JP2009260465A - Remote diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote diagnostic apparatus capable of performing stable communication and transmitting successive images to be easily diagnosed at all times to a diagnosing doctor or the like at a remote location. <P>SOLUTION: The remote diagnostic apparatus has an observation apparatus 12 for observing a body to be inspected with an optical microscope 20 and outputting image data through a camera 22. The image communication part 34 of an observation apparatus side terminal 14 is provided with: a transfer rate determination part 36 for determining the transfer rate Cn of encoded data on the basis of operation state information Bn; an image quality determination part 37 for determining the image quality of the encoded data Fn on the basis of the operation state information Bn; an encoding part 38 for compressing the image data An to a data amount determined by the image quality determination part 37 and converting them to the encoded data Fn; and an encoded data transmission part 42 for outputting the encoded data Fn through a communication line to a diagnosing side terminal 16 on the basis of the transfer rate Cn determined by the transfer rate determination part 36. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote diagnosis apparatus that performs communication control of image information for performing diagnosis on image information of an object to be inspected acquired from a remote observation device through a communication line.

  Conventionally, for the purpose of diagnosing a disease and investigating the cause (pathogenesis), an object such as an organ, tissue, or cell collected for surgery or examination is observed and diagnosed using an observation device such as an optical microscope. Pathological diagnosis plays an important role in the medical field. In recent years, various remote diagnosis systems using a communication line such as the Internet have been proposed and put into practical use so that a pathologist can quickly make a diagnosis even in a remote place.

  For example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, an observation apparatus having a microscope for observing a subject and a remote apparatus connected to the observation apparatus via a communication line are provided, and the microscope is a remote observer. Operates through the communication line, encodes the captured image of the observation image of the microscope, transmits it to the remote device through the communication line, decodes the encoded data received on the observer side, and displays the decoded image on the display device There is a remote observation system for the subject. The subject remote observation system is provided with a determination unit that determines whether or not the imaging element (setting of each part of the microscope) is being adjusted, and the observation image is encoded as a moving image during the period when it is determined that the adjustment is being performed. The observed image is encoded as a high-definition still image during a period in which it is determined that no adjustment is being performed.

Further, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, there is a remote control system for an electron beam tester that observes a potential contrast distribution by irradiating a semiconductor integrated circuit or the like with an electron beam. In this remote control system, a remote analyst operates an electron beam tester through a communication line, compresses and encodes the image data observed by the analyzer into a predetermined amount of data, and transmits a predetermined frame rate through the communication line. Then, the data is continuously transferred to the analyst side, the encoded data received by the analyst side is decoded, and the image is displayed on the display device. At this time, the compression / transfer conditions of the encoded data are determined using a compression / transfer mode determination table provided in advance according to the operation purpose and the image content. That is, the compression / transfer condition of the encoded data is selected based on the operation response information of the electron beam tester, and the compression / transfer mode corresponding to the operation response state at the time of encoding is selected from the determination table each time. An operation for automatically switching the transfer conditions is performed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-274741 JP-A-8-331551

  However, in the subject remote observation system disclosed in Patent Document 1, the captured image obtained by capturing the observation image of the microscope is encoded by different encoding methods by the moving image encoding unit or the still image encoding unit. Therefore, when the encoded data is decoded and continuously displayed, it is necessary to control the switching of the reproduction mode in order to reproduce a natural and smooth image. In addition, the data transfer rate, which is the data transfer amount per unit time of the system, changes over time with respect to the communication capacity of the communication line, so depending on the usage status of others who use the same communication line As a result, the communication efficiency declined due to the excess line capacity and other problems occurred, and it was necessary to control communication in a complicated manner.

  In the remote control system disclosed in Patent Document 2, the determination table for determining the compression / transfer mode determines the image quality and the frame rate based on the operation response information. Even if the rate is determined, the data amount of the encoded data differs depending on the content of the image data output from the analysis device. For example, in the case of a simple image, the amount of data may be relatively small even if it is encoded to the same image quality, but in the case of a complex image with many types of colors, if one image is encoded with a high image quality, one frame of data The amount gets bigger. Therefore, the data transfer rate of the image, which is determined by the product of the data amount of one frame and the frame rate, varies depending on the content of the image data observed by the analysis apparatus. Therefore, the usage status of others who use the same communication line Depending on the situation, the communication efficiency may be reduced due to the excess line capacity, and other problems may occur, making stable communication difficult.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described background art, and enables stable communication while using a communication infrastructure such as a general public line, and is always easy to diagnose for a remote diagnosis doctor or the like. An object of the present invention is to provide a remote diagnostic apparatus capable of sending continuous images.

  The present invention provides an observation device that observes an object to be inspected with a microscope and outputs image data through a camera, a drive command receiving unit that receives a drive command for the microscope sent through a communication line, and a drive command Based on a drive control unit that outputs a drive signal to each adjustment mechanism of the microscope, an operation state monitoring unit that monitors the operation of the microscope and outputs operation state information, and the image data output by the camera is a predetermined value. An observation apparatus side terminal provided with an image communication unit that converts into encoded data and outputs through the communication line, a drive command transmission unit that outputs the drive command of the microscope through the communication line, and the encoded data A coded data receiving unit for receiving the data through the communication line; a decoding unit for returning the received coded data to original image data; and the decoded image data A diagnostic diagnostic terminal provided with a display device for displaying an image based on the diagnostic communication terminal, wherein the image communication unit of the observation equipment terminal is based on the operating state information A transfer rate determining unit that determines a data transfer rate; an image quality determining unit that determines an image quality of the encoded data based on the operation state information; and the image data output from the observation device, the image quality determining unit An encoding unit that compresses the data into data based on the image quality determined by the unit and converts the data into encoded data; and a code that outputs the encoded data to the diagnosis side terminal through a communication line based on the determined transfer rate. A remote diagnostic apparatus including a data transmission unit.

  The image quality determining unit detects whether the microscope is being set or observed by an observer based on the operation state information, and relatively reduces the image quality during the microscope setting to shorten the image transmission interval. When it is determined that the image is being observed, control is performed to relatively increase the image quality and lengthen the transmission interval.

  The transfer rate determination unit is configured to reduce the transfer rate to a predetermined low value when the setting of the microscope by an observer is completed based on the operation state information and the microscope is not operated for a predetermined time. .

  Further, a next data transmission interval calculation for calculating an interval for outputting the encoded data to the communication line based on the transfer rate determined by the transfer rate determining unit and the data amount of the encoded image data. It has a part.

  Further, the observation device observes a pathological tissue that is the object to be inspected with an optical microscope, and sends an observation image to the observation device side terminal. The diagnosis side terminal displays the observation image of the pathological tissue on the display device. This is a remote diagnosis device that can display a path and enable pathological diagnosis.

  According to the remote diagnosis apparatus of the present invention, the communication between the observation apparatus side terminal and the diagnosis side terminal is controlled to be performed at a transfer rate within a predetermined range regardless of the size of the data to be transferred. Communication failure due to the relationship with the data communication status of other people using the line is unlikely to occur, highly stable communication is possible, and communication control is also easy. In addition, since the frame rate is high at a predetermined transfer rate, the coding conditions suitable for operating the microscope and the coding conditions for obtaining a fine image quality suitable for detailed diagnosis are automatically switched. An image of a desired quality is smoothly and continuously reproduced on the display device on the diagnosis doctor side, and the diagnosis doctor or the like can perform the intended diagnosis without irritation.

  In addition, when it is recognized that the operation of the microscope has been completed based on the operating state of the microscope, the transfer rate of the system is greatly reduced, so that the burden on the communication line used is greatly increased within the range that does not interfere with the diagnosis. Can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The remote diagnosis apparatus 10 is a remote diagnosis apparatus that performs diagnosis by remotely operating an optical microscope by a diagnostic doctor and receiving image information of an object to be inspected acquired through the optical microscope through a predetermined communication line. As shown in FIG. 1, the remote diagnosis apparatus 10 is an observation device 12 that observes an inspected object and outputs image data An, and an observation device side terminal that is connected to the observation device 12 and controls input / output of the observation device 12. 14, for example, is installed in a hospital or the like where there is a clinical doctor. On the other hand, the diagnosis side terminal 16 is installed, for example, in a specific research facility or the like where the diagnosis side doctor is located, and the observation device side terminal 14 and the diagnosis side terminal 16 are connected via a communication network 18. The arrows in the block diagram of FIG. 1 indicate the directions in which information and data described below are sent.

  The observation device 12 includes an optical microscope 20 and a camera 22. In the optical microscope 20, an adjustment mechanism such as a position on the stage of the object to be inspected, a magnification of the lens, and a focus is driven by a drive signal output from a drive control unit 24 of the observation apparatus side terminal 14 to be described later. The composition of the observed image is adjusted. The camera 22 is a CCD camera or a CMOS camera, for example, and captures an observation image of the optical microscope 20 and outputs the captured image as predetermined digital image data An.

  The observation apparatus side terminal 14 receives a drive command for the optical microscope 20 transmitted from the diagnosis side terminal 16 and sends the drive command to the drive control unit 24, and sends the drive command to each adjustment mechanism of the optical microscope 20. A drive control unit 24 that converts the drive signal to drive and outputs the drive signal is provided. The drive control unit 24 monitors the operation state of the optical microscope 12 and outputs it to the operation state monitoring unit 28 described later.

  Further, an operation state monitoring unit 28 for monitoring the operation state of the optical microscope 20 is provided, and the operation state information Bn acquired by the operation state monitoring unit 28 is directed to the operation state transmission unit 30, the monitor 32, and the image communication unit 34. It is sent from time to time. The operation state transmitting unit 30 transmits the operation state information Bn to the diagnosis side terminal 16 through the communication network 18. The monitor 32 displays the image data An output from the camera 22 and also displays the operation state information Bn and is used by the clinician during diagnosis.

  The image communication unit 34 includes a transfer rate determination unit 36, an image quality determination unit 37, an encoding unit 38, a next data transmission interval calculation unit 40, and an encoded data transmission unit 42. The image communication unit 34 acquires the image data An and the operation state information Bn, determines the encoding condition and the communication condition of the image data An, creates the encoded data Fn based on each condition, and sends the encoded data Fn to the diagnosis side terminal 16. The operation to transmit to is performed. The individual functions of each part will be described in detail in the operation description to be described later.

  The diagnosis side terminal 16 receives a drive command transmission unit 46 that transmits a drive command for the optical microscope 20 issued by the diagnostic doctor to the drive command reception unit 26 and the operation state information Bn transmitted from the operation state transmission unit 30. An operating state receiving unit 48 is provided. Also, a code data receiving unit 50 that receives the encoded data Fn transmitted from the image communication unit 34, and a decoding unit 52 that converts the encoded data Fn into decoded data Hn that is original image data are provided. . The monitor 54 displays an image based on the decoded data Hn, and also displays the operation state information Bn and the like, and is used by a diagnostic doctor during diagnosis. The encoded data Fn is continuously transmitted and received at a predetermined frame rate, and a dynamic image in which still images are continuous is displayed on the monitor 52.

  An input / output interface (not shown) is connected to the observation device side terminal 14 and the diagnosis side terminal 16. Furthermore, the maximum communication capacity of image data communication may be set by operating a clinician and a diagnostic doctor.

  Next, the operation of the remote diagnosis apparatus 10 will be described. First, the clinician sets the object to be inspected on the stage of the optical microscope 20, adjusts the observation device side terminal 14 as appropriate, and prepares the diagnostic environment. At this stage, the monitor 32, 54 displays an image adjusted by the clinician.

  When diagnosis by the diagnostic doctor is started, the diagnostic doctor observes the object to be examined by looking at the image display on the monitor 54. In order to adjust the composition of the image display and the like, the diagnosis terminal 16 is operated to issue a drive command for performing stage position adjustment, lens magnification adjustment, focus adjustment, and the like of the optical microscope 20. Then, this drive command is received by the observation device side terminal 14 from the drive command transmission unit 46 through the communication network 18 and is transmitted to the drive control unit 24 through the drive command reception unit 26. Then, the drive control unit 24 converts the drive command into a drive signal and operates each adjustment mechanism of the optical microscope 20.

  Each adjustment mechanism of the optical microscope 20 operates based on the drive signal of the drive control unit 24, and the observation image of the object to be inspected changes. The camera 22 captures an observation image and outputs the captured image as image data An in a predetermined digital format. The image data An is sent to the monitor 32 for image display, and is also sent to the image communication unit 34 at the same time.

  The operation state of each adjustment mechanism of the optical microscope 20 according to the driving instruction of the diagnostic doctor is monitored by the operation state monitoring unit 28 via the drive control unit 24 as needed. For example, the operation state of the stage adjustment mechanism of the optical microscope 20, the operation state of the focus adjustment mechanism, the time during which these operations are continued or stopped, and the like are detected. The operation state information Bn is displayed on the monitor 54 of the diagnosis side terminal 16 via the operation state transmission unit 30, the communication network 18 and the operation state reception unit 48, and is recognized by the diagnosis doctor. Further, the operation state information Bn is sent to the image communication unit 34 at the same time.

  The image communication unit 34 acquires the image data An of the camera 22 and the operation state information Bn of the operation state monitoring unit 28 as described above, creates encoded data Fn of the observation image, and transmits it to the diagnosis side terminal 16. It has a function to do. The operation and function will be described in detail below based on the flowchart of FIG. In FIG. 2, the flow from step SP10 to step SP12 and steps 13 and 14 shows the operation of processing the encoded data Fn of one frame [Frame].

  First, in step SP10 of FIG. 2A, the transfer rate determination unit 36 determines whether the operation of the optical microscope 20 by the diagnostic doctor is in progress or has been completed based on the operation state information Bn. The diagnostic doctor operates the optical microscope 20 according to the drive command while looking at the monitor 54. When an image of a desired composition is displayed, the state of the optical microscope 20 is fixed in that state, and the diagnosis is performed by gazing at the image. It is common to do it. Therefore, the transfer rate determination unit 36 determines that the operation is in progress if the operation of each adjustment mechanism of the optical microscope 20 is stopped and the stop state is equal to or less than a certain time, and the stop state is maintained for a certain long time. If it exceeds, it is determined that the setting operation of the microscope is completed.

  When the transfer rate determination unit 36 determines that the operation is in progress, the transfer rate Cn [Byte / sec] is set to the communication capacity of the communication network 18 as shown in FIGS. The predetermined value with a margin is determined. On the other hand, when the microscope scan is not performed for a certain long time and it is determined that the operation is completed, the value of the transfer rate Cn is greatly reduced, and the communication condition is switched to a so-called sleep mode. The value of the transfer rate Cn in the sleep mode is set to, for example, about 1/10 of the value of the transfer rate Cn set when the operation is in progress.

  In step SP11, the image quality determination unit 37 determines, based on the operation state information Bn, whether each adjustment mechanism of the optical microscope 20 is operating or is stopped after the operation is completed. The determination can be made according to various conditions, such as whether the operation interval is within a predetermined time, or whether the operation is in the initial stage or the final stage depending on the operation part of the microscope. If it is determined that the diagnosis is being stopped, it is considered that there is a possibility that the diagnosis doctor is gazing at the image and making a diagnosis, so the image quality Dn is determined to be a relatively fine image quality. On the other hand, when it is determined that it is in operation, the diagnosis doctor is considered to have made adjustments before diagnosis, so the image quality Dn is determined to be relatively coarse.

  In step SP12, the encoding unit 38 compresses the image data An sent from the camera 22 based on the image quality Dn determined by the image quality determination unit 37, and generates encoded data Fn. The encoding process here is performed at a constant frame interval, for example, using a well-known JPEG (Joint Photographic Coding Experts Group) system as a still image compression processing system. The encoded data Fn is output to the next data transmission interval determination unit 40 and the encoded data transmission unit 42 that perform the next processing.

  Further, in step SP13 of FIG. 2B, the next data transmission interval determining unit 40 determines the transfer rate Cn [Byte / sec] determined by the transfer rate determining unit 36 and the latest encoding generated by the encoding unit 38. Based on the data amount En [Byte] of the data Fn, a predetermined calculation process is performed to determine the next image data transmission interval. By this process, the frame rate [Frame / sec] transmitted through the communication network 18 is determined.

  Then, the process proceeds to step SP14, and the encoded data transmission unit 42 sequentially acquires the encoded data Fn output at a constant frame rate from the encoding unit 38, and based on the determined image data transmission interval, After waiting until the transmission time of the next image, the encoded data Fn of the latest image frame is transmitted, and the process returns to the next image acquisition.

  Here, since the transfer rate Cn determined in step SP10 is a constant value, the data amount En and the frame rate have a negative correlation as shown in the graph of FIG. For example, the image data An having complicated contents has a relatively large data amount En, so the frame rate is small. On the other hand, the image data An having simple contents has a relatively small data amount En, and the frame rate is large. That is, the encoded data Fn sent from the encoding unit 38 is transmitted toward the diagnosis side terminal 16 via the communication line network 18 by the encoded data transmission unit 42 according to a communication condition of a predetermined transfer rate Cn. .

  As described above, the image communication unit 34 performs the processing for one frame of the image in the flow of steps SP10 to SP12 and steps 13 and 14, and is repeated.

  The encoded data receiving unit 50 of the diagnosis side terminal 16 receives the encoded data Fn continuously transmitted at a predetermined interval and sequentially outputs it to the decoding unit 52. The encoded data Fn sent to the decoding unit 52 is decoded into the decoded data Hn by the decoding unit 52, and further, processing such as D / A conversion is performed, and an image is displayed on the monitor 54. Since the monitor 54 sequentially displays the images based on the decoded data Hn, the diagnostic doctor can perform the operation and diagnosis of the optical microscope 20 as if he / she is substantially viewing the moving image.

  Next, the change in the transfer rate Cn in the communication network 18 when the diagnostic doctor is operating and diagnosing the optical microscope 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4A, and 4B. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, when the image data An of the diagnostic image is encoded with a fine image quality, the data amount becomes relatively large, but when the image data An is compressed to a coarse image quality, the data amount becomes small. In the data communication of this embodiment, the image quality priority and the frame rate priority are automatically switched and controlled according to the above-described process according to the operation state of the optical microscope 20 within a certain transfer rate range. The

  In the observation equipment side terminal 14, a period T1 until the display image is formed into a desired composition by operating the optical microscope 20, and a certain period until it is determined that the operation of the optical microscope 20 is stopped and the operation is completed. T2 is set so that the transfer rate Cn changes to a constant value. During the period T1 when the observation device side terminal 14 determines that the microscope is being operated, the image quality is lowered, the frame rate is increased, and the movement of the image is smoothed. Further, during the period T2 in which the diagnosis is determined by the microscope operation, the image quality is preferentially increased and the frame rate is decreased while the transfer rate Cn is kept constant.

  Further, during a period T3 during which the microscope operation is not performed for a certain long period, the transfer mode Cn is lowered, the frame rate is lowered while maintaining the image quality, and the burden on the communication network 18 is reduced. Even if the transfer rate Cn decreases, the image quality Dn determined by the image quality determination unit 37 is ensured, and there is no problem in the diagnosis. When the diagnostic doctor operates the optical microscope 20 to change the composition of the display image, the transfer rate Cn returns to the state of the period T1 again.

  According to the remote diagnosis apparatus 10 described above, the communication between the observation device side terminal 14 and the diagnosis side terminal 16 is controlled to be performed within the range of the constant transfer rate Cn, and therefore the same communication line network 18 is used. Therefore, the communication efficiency is not lowered due to the relationship with the data communication state of other persons and other failures are unlikely to occur, the communication control is easy, and highly stable communication is possible. In addition, an encoding condition that maximizes the use of a constant transfer rate Cn, has a high frame rate, and is suitable for operating the optical microscope 20, and an encoding condition for obtaining a fine image quality suitable for detailed diagnosis. Is automatically performed on the monitor 54, so that the image of the quality desired by the diagnostic doctor can be smoothly and continuously reproduced on the monitor 54, and the diagnostic doctor can perform the intended diagnosis without irritation.

  Further, when it is recognized that the operation of the microscope is completed based on the operation state of the optical microscope 20, the transfer rate is greatly reduced (sleep mode), so that the burden on the communication network 18 is reduced within a range that does not interfere with the diagnosis. It can be greatly reduced.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, the data amount En varies depending on whether the image data An is simple or complex, but the transfer rate Cn is controlled to be set within a certain range, and the frame is controlled. By changing the rate, it is possible to smoothly and continuously reproduce images of the quality desired by the diagnostic doctor without lowering the communication efficiency.

  Further, like the remote diagnosis device 60 shown in FIG. 5, one diagnosis side terminal 16 may be connected to the plurality of observation devices 12 and the observation device side terminal 14 via the communication network 18. Since the remote diagnosis device 60 can perform highly stable communication in the same manner as the remote diagnosis device 10, a communication failure or the like hardly occurs even in a communication network such as the Internet using a general public line. Therefore, large-scale communication is established by installing the observation device 12 and the observation device-side terminal 14 in hospitals and the like throughout the country and connecting the diagnosis-side terminal 16 used by one diagnostic doctor via the existing Internet. A highly reliable remote diagnosis system network can be easily constructed without maintenance of equipment.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the observation apparatus only needs to be able to capture an observation image of an object to be inspected and output the captured image as image data. Various microscopes such as microscopes, endoscopes, and other devices capable of acquiring image information and cameras can be appropriately combined. Furthermore, each functional unit provided in the observation equipment side terminal and the diagnosis side terminal is provided in software, but each may be provided with hardware individually, or a combination of these. But it ’s okay.

  Further, the operation state information Bn output by the operation state monitoring unit is not limited to the stage position of the microscope or the like, the lens magnification, and the like. The contents of the operation state information Bn are always set in order to provide an image having an image quality that is easy for a diagnosis doctor to make a diagnosis, and in order to determine whether or not the operation state is to be switched. What is necessary is just to be able to obtain necessary information.

It is a block diagram which shows the remote diagnosis apparatus of one Embodiment of this invention. The flowchart (a) explaining the operation | movement until the encoding of the image data in the image communication part of this embodiment, and the flowchart (b) which shows the transmission operation | movement of encoded data. It is a time chart explaining the change of the transfer rate during operation | movement of this embodiment. 4 is a graph (a) showing a relationship between the data amount and the frame rate in data control of the image communication unit of this embodiment, and a graph (b) showing a relationship between the data amount and the image quality. It is a block diagram which shows the modification of this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

10, 60 Remote diagnosis device 12 Observation device 14 Observation device side terminal 16 Diagnosis side terminal 18 Communication network 20 Optical microscope 22 Camera 24 Drive control unit 28 Operation state monitoring unit 32, 54 Monitor 34 Image communication unit 36 Transfer rate determination unit 37 Image quality determination unit 38 Encoding unit 40 Next data transmission interval calculation unit 42 Encoded data transmission unit 50 Code data reception unit 52 Decoding unit An Image data Bn Operation state information Cn Transfer rate Dn Image quality En Data amount Fn Encoded data Hn Decoding Data

Claims (5)

An observation device for observing the inspected object with a microscope and outputting image data via a camera;
A drive command receiving unit that receives a drive command for the microscope sent through a communication line, a drive control unit that outputs a drive signal to each adjustment mechanism of the microscope based on the drive command, and monitors the operation of the microscope An observation state side terminal provided with an operation state monitoring unit that outputs operation state information, and an image communication unit that converts the image data output from the camera into predetermined encoded data and outputs the encoded data through the communication line;
A drive command transmitter for outputting the drive command of the microscope through the communication line; an encoded data receiver for receiving the encoded data through the communication line; and returning the received code data to the original image data. A diagnosis-side terminal provided with a decoding unit for outputting and a display device for displaying an image based on the decoded image data;
In a remote diagnosis apparatus equipped with
The image communication unit of the observation device side terminal is:
A transfer rate determining unit that determines a transfer rate of the encoded data based on the operation state information;
An image quality determination unit that determines an image quality of the encoded data based on the operation state information;
An encoding unit that compresses the image data output from the observation device into a data amount based on the image quality determined by the image quality determination unit, and converts the data into encoded data;
Based on the determined transfer rate, an encoded data transmission unit that outputs the encoded data to the diagnosis side terminal through a communication line;
A remote diagnosis apparatus comprising:   The image quality determining unit detects whether the microscope is being set or observed by the observer based on the operation state information, and relatively reduces the image quality during the microscope setting to shorten the image transmission interval. The remote diagnosis apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when it is determined that the image is being observed, control is performed to relatively increase the image quality and lengthen a transmission interval.   The transfer rate determining unit reduces the transfer rate to a predetermined low value when the setting of the microscope by an observer is completed based on the operation state information and there is no operation of the microscope for a certain period of time. The remote diagnosis apparatus according to claim 1.   A next data transmission interval calculating unit for calculating an interval for outputting the encoded data to the communication line based on the transfer rate determined by the transfer rate determining unit and the data amount of the encoded image data; The remote diagnosis apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: The observation device observes a pathological tissue that is the object to be inspected with an optical microscope, and sends an observation image to the observation device side terminal. The diagnosis side terminal displays the observation image of the pathological tissue on the display device. 5. The remote diagnosis apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein pathological diagnosis is possible.

Images