Compucyte Corporation

Neopath, Inc.

Mark Weissman

Louis A Kamentsky

Lee D Kamentsky

B Martin Pomeroy

Russell Gershman

A network system for review and analysis of computer encoded microscope slides and specimens which were originally computer encoded from a microscope (attached via an encoder device to a local computer site), during an initial examination. The encoding includes parameters of viewing locations and events of interest on the slide, with such information being stored on a networked file server. The encoding also includes information regarding the manner in which the initial examination was conducted, for quality control purposes. The computer encoded information is retrievable at all remote locations of the network (either local or connected via modem) for supervisor review or for pathologist analysis. The network is further constituted by microscope sites having similar computer encoding devices attached thereto, which function, in this aspect, as computer terminals of the network. For enhanced analysis, the computer terminals have direct access to patient background information, e.g., such as from an HIS (hospital information system) for simultaneous slide analysis review in relation to the medical history of the patient. For diagnostic support, the computer terminals are networked with an on-line library of cell type images for comparison with the slide being examined. Slide diagnosis is either directly with the original slide on the microscope or with a scanned image of the slide stored in the network server or CD-ROM and retrieved on the computer terminal. The microscope is optionally motor driven, with computer control, to re-scan slides or slide images only at designated sites.

Network review and analysis of computer encoded slides

A method and device for the calibration of microscope slides for use in accurate and repeatable position location and relocation of specific areas of a specimen on the slide, particularly with use of computer correlated location of specimen events. Deviation from orthogonality of a specimen holder positioned on a stage (relative to movement of the microscope slide stage) is determined and compensated for by means of a rectangular calibration slide having a predetermined fixed length diagonal, and visual fixation sites at the ends of the diagonal, i.e., opposite corners of the slide, for the position marking of the corners and determination of the diagonal and its position. The calibration slide is placed on the microscope stage, against a fixed position portion of the slide holder. The viewfinder of the lens is then moved to superimpose and enter a calibration mark directly on two opposite corners of the calibration slide, or on location marks on the calibration slide which are a pre-set distance from such opposite corners. Entry of the corner positions locates a diagonal line of the appropriate length and of a particular slope, relative to the x-y axes of microscope stage movement. Deviation of the obtained slope from a predetermined slope for a true orthogonal position for the slide, is calculated and used to compensate for deviations in locating and relocating areas on a specimen subsequently positioned on the specimen holder.

Method for calibrating specimen with specimen holder of a microscope

A computerized specimen encoder for use with microscope analysis and pathological studies. The slide encoder is attached to the movable microscope stage, whereby X-Y plane movement and location, is correlated to examination of a specimen on an identified slide, with information marking and location being directly correspondingly written on computer storage media, during the examination. The information marking is in the form of computer generated indicia which are placed at a computer image location of the slide at predetermined time intervals. Subsequent use of the computer-stored information, coupled with the slide encoder, in a slide re-examination, permits independent retrieval of such information and location on the slide. The encoder device is provided with a grayscale marker which marks in varying shades of gray, ranging from white to black, the time spent by a slide screener on a particular portion of the specimen and the number of times spent viewing a particular portion of the specimen.

Computerized specimen encoder

A microscope slide and read-write system whereby the slide has a pathology specimen thereon and machine readable high density recording media in the form of a magnetic strip, optical reading strip or the like. The read-write system accommodates initial writing of slide and patient identification information on the recording media. The read-write system further embodies elements for operative connection to a microscope system whereby a computer generated representation of the screening history of pathology specimen is recorded and maintained during pathology analysis of the slide showing the mode and parameters of the analysis as well as position related events of interest. The computer generated screening representation is written to the recording media by the read-write system, for constant proximate availability with the slide. The recording media comprises sufficient capacity for encodation with patient identification and medical history information, and slide diagnostic information and analysis for pathological review of the particular pathology specimen on the slide. Compatible read-write systems permit reading and editing of recording media encodation for slide analysis at any time or place without requirements of correlative external files.

Growing community of inventors

Wayland, MA, United States of America

Mark Weissman