transmitting control information to the requesting computer for use in displaying the digitized image of a digitized, virtual microscope, slide of a tissue specimen;

displaying on a viewer at a remote receiving station a thumbnail view, which is a thumbnail, magnified view of adjacent, contiguous areas at a predetermined resolution of a tissue specimen or portion thereof on the virtual microscope slide;

displaying on the viewer at the remote receiving station a stored digitized image at a first higher resolution or at a second higher resolution than the resolution of the thumbnail view from a selected point of interest on the thumb nail view; and

zooming by the viewer back and forth between the transmitted respective higher resolution images for a selected point.

2. A method of viewing virtual microscope slides in accordance with claim 1 further comprising displaying to the viewer descriptive text about the digitized slide image being viewed by the viewer at the remote station.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising changing the digital images from a smaller size to a larger size.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:

changing the size and position of viewing windows for viewing of the digitized images; and

changing the image magnification to allow zooming between high and low magnifications of the digitized images.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising transmitting a set of low-magnification, digitized tiled images for reconstruction into the thumbnail view.

6. A method for viewing virtual microscope slides comprised of a magnified image of a tissue specimen or a substantial portion thereof over a common communication channel, the method comprising:

providing a transmitting station connected to the common communication channel and accessible by a number of remote receiving stations connected to the common communication channel;

storing a plurality of sets of virtual microscope, digitized slide images of tissue specimens at the transmitting station;

transmitting control information to the requesting computer for use in displaying the digitized image of a digitized, virtual microscope, slide of a tissue specimen;

displaying on a viewer at a remote receiving station a thumbnail view of a tissue specimen or portion thereof on the virtual microscope slide;

displaying on the viewer at the remote receiving station a digitized image at a higher resolution than the resolution of the thumbnail view from a selected point of interest on the thumb nail view;

zooming by the viewer back and forth between the thumbnail view and higher resolution images for selected points;

providing a plurality of digitized images each at a different resolution and each a higher resolution than the thumbnail view; and

zooming back and forth between the plurality of higher resolution images as well as with the thumbnail image.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6 further comprising operating a magnification selector at the receiving station to change between the plurality of higher resolution images.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7 further comprising:

transmitting from the transmitting station an entire set of digitized slide images of several resolutions from the transmitting station to the receiving station; and

operating the magnification selector at the remote station to select from the stored digitized slide images at the receiving station those images of the selected magnification.

9. A method for viewing virtual microscope slides comprised of a magnified image of a tissue specimen or a substantial portion thereof over a common communication channel, the method comprising:

providing a transmitting station connected to the common communication channel and accessible by a number of remote receiving stations connected to the common communication channel;

storing a plurality of sets of virtual microscope, digitized slide images of tissue specimens at the transmitting station;

transmitting control information to the requesting computer for use in displaying the digitized image of a digitized, virtual microscope, slide of a tissue specimen;

displaying on a viewer at a remote receiving station a thumbnail view of a tissue specimen or portion thereof on the virtual microscope slide;

displaying on the viewer at the remote receiving station a digitized image at a higher resolution than the resolution of the thumbnail view from a selected point of interest on the thumb nail view;

zooming by the viewer back and forth between the thumbnail view and higher resolution images for selected points; and

transmitting a control program comprises downloading a control program as an applet.

10. A method for viewing virtual microscope slides comprised of a magnified image of a tissue specimen or a substantial portion thereof over a common communication channel, the method comprising:

providing a transmitting station connected to the common communication channel and accessible by a number of remote receiving stations connected to the common communication channel;

storing a plurality of sets of virtual microscope, digitized slide images of tissue specimens at the transmitting station;

transmitting control information to the requesting computer for use in displaying the digitized image of a digitized, virtual microscope, slide of a tissue specimen;

displaying on a viewer at a remote receiving station a thumbnail view of a tissue specimen or portion thereof on the virtual microscope slide;

displaying on the viewer at the remote receiving station a digitized image at a higher resolution than the resolution of the thumbnail view from a selected point of interest on the thumb nail view;

zooming by the viewer back and forth between the thumbnail view and higher resolution images for selected points; and

transmitting a dynamic, self-executing program for viewing, manipulating, and reconstructing digitized images.

11. A method for viewing virtual microscope slides comprised of a magnified image of a tissue specimen or a substantial portion thereof over a common communication channel, the method comprising:

providing a transmitting station connected to the common communication channel and accessible by a number of remote receiving stations connected to the common communication channel;

storing a plurality of sets of virtual microscope, digitized slide images of tissue specimens at the transmitting station;

transmitting control information to the requesting computer for use in displaying the digitized image of a digitized, virtual microscope, slide of a tissue specimen;

displaying on a viewer at a remote receiving station a thumbnail view of a tissue specimen or portion thereof on the virtual microscope slide;

displaying on the viewer at the remote receiving station a digitized image at a higher resolution than the resolution of the thumbnail view from a selected point of interest on the thumb nail view;

zooming by the viewer back and forth between the thumbnail view and higher resolution images for selected points; and

using an HTML browser and a personal computer at the remote viewing station for receiving the control program and set of digitized, slide images.

12. A method for viewing virtual microscope slides comprised of a magnified image of a tissue specimen or a substantial portion thereof over a common communication channel, the method comprising:

providing a transmitting station connected to the common communication channel and accessible by a number of remote receiving stations connected to the common communication channel;

storing a plurality of sets of virtual microscope, digitized slide images of tissue specimens at the transmitting station;

transmitting control information to the requesting computer for use in displaying the digitized image of a digitized, virtual microscope, slide of a tissue specimen;

displaying on a viewer at a remote receiving station a thumbnail view of a tissue specimen or portion thereof on the virtual microscope slide;

displaying on the viewer at the remote receiving station a digitized image at a higher resolution than the resolution of the thumbnail view from a selected point of interest on the thumb nail view;

zooming by the viewer back and forth between the thumbnail view and higher resolution images for selected points;

displaying to the viewer descriptive text about the digitized slide image being viewed by the viewer at the remote location;

providing viewing windows of different sizes each for viewing a digitized image; and

filling each of the windows of different sizes with a digitized image.

13. A method for viewing virtual microscope slides comprised of a magnified image of a tissue specimen or a substantial portion thereof over a common communication channel, the method comprising:

providing a transmitting station connected to the common communication channel and accessible by a number of remote receiving stations connected to the common communication channel;

storing a plurality of sets of virtual microscope, digitized slide images of tissue specimens at the transmitting station;

transmitting control information to the requesting computer for use in displaying the digitized image of a digitized, virtual microscope, slide of a tissue specimen;

displaying on a viewer at a remote receiving station a thumbnail view of a tissue specimen or portion thereof on the virtual microscope slide;

displaying on the viewer at the remote receiving station a digitized image at a higher resolution than the resolution of the thumbnail view from a selected point of interest on the thumb nail view;

zooming by the viewer back and forth between the thumbnail view and higher resolution images for selected points;

selecting a region of a displayed image to be viewed at a higher resolution;

determining the size of the window and filling the window at the requested resolution; and

displaying the selected higher-resolution digitized image and filling the window therewith.

14. A method for viewing virtual microscope slides comprised of a magnified image of a tissue specimen or a substantial portion thereof over a common communication channel, the method comprising:

providing a transmitting station connected to the common communication channel and accessible by a number of remote receiving stations connected to the common communication channel;

storing a plurality of sets of virtual microscope, digitized slide images of tissue specimens at the transmitting station;

transmitting control information to the requesting computer for use in displaying the digitized image of a digitized, virtual microscope, slide of a tissue specimen;

displaying on a viewer at a remote receiving station a thumbnail view of a tissue specimen or portion thereof on the virtual microscope slide;

displaying on the viewer at the remote receiving station a digitized image at a higher resolution than the resolution of the thumbnail view from a selected point of interest on the thumb nail view;

zooming by the viewer back and forth between the thumbnail view and higher resolution images for selected points; and

scrolling along the displayed image to remove some portion of the image from the window and to add other image portions to the window for viewing.

15. A method of providing magnified, overall images of tissue specimens and higher resolution images of points of interest in the overall image over a common communication channel to viewers at remote locations, comprising:

storing at a central location data sets of digitized magnified, multiple, recorded images for each of a plurality of tissue specimens with the respective images being seamlessly reconstructed together from a plurality of adjacent fields of view to form an overall image larger in width than the width of a single field of view;

requesting over the common communication channel access to the data for the stored, magnified, overall digitized image of at least one specimen;

sending back the data at over the common communication channel the data set for the overall image to the remote location to aid in the selection of digitized higher resolution images for viewing by the remote user;

using the overall image for viewing by the remote user and for selecting of a point on the digitized, overall image of the specimen at the remote location and requesting a transmission of a digitized higher resolution image for the point from the digitized higher resolution images previously stored at the central location;

sending from the central location the selected digitized higher resolution image over the common communication channel to the remote location; and

making available at the remote location the digitized higher resolution image requested for viewing of the specimen or a portion thereof.

16. A method in accordance with claim 15, wherein sending the information back over the common communication channel to remote locations further comprises:

presenting to the viewer thumbnail views of specimens as information for use in selecting; and

requesting transmission of a specific digitized image for the selected specimen.

17. A method in accordance with claim 15 further comprising:

using a personal computer to communicate over the common transmission channel; and

using a Windows operating system for displaying on a screen of the personal computer the transmitted, digitized images.

18. A method in accordance with claim 15 further comprising providing descriptive text with the digitized tiled image to instruct about the specimen being viewed.

19. A method in accordance with claim 15 further comprising:

providing a server at the central location;

storing a plurality of digitized images of different resolutions on the server; and

selecting at the remote location different resolution images to be transmitted from the server to the remote location.

20. A method in accordance with claim 15 further comprising:

providing at the remote location a plurality of folders having a virtual microscope slide having a digitized image therein in an organized system; and

selecting at the remote location one of the folders from the organized set of folders for transmission of its associated virtual microscope slide.

21. A method in accordance with claim 15 further comprising:

providing a digitized image of a portion of a specimen at a first predetermined resolution; and

overlaying a digitized image of the specimen at a lower resolution than the predetermined resolution.

22. A method in accordance with claim 15 further comprising selecting from a plurality of collected data files stored at the first station the requested virtual microscope slides for transmitting over the common communication channel to the viewer.

23. A method in accordance with claim 15 further comprising:

providing a server at the central location; and

selecting by the server from RAM and CD media the stored digitized image for transmission.

24. A method in accordance with claim 15 further comprising:

providing a plurality of first stations each capable of transmitting virtual microscope slides over the common communication channel; and

addressing one of the plurality of stations and requesting a desired virtual microscope slide therefrom.

25. A method of providing magnified images of tissue specimens over a common communication channel to viewers at remote locations, comprising:

storing at a central location data for sets of digitized image of a plurality of tissue specimens;

requesting over the common communication channel access to the data for the stored, digitized image of at least one specimen of the stored image tiles;

sending back over the common communication channel information to the remote location to aid in the selection of a digitized image for viewing by the remote user;

using the sent information for selecting at the remote location and requesting a transmission of specific digitized image from those digitized images stored at the central location;

sending from the central station the stored data for the selected digitized image over the common communication channel to the remote location;

making available at the remote location the digitized image requested for viewing of the specimen or a portion thereof; and

an HTML browser is installed at the remote user'"'"'s personal computer.

26. A method of providing magnified images of tissue specimens over a common communication channel to viewers at remote locations, comprising:

storing at a central location data for sets of digitized image of a plurality of tissue specimens;

requesting over the common communication channel access to the data for the stored, digitized image of at least one specimen of the stored image tiles;

sending back over the common communication channel information to the remote location to aid in the selection of a digitized image for viewing by the remote user;

using the sent information for selecting at the remote location and requesting a transmission of specific digitized image from those digitized images stored at the central location;

sending from the central station the stored data for the selected digitized image over the common communication channel to the remote location;

making available at the remote location the digitized image requested for viewing of the specimen or a portion thereof;

providing three screens on a viewing device for viewing of virtual microscope slides;

presenting a thumbnail view of the specimen on one screen;

presenting a larger preview view of a digitized image of the specimen on a second screen for selection of a higher resolution, segment of the preview image; and

presenting a digitized image of the selected higher magnification region on a third screen to the viewer.

27. A method of providing magnified images of tissue specimens over a common communication channel to viewers at remote locations, comprising:

storing at a central location data for sets of digitized image of a plurality of tissue specimens;

requesting over the common communication channel access to the data for the stored, digitized image of at least one specimen of the stored image tiles;

sending back over the common communication channel information to the remote location to aid in the selection of a digitized image for viewing by the remote user;

using the sent information for selecting at the remote location and requesting a transmission of specific digitized image from those digitized images stored at the central location;

sending from the central station the stored data for the selected digitized image over the common communication channel to the remote location;

making available at the remote location the digitized image requested for viewing of the specimen or a portion thereof; and

changing the size of the window and changing the magnification to allow a full inspection of the specimen at higher and lower magnifications.

28. A method of providing magnified images of tissue specimens over a common communication channel to viewers at remote locations, comprising:

storing at a central location data for sets of digitized image of a plurality of tissue specimens;

requesting over the common communication channel access to the data for the stored, digitized image of at least one specimen of the stored image tiles;

sending back over the common communication channel information to the remote location to aid in the selection of a digitized image for viewing by the remote user;

using the sent information for selecting at the remote location and requesting a transmission of specific digitized image from those digitized images stored at the central location;

sending from the central station the stored data for the selected digitized image over the common communication channel to the remote location;

making available at the remote location the digitized image requested for viewing of the specimen or a portion thereof;

the making available at the remote location of the digitized image comprises;

changing the size of a viewing window; and

providing a digitized image to fill the viewing windows of different sizes.

29. A method of providing magnified images of tissue specimens over a common communication channel to viewers at remote locations, comprising:

storing at a central location data for sets of digitized image of a plurality of tissue specimens;

requesting over the common communication channel access to the data for the stored, digitized image of at least one specimen of the stored image tiles;

sending back over the common communication channel information to the remote location to aid in the selection of a digitized image for viewing by the remote user;

using the sent information for selecting at the remote location and requesting a transmission of specific digitized image from those digitized images stored at the central location;

sending from the central station the stored data for the selected digitized image over the common communication channel to the remote location;

making available at the remote location the digitized image requested for viewing of the specimen or a portion thereof;

requesting a lowered resolution of the digitized image at a first higher resolution presented on the window; and

using more digitized image data to provide an image to fill the window at a second lower resolution than used to fill the window at the higher resolution.

30. A method of providing magnified images of tissue specimens over a common communication channel to viewers at remote locations, comprising:

storing at a central location data for sets of digitized image of a plurality of tissue specimens;

requesting over the common communication channel access to the data for the stored, digitized image of at least one specimen of the stored image tiles;

sending back over the common communication channel information to the remote location to aid in the selection of a digitized image for viewing by the remote user;

using the sent information for selecting at the remote location and requesting a transmission of specific digitized image from those digitized images stored at the central location;

sending from the central station the stored data for the selected digitized image over the common communication channel to the remote location;

making available at the remote location the digitized image requested for viewing of the specimen or a portion thereof;

selecting spaced points on the digitized image; and

measuring the distance between the selected spaced points and reporting the distance to a viewer.

31. A method of providing magnified images of tissue specimens over a common communication channel to viewers at remote locations, comprising:

storing at a central location data for sets of digitized image of a plurality of tissue specimens;

requesting over the common communication channel access to the data for the stored, digitized image of at least one specimen of the stored image tiles;

sending back over the common communication channel information to the remote location to aid in the selection of a digitized image for viewing by the remote user;

using the sent information for selecting at the remote location and requesting a transmission of specific digitized image from those digitized images stored at the central location;

sending from the central station the stored data for the selected digitized image over the common communication channel to the remote location;

making available at the remote location the digitized image requested for viewing of the specimen or a portion thereof; and

loading a browser program onto computers at the multiple receivers at the remote locations for assistance in assembling the digitized images.

32. A method of providing a virtual, multiheaded microscope allowing a plurality of viewers at remotely located different stations to simultaneously view a specimen and to discuss the same, the method comprising:

providing a virtual microscope slide comprised of a magnified digital image of a specimen;

providing a common communication channel;

transmitting over the common communication channel a virtual microscope slide to a first receiving station for viewing by a first viewer;

transmitting over the common communication channel the same virtual microscope slide to a second viewing station for viewing by a second viewer; and

indicating by the first of the users an area on the virtual microscope slide at the first receiving station for discussion and transmitting from the first station information for locating the same area on the virtual microscope slide being viewed at the second station for discussion of the same indicated area between the first and second viewers; and

discussing over a carrier between the first and second viewers about the indicated area on the virtual microscope slides being displayed simultaneously to both of the first and second viewers.

33. A method in accordance with claim 32 further comprising passing control of an indicator from the first viewer to the second viewer to allow the second viewer to shift the indicator to a region that the second viewer wants to discuss with the first viewer.

34. A method in accordance with claim 33 further comprising indicating with a pointer controlled by a computer controller device.

35. A method in accordance with claim 34 further comprising using a mouse as the computer control device for shifting the pointer on the virtual microscope slide.

36. A method in accordance with claim 32 wherein, the communicating between the first and second viewer is by speaking over a telephone.

37. A method in accordance with claim 32 wherein, the communicating between the first and second viewer is by written messages over an Internet common communication channel.

38. A method of providing a virtual, multiheaded microscope allowing a plurality of viewers at remotely located different stations to simultaneously view the same virtual microscope slide comprised of a magnified digital image of a tissue specimen comprising:

providing a common communication channel;

transmitting over the common communication channel a virtual microscope slide to a first receiving station for viewing by a first viewer;

transmitting over the common communication channel the same virtual microscope slide to a second viewing station for viewing by a second viewer;

indicating by the first of the users an area on the virtual microscope slide at the first receiving station for discussion and transmitting from the first station information for locating the same area on the virtual microscope slide being viewed at the second station for discussion of the same indicated area between the first and second viewers;

communicating over a carrier between the first and second viewers about the indicated area on the virtual microscope slides being displayed simultaneously to both of the first and second viewers;

placing one of the first and second viewers in control and allowing this viewer to change the magnified images of the tissue specimen to be viewed simultaneously by each of the viewers at their respective receiving stations;

allowing one of the viewers to change the magnification between images of high and lower resolutions; and

transmitting from a central station the newly changed resolution images to the respective first and second receiving stations.

39. A method of providing a virtual, multiheaded microscope allowing a plurality of viewers at remotely located different stations to simultaneously view the same virtual microscope slide view comprised of a magnified digital image of a tissue specimen or a substantial portion thereof, comprising:

providing a common communication channel;

storing at a common repository digitized images at a central station connected to the common communication channel for transmission of digitized images to multiple users connected to the common communication channel;

transmitting over the common communication channel digitized image to a first receiving station to provide a view for viewing by a first viewer;

transmitting over the common communication channel the same digitized image to a second viewing station to provide a view for viewing by a second viewer;

the first viewer causing a change in the image being viewed by sending a request for a higher resolution digitized image to be transmitted from the central station and the central station responding by sending the higher resolution digitized image to both the first and second stations; and

communicating over a common communication channel between the first and second viewers about the image from the virtual microscope slides being displayed simultaneously to both of the first and second viewers.

40. A method in accordance with claim 39 further comprising:

the first user initiating requests for changes in views and resolutions of the specimen slide images; and

the central station receiving the requested changes and transmitting a packet of digitized data to both the first user and second user for the change resolution and changed views.

41. A method in accordance with claim 39 further comprising:

moving a pointer on the virtual microscope slide image to a new location;

transmitting the pointer'"'"'s new location from the first station to a central station;

transmitting from the central station to the second station the new location of the pointer; and

moving the pointer at the second station to the same new location on the slide image.

42. A method of using a filing structure for organizing virtual microscope slide images to be requested by and transmitted to a requester from a server at a server station over a common carrier, comprising:

transmitting a request from a requester at requesting station to the server station;

transmitting a slide tray request to the server station;

transmitting slide tray information from the server station to the requesting station;

displaying to the requester slide tray information comprising a list of virtual microscope slide names on a display device at the requesting station;

selecting from the slide tray information a microscope slide name to cause an image request for the selected slide to be sent to the server station; and

transmitting from the server station digitized data comprising the magnified images of the slide specimen or a portion thereof for viewing on the display device at the requesting station.

43. A method in accordance with claim 42 wherein the displaying to the requester of slide tray information comprises displaying a file folder tree display in a window of the requester'"'"'s display device.

44. A method of providing virtual microscope slides of a magnified image of a specimen on a substantial portion of a tissue specimen and identified by name from a central station to remote stations comprising:

storing data at a central location for use in selecting one of the virtual microscope slides for display and for use in providing digitized images for viewing a virtual microscope slide at multiple resolutions;

connecting one or more remote stations over a common communication channel to the central station;

transmitting a request from the remote station for information about the virtual microscope slides available for transmission to the requesting remote station;

transmitting from the central station a list of names of virtual microscope slides in response to the request form the remote station;

selecting a virtual microscope slide from the list of names by a viewer at the remote station;

displaying a thumbnail image of the specimen on the virtual microscope slide to the viewer at the remote station;

selecting a region from the thumbnail image to be displayed as an image at a higher resolution; and

viewing the digitized image at the higher resolution of the selected region of the specimen.

45. A method in accordance with claim 44, wherein the selecting of a region from thumbnail image comprises displaying at the remote station a preview image larger in size than the thumbnail image and selecting from the preview image the region to be viewed at the higher resolution.

46. A method in accordance with claim 45 further comprising indicating on the preview image those regions where digitized images are available for assembling into the higher resolution view.

47. A method in accordance with claim 46 further comprising providing the name of the virtual microscope slide as a dynamic display such that the selection thereof activates a request to the central station to transmit the thumbnail image to the remote station.

48. A method in accordance with claim 45 further comprising overlaying on the display device the thumbnail image, the preview image, and the higher magnification view.

49. A method in accordance with claim 45 further comprising:

transmitting digitized data from the central station for an image at a higher resolution than the thumbnail image for viewing as a slide view image at the remote station; and

selecting from the slide view image and requesting from the central station an image at a resolution higher than the side view image to provide a still higher resolution image of specimen.

50. A method in accordance with claim 44 further comprising:

changing the size and position of a viewing window for the selected region; and

zooming between several resolutions of the specimen when analyzing the specimen on the selected virtual microscope slide.

51. A method in accordance with claim 44 further comprising overlaying on the virtual specimen an overlay showing the regions of the specimen actually scanned and available for viewing and showing the regions of the specimen that have not been scanned and are not available for viewing.

52. A method in accordance with claim 44 wherein the selecting of a virtual microscope slide from the list of names comprises sending a request to the central station which results in transmission of a dynamic self-executing control program having stored multiple resolution images for the selected slide to the receiving station.

53. A method in accordance with claim 52 further comprising sending and assembling the stored multiple resolution image from the dynamic, self-executing program at a viewer to provide the higher resolution view of the region.

54. A method in accordance with claim 53 further comprising using the self-executing program to provide multiple resolution images to show substantially the entire specimen at each of the predetermined resolutions.

55. A method in accordance with claim 54 further comprising:

transmitting a thumbnail view of substantially the entire specimen to the requesting station for display; and

selecting from the thumbnail view a region to be viewed at a higher magnification and sending a select slide request to the server station to obtain a high-magnification image of the selected region.

56. A method in accordance with claim 55 further comprising transmitting from the server station a high-magnification preview image in response to the select slide request.

57. A method in accordance with claim 56 further comprising:

selecting from the higher-magnification preview image an area thereon for viewing at higher magnification; and

displaying the selected areas.

58. A method in accordance with claim 57 further comprising the viewer changing the resolution of the field view images to zoom back and forth therebetween during a diagnosis by a pathologist of the specimen on the virtual microscope slide.

59. A method in accordance with claim 55 further comprising:

providing a dynamic display of virtual microscope names and the thumbnail view; and

using a control device to select the name and region from these dynamic displays.

60. A method in accordance with claim 52 further comprising adding descriptive text for the microscope slide by a user at a remote station for use by another viewer.

61. A method in accordance with claim 60 further comprising storing the descriptive text on a computer separate from a computer for for storing data for the digitized image so that different users at different stations may access the slides with respectively associated, descriptive texts and update their separate texts.

62. A method in accordance with claim 44 further comprising transmitting from the central station a prestored thumbnail image slide for the specimen and a prestored preview images for each of the resolutions that are available.

63. A method in accordance with claim 62 further comprising digitally reducing from the highest resolution the other resolutions for the respective prestored images.

64. A method of operating a display drive to display images of portions or of a tissue specimen to a viewer comprising:

storing at a central location images at different resolutions of the tissue specimen;

displaying to the viewer a thumbnail view of the specimen at a first resolution;

selecting by the viewer from the thumbnail view an area to be viewed at a second resolution higher than the first resolution of the thumbnail view;

displaying to the viewer an image of the selected area at the second resolution;

selecting by the viewer from the digitized image at the second resolution an area for viewing at a third resolution higher than the second resolution; and

displaying simultaneously to the viewer another digitized image at the third higher resolution and of the selected area at the second resolution.

65. A method in accordance with claim 64 further comprising forming and displaying the thumbnail view from a plurality of digitized images at the first resolution.

66. A method in accordance with claim 64 further comprising:

providing a grid on the thumbnail view to aid in selecting the area to be viewed at the second resolution; and

providing a grid on the second resolution digitized image to aid in selecting the area to be viewed at the third resolution.

67. A method in accordance with claim 64 wherein each of the three views shown simultaneously with there being an overlapping of the views being shown simultaneously.

68. A method in accordance with claim 64 further comprising:

changing the size and locations of the displayed views on the display device; and

changing the magnification to allow zooming between different magnifications for viewing a suspicious area of a specimen.

69. A method in accordance with claim 64 further comprising:

providing a first window on the display device for viewing the thumbnail view;

providing a second window on the display device for viewing a digitized image which is filling the second window; and

providing a third window on the display device for viewing at the third resolution a digitized image, which is filling the third window.

70. A method of providing digitized magnified images of tissue specimens over a common communication channel to viewers at remote locations, comprising:

providing a transmitting station at the central location and accessible by a member of remote stations connected to the common communication channels;

storing at a central location data for sets of digitized images of a plurality of tissue specimens;

requesting over the common communication channel access to the data for the stored, digitized images of at least one specimen of the stored images;

sending back from the transmitting station over the common communication channel information to the remote location to aid in the selection of a digitized image for viewing by the remote user;

using the sent information for selecting at the remote location and requesting a transmission of specific digitized images from those stored at the central location;

sending from the transmitting station the stored data for the selected, digitized images over the common communication channel to the remote location;

providing an applet for transmitting from the transmitting station to a browser at a remote location for viewing, manipulating and reconstructing the digitized images;

using a previously-installed control program at the remote station for viewing and manipulating the digitized image; and

making available at the remote location the digitized, image requested for viewing the specimen or a portion thereof while using one of the applet or previously-installed control program.

71. A method of providing a text file created by a first user for a second user of a virtual microscope slide, the method comprising:

providing a virtual microscope slide comprised of a magnified digitized image of a specimen;

providing a common communication channel having a provider station that provides virtual microscope slides;

transmitting a virtual microscope slide to the first user at a first station connected to the common communication channel;

creating text at the first station for instructing the second user with respect to evaluating the virtual microscope slide transmitted to the first station from the provider station; and

transmitting the text over the common communication channel from the first station to the second user at the second station to provide instructions to the second user to aid in the second user'"'"'s review of the virtual microscope slide.

72. A method in accordance with claim 71 further comprising:

identifying the virtual microscope slide to the second user in the transmitted text; and

the user requesting and receiving the identified virtual microscope slide over the common communication channel from the provider station.

73. A method in accordance with claim 71 further comprising:

instructing in the text the second user as to a region of the virtual microscope slide to view; and

instructing the second user as to what to observe in the selected region.

74. A method in accordance with claim 71 further comprising providing instructions in the text as to resolutions to be used in viewing a region on the virtual microscope slide.

75. A method in accordance with claim 71 further comprising providing a virtual microscope slide to the first and second users wherein each of the digitized images corresponds substantially to a view shown through an objective lens of a microscope.

76. A method in accordance with claim 71 further comprising using a reduced percentage of a corresponding original microscope image for transmission as a digitized image.

77. A method for viewing a virtual microscope slide of a specimen comprised of a digitized magnified, overall image of a tissue specimen or a substantial portion thereof at a predetermined low resolution and regions of the specimen at higher resolutions for transmission over a common communication channel comprising:

providing a transmitting station connected to the common communication channel and accessible by a number of remote receiving stations connected to the common communication channel;

storing a plurality of virtual microscope slide, digitized images of specimens at the transmitting station;

the overall image of the specimen comprising a view of contiguous images of contiguous regions of the specimen at a predetermined low resolution and higher resolution images of regions of the specimen;

providing a control program at the requesting computer for use in providing a digitized, virtual microscope, overall slide view of the specimen;

selecting by the user from the displayed, overall view a region and selecting one of several resolutions of the digitized image of the slide specimen for viewing;

requesting by the control program of the digitized data needed for the digitized image of the specimen region at the selected resolution;

transmitting from the remote station the requested digitized data for the region to the receiving station; and

using the transmitted digitized data for the region to form the view of the region of the specimen at the desired resolution.

78. A method for viewing a virtual microscope slide specimen views comprised of digitized magnified images of a tissue specimen or a substantial portion thereof for transmission over a common communication channel comprising:

providing a transmitting station connected to the common communication channel and accessible by a number of remote receiving stations connected to the common communication channel;

storing virtual microscope slide, specimen, digitized images at the transmitting station;

transmitting a control program to the requesting computer for use in providing a digitized, virtual microscope, slide view of the specimen;

selecting by the user of a region at a desired resolution of the digitized image of the slide specimen for viewing;

requesting by the control program of the digitized data needed for the digitized image of the specimen region at the desired resolution;

transmitting from the remote station the requested digitized data for the region to the receiving station; and

using the transmitted digitized data for the region to form the view of the region of the specimen at the desired resolution;

caching the transmitted digitized data under the control of the control program; and

first searching the user'"'"'s cached digitized data to be used to satisfy the user'"'"'s request and, secondly, requesting from the transmitting station digitized data for images not found in the cache, to satisfy the request.

79. A method in accordance with claim 78 further comprising:

storing at the transmitting station a large quantity of digitized data for a substantial portion of one specimen at several resolutions; and

transmitting only the requested digitized data which may be a small portion of the total stored quantity of digitized data for the one specimen.