Presented at the 1999 APIII Conference Return to 1999 Abstract Index
DEVELOPMENT OF A VIRTUAL TELEMICROSCOPE
University
of South Alabama
Biomedical Sciences
Mobile, Alabama
Jiang Gu, MD, PhD1
Jiang Gu, MD, PhD1, Virginia Anderson, MD2, Judy King, MD, PhD3, Jinru Xia, MD4
1Department
of Biomedical Sciences, University of South Alabama, Mobile,
AL
2Department of Pathology, Health Science Center at Brooklyn,
State University of New York, Brooklyn, NY
3Department of Pathology, University of South Alabama Medical
Center, Mobile, AL
4Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer
Center, New York, NY
A software package was developed that mimics the operation of a microscope by viewing high resolution images including pathologic images using a computer. Through a movable and adjustable virtual objective lens, it can display any area of a high resolution digital image at different magnifications in real time in a way closely resembling a microscope. It has both magnifying glass and virtual microscope functions. This package can post, manipulate, retrieve and analyze images via the Internet, Intranet or other types of network. It can retrieve and view images from a remote computer and microscope or be used as a stand-alone program. In addition, it also has functions for image analysis by measuring the images on the computer monitor in real time, therefore providing capabilities beyond a conventional microscope. This system also contains an image database with typical pathological image collections for instant comparison, a feature ideal for diagnosis, training and standardization. Other functions include videoconference, whiteboard, e-mail, etc. The system is easy to use and requires minimal training for a pathologist or technician to operate. Preliminary testing with real pathological images was very encouraging. Because of the user-friendliness and the familiarity of the operational manner, it has been received favorably by practicing pathologists who participated in the preliminary evaluation of the system.
