Digital Pathology Workflow Interface for Slide Viewing Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current digital slide viewer technology has not been widely accepted into day-to-day pathology practice due to issues such as inconsistent image quality, large file sizes, and high costs for adequate hardware and software, leading to inefficiencies in handling and managing digital pathology images.
Innovation Solution
A digital pathology system that emulates the navigation and handling of physical slide trays and microscopes through a graphical user interface, utilizing a centralized workflow server, image servers, and client workstations with dedicated display areas for workflow and image viewing, enabling efficient management and viewing of digital pathology images while minimizing network bandwidth requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If digital slide viewer technology is implemented, then image viewing and data management efficiency should improve, but image quality consistency and system cost become problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies of physical slides through digital imaging, allowing multiple users to view and analyze the same slide simultaneously without physical handling. The digital image data is stored and transmitted across the network, replacing physical slide transport while maintaining image accessibility and diagnostic quality through controlled digital reproduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical physical slide handling system with an electronic digital imaging and network transmission system. Physical slides are scanned into digital format, then transmitted over the network to remote workstations, eliminating the need for physical transport, storage, and manual handling of glass slides while improving workflow efficiency.
2Ease of operation
If physical case packages are used for workflow management, then familiar manual handling is maintained, but errors in tracking and data exchange increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automated workflow management where the digital pathology system itself tracks and manages case packages, slides, and images through integrated database recording. The system automatically logs all actions, maintains audit trails, and manages data associations between cases, slides, and images, eliminating the need for manual tracking while preserving workflow familiarity through standardized interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements comprehensive automated tracking and recording systems that provide real-time feedback on case package status, slide location, and image viewing history. The system automatically records all actions taken on cases and slides, maintains accurate data associations, and provides workflow status information to users, eliminating information loss while maintaining ease of operation through familiar interface paradigms.
3Device complexity
If manual slide handling and paperwork are used, then physical organization is simple, but time consumption and error rates in tracking increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual physical organization and tracking of slides and paperwork with an automated electronic system. Digital images and case data are stored in databases and transmitted electronically, eliminating the time-consuming manual processes of physical slide transport, paperwork filing, and information retrieval while maintaining simple user interactions through standardized interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary digital imaging and data entry of slides and case information before they are needed for review. Images are scanned and stored in advance, case data is entered and associated with slides beforehand, and workflow status is pre-configured, eliminating the need for last-minute manual searching, copying, or physical preparation while maintaining simple system operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
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.