Digital Pathology Input Device for Ergonomic Slide Navigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing digital pathology technologies are inefficient and cumbersome for reviewing digital whole slide images, leading to repetitive motion injuries and suboptimal workflow due to the lack of specialized input devices designed for digital pathology, which replicates the traditional microscope experience poorly.

Innovation Solution

A system and method utilizing specialized input devices, such as a smart physical slide and a controller with touchscreen functionality, that mimics traditional microscope interactions, allowing for efficient navigation and manipulation of digital pathology images, reducing repetitive motion and enhancing ergonomic functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional computer input devices (mouse, keyboard) are used to navigate digital pathology images, then basic image viewing is possible, but navigation efficiency deteriorates and repetitive motion injuries occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenavigation efficiencyVSAvoidreview throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a virtual replica of the traditional microscope stage and slide manipulation interface on the computer screen. Users interact with digital representations of physical microscope controls, allowing them to navigate whole slide images using familiar hand movements and gestures that mimic actual microscope operation, thereby maintaining navigation efficiency while transitioning to digital viewing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

A specialized touchscreen interface acts as an intermediary between the user and the digital pathology image database. This intermediary layer translates natural hand gestures and touchscreen interactions into efficient image navigation commands, bridging the gap between traditional microscope manipulation habits and digital image review requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of time

If digital pathology images are viewed on computer monitors, then storage and retrieval efficiency improve, but ergonomic functionality deteriorates compared to traditional microscopes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveslide retrieval timeVSAvoidergonomic functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces physical microscope mechanical components (stage clips, stage controls, objective lenses, focus adjustments) with virtual equivalents implemented through touchscreen gestures and software controls. This substitution maintains the ergonomic benefits of digital viewing while preserving the intuitive manipulation experience of traditional microscopes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The touchscreen interface integrates multiple functions into a single universal control surface, combining navigation, magnification control, image manipulation, and annotation capabilities. This multi-functional interface eliminates the need for separate physical controls for each function, improving ergonomic efficiency while maintaining comprehensive control over digital slide review

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If whole slide images are scanned at high magnification levels, then diagnostic detail is improved, but processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic detailVSAvoidscanning and processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides whole slide images into multiple tiles or segments that can be loaded and processed independently. This segmentation allows the system to retrieve and display only the relevant portions of slides at high magnification when needed, rather than processing entire slides at maximum resolution, thereby reducing scanning and processing time while maintaining diagnostic detail where required

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts image resolution and loading priorities based on the current magnification level and user interaction patterns. When users navigate to specific regions of interest, the system loads high-resolution data for those areas while maintaining lower resolution for other regions, optimizing processing time and computational resources while preserving diagnostic quality in viewed areas

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11994665B2Systems and methods for processing electronic images of pathology data and reviewing the pathology data

Publication Date: 2024.05.28 PAIGE AI INC

AI summary

A computer-implemented method of reviewing digital pathology data may include receiving a digital pathology image into a digital storage device, the digital pathology image being associated with a patient, providing for display the digital pathology image on a display, pairing the digital pathology image with a physical token of the digital pathology image in an interactive system, receiving one or more commands from the interactive system, determining one or more manipulations or modifications to the displayed digital pathology image based on the one or more commands, and providing for display a modified digital pathology image on the display according to the determined one or more manipulations or modifications.