WO1998021681A1 - An apparatus for detecting data related to histological specimens taken from a human or animal body - Google Patents
An apparatus for detecting data related to histological specimens taken from a human or animal body Download PDFInfo
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- WO1998021681A1 WO1998021681A1 PCT/IT1996/000208 IT9600208W WO9821681A1 WO 1998021681 A1 WO1998021681 A1 WO 1998021681A1 IT 9600208 W IT9600208 W IT 9600208W WO 9821681 A1 WO9821681 A1 WO 9821681A1
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- G—PHYSICS
- G16—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATION FIELDS
- G16H—HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA
- G16H10/00—ICT specially adapted for the handling or processing of patient-related medical or healthcare data
- G16H10/40—ICT specially adapted for the handling or processing of patient-related medical or healthcare data for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G16—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATION FIELDS
- G16H—HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA
- G16H10/00—ICT specially adapted for the handling or processing of patient-related medical or healthcare data
- G16H10/60—ICT specially adapted for the handling or processing of patient-related medical or healthcare data for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
Definitions
- each slop if the above descr ibed pi ⁇ cess L '-. completely of the "homemade" type and I- hoi ef or e depends on the sub ec tive eapahj ] i Ly of I he hi toJogisl opoi ating on 1 he sample who is required to qj ve the as u h as p ⁇ t>s ⁇ bJo rel i ble element for achievement of a correct diagnosis.
- the "history" of the tissu ⁇ ' po tion? from the specimen co ing to the hi stologi st to the si id's to be examined by a m croscope, i completely unl nown to 15 the pathologist « Ther ef ore-. 1 the p hologist will be only able to male a di gnosis completely based on a subjective opinion and the precarious c. 3r. ⁇ c.t ⁇ j>r a ? the hi -i ol og i cal sampling process.
- a fur lhe ⁇ r object of the 1 invention is to male 1 the sampling operations very quiel- and of f i c lent, while at the same.' time ensuring an easy tr ansmi ... i bi 111 y of the detected data, even over -j long distance,
- a still further object of I h - i nvei ⁇ ti on is to censure a safe storage of the image: tal en in the different hi stol ogi cal samp ing steps and to ena le s- ⁇ d images to bo correlated in a reliable manner with the patient from which the r omovori organ oi the speci en submi -l I o to ex ination come., so as t ⁇ avoi d undesi rod subs'! l tuti ons or ,ch:in ⁇ jea.
- a not least object of the in ention is to provide an apparatus capable f operating in a very flexible manner and at reduced running costs.
- Fig. 1 is a cjenoral blocl diagram show ng the apparatus of the invention
- - Fig. 2 shows a portion of I ho appa atus d i agi a m ⁇ 11 cal 1 y represoi ⁇ tod i n Fi g . t , rulat i ng to an image acqui ition device 1 ; and
- Fig. shows ⁇ logic bloc! diagram of memorisation means associated wii h the apparatus in question.
- an .apparatus for detecLincj images related to hi stol eg i c s i. t_jl en from a human or an n-il body in accordance wi h this presen l invention has been ge ⁇ erali identified by reference numeral 1.
- the specimen may consist either- of an organ or part of an organ, or a ti sue portion,
- a histolo ic-s. e amina ion consists l n V)', ec u 1 ng one or mar o d i s.-.f>c t L on oper a Lion: L a 1- I ng t ⁇ sue mi cr opor L ions from the points whore the hist ⁇ logi'-L deems jl more appropriate to carry out sampling, depending on the type, state and nature of the drawn speci en.
- th 5 apparatus 1 is comprised of an acquisi ion device 2 arranged to detect images rel ting to a specimen ot portion that, tal en from a human or animal body, is submi ted to hisL ⁇ l ⁇ gical o:;am ⁇ rial ion.
- the acquisition CIOVJ ce 2 is capable of detecting all images relating to the di ferent operat on.. carried out by a hi tologist and therefore connected with the specimen talon as a whole or to the portion., irdo which said ot i men has been divided.
- the acquisi ion device 2 preferably compri es al least one detec ion objc.w-.livo 3 arranged to acquire 1 im-vio.., at lea-J one focu., ⁇ oiHrol circuitry 'I operatively associated with the ob joe ti ve , and at least one zoom lens adjusting en en ry 5 acti e on the ob ec 11 ve i t pel f .
- unit 6 capable o stoi mg a pr edetermined sequence of said images int ⁇ v-wnor irat i on means 7 y . l-'r a. ⁇ L i c?J 1 > , the processing uni 6, ei her fol lowing an pru l inq signal from an operator eapable of i liter a. ti ng wi th the uni it elf through!
- dat-i input means 8 or following p edetermined fir e_et ti ⁇ gs given to the fi cic.es: ing unit , stores one or- more images relating to the most important steps of the histoJogical examina ion. boner ally, a histologist can LIIJS" memorisation of an image in connec ion wi th each dissection carried out on the specimen submitted to examinat on, acting on an appropr ate I- eyboard 9 or mouse 1 10 or other simi lar devices pesent in sai data input means.
- an image sequence wi 13 be acquired which is capable of supplying a complete "hi story" of the specimen stai ting from when it comes to a h stologist until when, thr ough many dissection operations, it i s reduced to one or- more tissue portions that general ly, after conventional dehydrating operations, ar>- ⁇ i placed on microscope slides.
- the data input means G i op rati vel y associated wi th the-? processing unit 6 and is arranged to trinsmi t to said uni t, in addi tion to said enabling signals and tor each specimen undei examination, a corresponding sequence of psti ⁇ nl data concern ⁇ ncj the patient f r om whose body the specimen lu.i been tal en.
- balanro duly connected with the 1 unit d ufion interposi ion of respective inter aces 215 , 9a, 27a, 28a, 10a, 26a.
- the unit & in the absence of one or more of said transducer devices, w ll be capable? of reconfigur ion so as to enable a correct e ect eness also with a reduced number of transducer devices pr sen tratio
- the processing unit 6 creates for
- Pr ct c the processing unit 6, when a new case is added through the input means S, opens a dedicated memo y area 3J into which data related to a patient, be it personal data, clinical dat or still other data, is stored and 0 connected wi h each other so that no exchange error can tie caused, which would clearly give ri e. 1 to unclesired i neon n i ences.
- each dedi c ⁇ > ted memory cire i is formed according to a virtual tree structure so hat the i age sequence is logically connected in a predetermined hierarchic order (see Fig. 3).
- Fig. 3 cliagr amniat i cal 1 y show. * a ded ic ed m ⁇ imor y arpa 11 in which a sub-area 11a for patient data memoris tion and a sub-area lib for image memoi j nation ar& shown.
- images ar ⁇ stored in a trte structure.
- the- image of the first microportion is logically connected with the image of the sub-di secti on An which is connected with the image of section A, in turn connected with the specimen i mage.
- the processing unit When displaying on any output device 30, a display screen or printer for example?, occurs, the processing unit will bo able to re esent the various i age with their connections, in addition to possible stored i macjes.
- each dedicated memory ar ⁇ a or more precisely each sub-area lib for image memoriza ion is also divided into at i ⁇ j ast two logical halve 4 ., a first half lie and a second half lid,, More precisely, the first. logical half lie is arranged to receive the imago sequence from said acquisition device 2 in said hierarchic order,, The second ha] f is instead arranged to store an image sequence from an aux i I i ary acquisition device?
- the memory is such c ⁇ n-f igur eel as to separate I ho images reflated to the different specimen-dissec ion steps (for the? sale of simp! icily identified a. "mar ro-- 1 mages” ) which have brought to removal of tho tissue micropor t ions to be placed on the slides, from the images of the slides themselves t al- en through the microscope?
- the mi ro ⁇ mages too can be stored in a virtual I ree structure' in the same manner as the macro- mages, in the case n which there are images r la ive lo a slide an images relative to parts thereof, respect I ve1 y .
- the processing unit 6 carries out association of each dedicated memory 11 with a predetermined protection code 13 to enable access to the patient data sequence and the image sequence according to a predetermined number of diff rentiated protection levels.
- members of a staff having differen iated competence i ⁇ -vels secretarial staff, histologi sts, patologists
- intervene on the apparatus and can therefore modify the memory area dedicated to each case submitted to examination, depending on their competences without running the ⁇ sl- of intentionally or unintentionally damaging or altering data inputted by othoi people.
- the processing unit will be able, through appropriate codes, to reeognire the user who is mat j ng U-30 of the apparatus, so that modification of tho cor esponding data part concerning i ages or itient data falling under tho competence of such -in operator ' ⁇ *--• i 33 bo made possible.
- dedi ated memory area 11 so that said area 11 can be only read and not modified, or can be modified upon signal ' ] ln ⁇ j the ⁇ ccurr ence of this modification after w ⁇ te looting of the memory arti.i it-sol f.
- This is very advantageous onco tho result given by the patologist in connec ion wi h the specimen under" e am nation ha been also inputted to the dedicated memory ar a , because in this manner all data relating to tho patient, the detected images and the result ar ⁇ connecter! w th each other without the possibility of an unsignal led al t or at l on .
- the- zoom lens adjusting circuitry 5 constantly sends the processing unit a sign l corresponding to the percent opening of the zoom lens, to enable the processing unit to recalculate, instant by instant, tho actual si e of the image detected by the objective 3, which objective 3 is also provided with an interface 3s that, among other things, carries out the appropriate anal og-to-di gi tal conversion operations.
- each imago of each sequence stored in the memorization means 7 c n be associated with the actual sizes of sa d i ge* which arc 1 also stored. This fact obviously offers a further record of the matter submi 1ed to hi t ological e a L na 1 on .
- the acquisition device 2 is in p ⁇ rticulai disposed close* Lo supp ⁇ r L mean-, defined in the bo::-sh pod housing body 16. More specifically tins bo;'—shaped hous ng body defines a wor I spa ⁇ o 17 inside which the specimen to lie examined 1 ⁇ is disposed upon an opora 1" l ng sur f ace 17. As ociated with the opera 1 ng surface can be at J ?st one load cell s as to define a weighing balance 26 operatively connected wi h the processing unit as well , upon inter osi ion of a respective interface 26a.
- lighling means 20 associated at the upper part thereof wi h the operating surface 19 and arranged to light the specimen submitted to examina ion.
- a protective wall 21 is arrangei I pei- i rnetr c al 1 y of the operating surf .KG and is provided with an access opening 22 to the war I space 17.
- the ventilation means creates an air draught from top to bottom. Said air draught avoids the occurrence of vapor formations close to the objective of said acquisition device while at the same time ensuring cooling o-! said lighting means.
- Preferably cold l mps are used as .-aid lighting means, so that they do not transmi o much herd to the ⁇ r qu i si I i on device., Jn addition the lighting moans is such calibrated as to ensui e li hting of the speci en to tie examined substan i lly independen ly of the light level existing externally of the box-rhapod body.
- said lamps are provided to supply a higher lighting than a predetermined level so that they are not greatly affected by the external envi r onmerd .
- said lamps may even ha equipped with an adjustment system 20n controlled by n app opriate optical ⁇ ?nsor 20b, so as to calibrate the brightness they supply depending on the li ht present in the external environment.
- the means 20 comprises a cliff user body 20c. of trunr ateel coni al form.
- Tho invention achieves important adv.in t ages.
- the p-3tol ⁇ g ⁇ st entrusted with the Last- of mal ing a diagnosis will bo ablo to avail hi mse L f hersel f not only of tho microscopic images of the slides obtained wi h he tissue* micropor t ions talon from the specimen, but also of a series of images relating to the whole specimen as it has reached the hi sto logic l boratoi y and to each dissection and sampling step of tho tissue mi c ropor 11 ons.
- the 1 apparatus in accordance with the invention is structured in a modular manner so that it can correc11 y wort 11h ny h 3rd a conf j gur a11 on . More speci fically, tho apparatus is capable of recognising tho presence or not of any input member in an
- a further advantage is to notes since the apparatus is capable-; of storing the different images fc.llowi.ng predetermined orders and separating those co ing from the acquisi ion device 2 from those froni the auxiliary acgii i si L ion device 12, jt will be possible. 1 in terms of
- the invention is id' advent ageous in if. most specific aspects.
- I is to no I o that also ve y useful is the fact that tho zoom lens adjusting means is also capable of sending a signal cor esponding to the zoom lens opening to the processing unit, so that said unit can reconstruc , 0 instant by instant, the actual sizes of any object c aptur by tho ob ec 11 ve .
- Tho lighting means o performs a very important role 1 by ensuring the substantial i ndepondonce o the survey from the particular 1 i hl nnd.l ions esen in tho environment where the apparatus is i stalled.
Abstract
An apparatus for detecting data related to histological samples taken from a human or animal body comprises an acquisition device (2) arranged to detect images relative to a specimen (18) submitted to examination and taken from a human or animal body, a processing unit (6) operatively associated with said acquisition device and capable, following an enabling signal, of storing a predetermined image sequence and patient data relative to the patient from whose body said specimen has been taken. The processing unit (6), for each new sequence of patient data, creates a corresponding dedicated memory area (11) into which the image sequence of the specimen under examination and the patient-related sequence of data are stored and linked with each other in an inseparable manner.
Description
AM AF'RARATIJ . FOR DETFM .NG DAI RLI ATI ID 10 H fS'l PL DP I CAI
SPI£CJMEN3 TAr EN FROM A Mi IMAM OR A T MAI. PODY
..Jl- ι.S . L...D L.J Q...IL
The pr psenl- invention r late , to ,ιn
l.ti- for cl tϋcting and managing data roJ led It' 11 J S to I ogi c- specimens tal on from a human or aninnl body.
It is I- noun that t-then a n I y =. o _-> art? lo ho r?rr jf?d out on -specimens tal en rom hunnn nr animal bodies in order to ind out the pr r1 n r; G I n L of p ^ L r ι I α q i o r , v r impor πt role s p or for mud by the c r re t
of a t i s.-ur. porti n or po tions -f om the «> oi-j on ci.ibj i.l_e to litamin-ition and the prep ira hi on of
I Γ IMO porti n.- on app op iate h. - αJog r> I ido-., in order lo enable elimination of same under the mn rύ'.ropp.
In greater deL-"u] , . -I for e ampJe an
i n.i ti n i :. lu bu carried out on a tissue sporimun or uvi'ii on -J whole or gan , a hi s t I og J st fir sl q i vos a sl ιor I do ci- p L J on thereof , mal os some photographic -»urvoy: and sub equent J y tlran^- ont> or mo e tissue port ions •! rom the spe imen i self . These poi tions, ~>ubmι I" tr> l.o ..ub .equ nt dehydration and impregna ed wi lh ρ^ι affjn ΛI O cul inl iiii crosl J co -•. of -3 Uiicl nos > o-i about ti j-nti, so as to obtain a m^le i ?!. adapted oi L ■ c_> _ n y isposed on si i do-> and then in appropriate ol le ting bo;;es for transnuss on to the paUiology laboi atoi y heri- I he charged staff nil] submi the di f foi onl spool oi ι -. to microscopical e;;amι r> =■ t i on and ?f Lf.Tinrc mal e a corresponding di aqnosi ...
Clearly, each slop if the above descr ibed pi αcess L '-. completely of the "homemade" type and I- hoi ef or e depends on the sub ec tive eapahj ] i Ly of I he hi toJogisl opoi ating on 1 he sample who is required to qj ve the
as u h as pθt>sιbJo rel i ble element for
achievement of a correct diagnosis.
Obviously, l the; present state of thc> art, the athologic diagnosis that i made i exclusively base on I tie I issue portion om g to the p:d_hology laboi atory, a pathologist practically having no possib li y of examining the organ or organ portion -from which the tissue has been drawn or inowmg the mod lities -followed in taling that por tion from the
I Q specimen.
In other words, the "history" of the tissuε' po tion?, from the specimen co ing to the hi stologi st to the si id's to be examined by a m croscope, i completely unl nown to 15 the pathologist « Ther ef ore-.1 the p hologist will be only able to male a di gnosis completely based on a subjective opinion and the precarious c. 3r.Λc.t<j>r a ? the hi -i ol og i cal sampling process.
20 Actually, even when the histαlogist carries out pholographic surveys or descriptions of the specimen on which he/she is acting, which on the other hand is very r nr , all this materi l is I tie result o-f completely subjective factors. In addition, it is to point out that
25 the pholographic material is by nature of easy decay, difficult transmission an great bull iness and th-? achieved qualitative results greatly depend on the external lighting. In conclusion, at the present state of the art, the pathological examination s bound lo a
30 great number of subjective factors and a completely "homemade" sampling process, and therefore is only eαpiblo of ensuring a reduced reliabili y in the rest 11 I s„
35 Undor this s tu ion, it is an object of lh" preserd invention to provide a now ap aratus capable of giving a pathologist the whole hi si o y of the specimen submi \ ted lo o:;amι nali on , the1 differen tissues talon therefrom,
the modalities followed in tal- . ng said tissues during the hisLolαgical prepar ion step, so that the final diagnosis will bo based on objectiv.1 data and a greatly wider and more accurate amount of in ormation than that presently available in accor
e w th the traditional techni ques.
A fur lheιr object of the1 invention is to male1 the sampling operations very quiel- and of f i c lent, while at the same.' time ensuring an easy tr ansmi ... i bi 111 y of the detected data, even over -j long distance,
A still further object of I h - i nvei ι ti on is to censure a safe storage of the image: tal en in the different hi stol ogi cal samp ing steps and to ena le s-ιιd images to bo correlated in a reliable manner with the patient from which the r omovori organ oi the speci en submi -l I o to ex ination come., so as tα avoi d undesi rod subs'! l tuti ons or ,ch:inιjea.
A not least object of the in ention is to provide an apparatus capable f operating in a very flexible manner and at reduced running costs.
The-, foregoing and further objects I h i wi II become mor-1 app rent in the course of the following description, ara substan ially srhi evoJ by an apparatus for detecting data related to histological specimens tal en from a human or animal body, as disclosed and claimed in the appended claims. This description will be tal- en hereinafter with refei oneo to the accompanying drawings cj i ven by way o f non -11 nil 11 ng e:; amp 1 ε , i n wh i c:h :
Fig. 1 is a cjenoral blocl diagram show ng the apparatus of the invention; - Fig. 2 shows a portion of I ho appa atus d i agi a mα 11 cal 1 y represoi \ tod i n Fi g . t , rulat i ng to an image acqui ition device1; and
Fig. shows α logic bloc! diagram of memorisation
means associated wii h the apparatus in question.
With reference to the drawings, an .apparatus for detecLincj images related to hi stol eg i c s i.
t_jl en from a human or an n-il body in accordance wi h this presen l invention has been geπerali identified by reference numeral 1.
Before going on describing the. apparatus structure, it is to point out th^t the specimen may consist either- of an organ or part of an organ, or a ti sue portion,, It is also to stale that a histolo ic-s. e amina ion consists l n V)', ec u 1 ng one or mar o d i s.-.f>c t L on oper a Lion: L a 1- I ng tι~sue mi cr opor L ions from the points whore the histαlogi'-L deems jl more appropriate to carry out sampling, depending on the type, state and nature of the drawn speci en.
These micr oportions are then dehydrated and paraffined so that. they acquire an appropriate solidity, and finally submitted to a microslicmg action to produce thin tissue layers (of few μm of thicl-ness) to be placed on a si i cle.
The foregoing being stated, th5 apparatus 1 is comprised of an acquisi ion device 2 arranged to detect images rel ting to a specimen ot portion that, tal en from a human or animal body, is submi ted to hisLαlαgical o:;amι rial ion. The acquisition CIOVJ ce 2 is capable of detecting all images relating to the di ferent operat on.. carried out by a hi tologist and therefore connected with the specimen talon as a whole or to the portion., irdo which said ot i men has been divided.
In more detail as regard J structure, it is to point our 1 hat the acquisi ion device 2 preferably compri es al least one detec ion objc.w-.livo 3 arranged to acquire1 im-vio.., at lea-J one focu., ι oiHrol circuitry 'I
operatively associated with the ob joe ti ve , and at least one zoom lens adjusting en en ry 5 acti e on the ob ec 11 ve i t pel f .
Associated with the acqnii i ion device is a roι.pj-ιιiι| unit 6 capable o stoi mg a pr edetermined sequence of said images int πv-wnor irat i on means 7y. l-'r a.~ L i c?J 1 > , the processing uni 6, ei her fol lowing an pru l inq signal from an operator eapable of i liter a. ti ng wi th the uni it elf through! dat-i input means 8 or following p edetermined fir e_et ti πgs given to the fi cic.es: ing unit , stores one or- more images relating to the most important steps of the histoJogical examina ion. boner ally, a histologist can LIIJS" memorisation of an image in connec ion wi th each dissection carried out on the specimen submitted to examinat on, acting on an appropr ate I- eyboard 9 or mouse1 10 or other simi lar devices pesent in sai data input means. In thi s manner, an image sequence wi 13 be acquired which is capable of supplying a complete "hi story" of the specimen stai ting from when it comes to a h stologist until when, thr ough many dissection operations, it i s reduced to one or- more tissue portions that general ly, after conventional dehydrating operations, ar>-~i placed on microscope slides.
The data input means G i op rati vel y associated wi th the-? processing unit 6 and is arranged to trinsmi t to said uni t, in addi tion to said enabling signals and tor each specimen undei examination, a corresponding sequence of pstiεnl data concern ιncj the patient f r om whose body the specimen lu.i been tal en.
Hy way of ex-im Le, I h s j tionl d \l a m;y be co pi i so of persona] data, cl inical dat'i, era L or wri ten comments by the hi stol ogi si , codo_>, document > or sti l I αlhoi ihings. To this end, means C ay comprise different trasduc or devices m h as a mic ophone , a I eyboai d 9, on optical pen 27, a seannei 28, a ou „." jo, . balanro,
duly connected with the1 unit d ufion interposi ion of respective inter aces 215 , 9a, 27a, 28a, 10a, 26a. Advantageously, the unit &, in the absence of one or more of said transducer devices, w ll be capable? of reconfigur ion so as to enable a correct e ect eness also with a reduced number of transducer devices pr sen t „
In an original manner", the processing unit 6 creates for
30 each inputted sequence of patient data, a corresponding dedi cated memory area 31 into which the i age sequence of the specimen under examination and the dat-i sequence concerning the patient from whose, body the spec men ha?. been tal en a e stored, the two seqi enc i being Tinted
15 with each other in an inseparable manner. Pr ct c lly, the processing unit 6, when a new case is added through the input means S, opens a dedicated memo y area 3J into which data related to a patient, be it personal data, clinical dat or still other data, is stored and 0 connected wi h each other so that no exchange error can tie caused, which would clearly give ri e.1 to unclesired i neon n i ences.
It i to note thai for the purpose? o," organi ing the- 25 different collected images being part of said sequence in tho most usable m-innor , each dedi c< > ted memory cire i is formed according to a virtual tree structure so hat the i age sequence is logically connected in a predetermined hierarchic order (see Fig. 3). It should be recognised 3θ in f ct that, during a histological o- υiu nation, one or more portions aro generally talon from a specimen consisting or e m le-1 of a whole oi gan, aftei d i -.section of the specimen itsel into one or more parts that, in turn, can be suh-~c! J ssee 1 oned „ in this Z' "< manner", each tissue portion actually is tal en from a section winch in turn ran ho the "daughter" of I ho specimen submitted to examination or part of it. J is therefore voi y impo tant that, dur i ncj mo or i ." t i on of
the images relating to each step of the histological dissection and sampling, he connection by hierarchy or relationship that tlv* different images really have in respect of each other would be maintained.
Fig. 3 cliagr amniat i cal 1 y show.* a ded ic ed mεimor y arpa 11 in which a sub-area 11a for patient data memoris tion and a sub-area lib for image memoi j nation ar& shown. As can be seen in the? depicted example, images arα stored in a trte structure. In this case-?, the- image of the first microportion is logically connected with the image of the sub-di secti on An which is connected with the image of section A, in turn connected with the specimen i mage.
When displaying on any output device 30, a display screen or printer for example?, occurs, the processing unit will bo able to re esent the various i age with their connections, in addition to possible stored i macjes.
In an advantageous mannei , i t is also to note1 that each dedicated memory arαa , or more precisely each sub-area lib for image memoriza ion is also divided into at iεjast two logical halve4., a first half lie and a second half lid,, More precisely, the first. logical half lie is arranged to receive the imago sequence from said acquisition device 2 in said hierarchic order,, The second ha] f is instead arranged to store an image sequence from an aux i I i ary acquisition device? 12 consisting of a microscope wi h a corresponding interface 12a, which, at the end of the histological examination, detects the images related to the slides obtained wi th the several tissue m i croport ions tal- en from the specimen. fn othei words, the memory is such c αn-f igur eel as to separate I ho images reflated to the different specimen-dissec ion steps (for the? sale of simp! icily identified a. "mar ro-- 1 mages" ) which have
brought to removal of tho tissue micropor t ions to be placed on the slides, from the images of the slides themselves t al- en through the microscope? (referred to as "mi crα-imagos" ) „ This advantageously ensures a separation of the documents of all steps preceding tho procedure involving removal or sampling of the tissue mi cr oport ions that w Jl be subsequently placed on tho sl de, from the images related to the micropor ions themselve- and coming -S rom a microscopic examination.
Obviously, the mi ro~ι mages too can be stored in a virtual I ree structure' in the same manner as the macro- mages, in the case n which there are images r la ive lo a slide an images relative to parts thereof, respect I ve1 y .
It JS to note1 that the processing unit 6 carries out association of each dedicated memory 11 with a predetermined protection code 13 to enable access to the patient data sequence and the image sequence according to a predetermined number of diff rentiated protection levels. Ln other words, members of a staff having differen iated competence iε-vels (secretarial staff, histologi sts, patologists) intervene on the apparatus and can therefore modify the memory area dedicated to each case submitted to examination, depending on their competences without running the πsl- of intentionally or unintentionally damaging or altering data inputted by othoi people. In thi connection it is finally to note that the processing unit will be able, through appropriate codes, to reeognire the user who is mat j ng U-30 of the apparatus, so that modification of tho cor esponding data part concerning i ages or itient data falling under tho competence of such -in operator 'ά *--• i 33 bo made possible.
In addition, t will bo recognized thai- the1 processing un t 6 can asso e < l isure codes 1 wi h e ch
_. o / _.
dedi ated memory area 11, so that said area 11 can be only read and not modified, or can be modified upon signal'] lnςj the αccurr ence of this modification after wπte looting of the memory arti.i it-sol f. This is very advantageous onco tho result given by the patologist in connec ion wi h the specimen under" e am nation ha been also inputted to the dedicated memory ar a , because in this manner all data relating to tho patient, the detected images and the result ar α connecter! w th each other without the possibility of an unsignal led al t or at l on .
Turning bad to the acqui ition device structure, it i to note th-it both tho foe. us control c rcu ry 1 and the room lens aciiusting circuit y 5 ar connected to and managed b the proce sing un t 6, upon in erposition of spective inter-fares 4>, "J... In paiHicular , the- zoom lens adjusting circuitry 5 constantly sends the processing unit a sign l corresponding to the percent opening of the zoom lens, to enable the processing unit to recalculate, instant by instant, tho actual si e of the image detected by the objective 3, which objective 3 is also provided with an interface 3s that, among other things, carries out the appropriate anal og-to-di gi tal conversion operations.
3n this manner, each imago of each sequence stored in the memorization means 7 c n be associated with the actual sizes of sa d i ge* which arc1 also stored. This fact obviously offers a further record of the matter submi 1ed to hi t ological e a L na 1 on .
It s to note* that the acquisition device 2 is in pαrticulai disposed close* Lo suppαr L mean-, defined in the bo::-sh pod housing body 16. More specifically tins bo;'—shaped hous ng body defines a wor I spa^o 17 inside which the specimen to lie examined 1 ϋ is disposed upon an opora 1" l ng sur f ace 17. As ociated with the opera 1 ng
surface can be at J ?st one load cell s as to define a weighing balance 26 operatively connected wi h the processing unit as well , upon inter osi ion of a respective interface 26a.
Still present in the box-shaped body is lighling means 20 associated at the upper part thereof wi h the operating surface 19 and arranged to light the specimen submitted to examina ion. Then a protective wall 21 is arrangei I pei- i rnetr c al 1 y of the operating surf .KG and is provided with an access opening 22 to the war I space 17.
H viewed from Fig. 2, on the optical path between the specimen 18 and the device 2 there is an optical deviation element 23, which consists for example of a mirror enabling tho image.* related to the specimen to be devι at od t o rds the ac qui i 11 on device ob j ec I ve .
In more detail, associated with the box-shapod body is ventilation means 2 capable of creating an air movement rom an upper ai- ea 'if the box-shaped body substantially close to said lighting me "ins, to a lower ?reι of ι?ιd body, subs anti lly clo=e to tho specimen submitted to o;;amι nat i on .
Practically the ventilation means creates an air draught from top to bottom. Said air draught avoids the occurrence of vapor formations close to the objective of said acquisition device while at the same time ensuring cooling o-! said lighting means. Preferably cold l mps are used as .-aid lighting means, so that they do not transmi o much herd to the αr qu i si I i on device., Jn addition the lighting moans is such calibrated as to ensui e li hting of the speci en to tie examined substan i lly independen ly of the light level existing externally of the box-rhapod body.
for the purpose, said lamps are provided to supply a higher lighting than a predetermined level so that they are not greatly affected by the external envi r onmerd . In some cases said lamps may even ha equipped with an adjustment system 20n controlled by n app opriate optical ι?nsor 20b, so as to calibrate the brightness they supply depending on the li ht present in the external environment.
finally, jn order to ensure tho 1 j ςiht to bo spread in a mannoi ^ much a s possible uniform on the specimen 18, the means 20 comprises a cliff user body 20c. of trunr ateel coni al form.
Tho invention achieves important adv.in t ages.
First of all tho apparatus in accordance wi h the invention enables a continuous storage and ordering of the images related to the specimen under ex ination during the whol histologies! e; animation step, so as to give an objective documentary evidence ol the most important steps of the histological owamι n=ι tion. In this m inne , the p-3tolαgιst entrusted with the Last- of mal ing a diagnosis will bo ablo to avail hi mse L f hersel f not only of tho microscopic images of the slides obtained wi h he tissue* micropor t ions talon from the specimen, but also of a series of images relating to the whole specimen as it has reached the hi sto logic l boratoi y and to each dissection and sampling step of tho tissue mi c ropor 11 ons.
In com. J i is i on , by virtue of th? present vent on, tho pathologic diagnosis will he more reliable and safe borau<- o it is referred to a complete and e hanstιvo record of tho whole histologie examination.
The above is advan I I y achieved by tho apparatus in question that in a completely independent manner enable."
the i m.iges to Lie i or el in a logic ordoi following the dissection and sampling modalities and ensures a reliable connection between the images of a predetermined specimen and the personal, clinical and 5 other d.">ta of the patient -from whom said specimen has boon tal en , while substanti lly eliminating all πsls of erroneously asso iating the images of a given patient with the diagnoses relating to another patient.
10 Jn addition, the1 apparatus in accordance with the invention is structured in a modular manner so that it can correc11 y wort 11h ny h 3rd a conf j gur a11 on . More speci fically, tho apparatus is capable of recognising tho presence or not of any input member in an
15 independent manner and to be subjected to reconi i gur at i on , so as to enable data J ripu t e; c 1 u~ i ve1 y from the input devices that arc really connected with the processing unit.
20 A further advantage is to notes since the apparatus is capable-; of storing the different images fc.llowi.ng predetermined orders and separating those co ing from the acquisi ion device 2 from those froni the auxiliary acgii i si L ion device 12, jt will be possible.1 in terms of
2'J output as well, to send a succession of images to tho display screen or tho p inter in such D manner as to ensure? a direct and quid eonsulation of said images by the? operators.
'"•0 Also particularly advant geous is tho provi ion of a pro ec ing system adapted to crypt all pieces of inf ation cental nod in each doolie T ted memory area according lo different access levels. In this anner, it w-.l bo possible to enable the different operator.> to
"'•'5 easily accede to the information of thei competent, o , win I e el i mi nat i ng al 1 possi bi 1 i ti os o-, l ten ng oi damaging information thai, on the contrary is of somebody el e's competence.
Also important i the capability of the processing unit to carry out a sort of closure of each memory area once a g i vtin operator (the pathologist, for e' ample-1) has performed a predetermined final operation (the diagnosis). In this manner" a documentary evidence will be available not only of all tho steps of the hi stologi cal e: am i n ι ti on , hut also of the pathologic diagnosis so that, in case of need, i will be possible to go bad to the responsibili ies of possible errors 0 and ascribe them to each subject or operator tal-ing part i n the case.
The invention is id' advent ageous in if. most specific aspects.
15
I is to no I o that also ve y useful is the fact that tho zoom lens adjusting means is also capable of sending a signal cor esponding to the zoom lens opening to the processing unit, so that said unit can reconstruc , 0 instant by instant, the actual sizes of any object c aptur
by tho ob ec 11 ve . l"h is is -/er y advsπtageous in the course of an histological and pathological examination, as all operators =1 illod in the art can eas L 1 y under and . b
Also of the greatest importance is the use of the ventilation means associated with tho bo;;~shaped body and the structure o-! same, as i enables vapor formations on the optical elements to be avoided, as 0 well as ainy diffusion of undesirod o aldehyde vapors other" anti -on idan t substances to the surrounding atmosphere, ohich <_ ubstances are pi .ontl used for preservation of the specimens to bo submitted to e::amι na t I on .
Z'5
Tho lighting means o performs a very important role1 by ensuring the substantial i ndepondonce o the survey from the particular 1 i hl nnd.l ions esen in tho
environment where the apparatus is i stalled.
Obviously many modification and vari tions can be made to the p sent invention, all falling within tho s ope of the inventive idea characterizing it.
Claims
C L A 1 M S
1. fin apparatus for detecting data related to histological specimens tal- en -f om > human or animal
5 body, characterized in that it comprises: an acgu i si ti on device (2) arrangjd to detect i ages related to a specimen (IS) submitted to examination,
+ at on from a human or animal body?
- a processing unit (6) operatively associated wi h said 10 acqui ition device and, ollowing an enabling signal, capable of storing a predetermined sequenc.1 of said images into memo ization means (7)? data input moans (S) operatively associated wi h the processing un and arranged to transmit to sai unit, 15 for" each specimen under examination, a corresponding sequence of patien data rel ted to the patient from whose body said specimen has boon removed; said pr OL es i ng unit (6 ) creating a coi responding dedicated memory area (11) in said memorization moans O (7) -i or eat_h new sequence of patient data,, in which area the image sequence of the specimen under examination and the data sequence relatt-d to the patient from whose body he specimen has been drawn ar_e stored and lintod with each other in an inseparable manner. 25
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, charac erized in that each dedicated memory area ( 1. ) is divided into at le-Tjt two halves, a first half (lie) and a second half CMd), said first half being arranged to receive tho
".'■0 ι mage sequence from said acquisition device (2), said second hal being arranged to store an image1 ι_oquonr-e from an auxiliary acquisition device (12).
"'.. An appai atus according to claim 2, chara terized in "•'3 til "'I" sai auxili ry acquisition device (12) comprise, a J oa " I one mi c rospofie.
A . A devite according to clai . , char c e ized in I hat
each dedicated memory area (13) is configured as a virtual -tree structure for storing said imago sequence: in a pr edeter mi nod hie rchic order .
i D. An ap ar tus according to claim t, char acton no in that the processing unit f ) i =. ar rai iged so as to associate protedetermi nedh protection codes with each dedicated memory area (11), to enable access to the pati nt data sequence and image sequence according to a
10 pr ode Lor mi nod number of d i ff or en I ted levels.
6. An apparatus according to claim I, char cter ed in th-it sai acquisil on de ice (2> comprise t-s
- at least one detection objective (3) arranged to ID acquire sa d
and transmit them, instant by instant, to S3.d processing unit (6);
- a focus control circuitry (A) operatively associated w th said objective (3) and driven by said processing urn t (6) ϋ and
20 ~ a zoom lens adjusting ci cuitry (r5) ope atively active on said objective <Z) and driven by said processing unit (6) , said zoom Jens ad jus ti ng c rcuitry constantly sending a signal corresponding to the percent opening of tho ;:oom Lens to the processing unit, so a-- i o enable
2D the processing unit to rec lcul t-?, instant by instant, the1 aι. ftial size of the i age detected by the objective.
7". An pparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that it comp ises a boi'-sliaped housing body (16) having; 7.0 - at least one wor I- s ce (17),"
- at l ast one operating sur ace (19) riε1 fined in said wort space and a r^ ^od to receive said specimen (18) ther eon ;
- lighting means (20) associated, at tho upper p-i l 3D thoieof, .th sa d operatiny surface and arranged to l ighten the specimen submi ted to ei' ami nat ion;
- a protective wall (21) oπ metr l ral 1 y associated wi h said opoi ating sui -I -iro and pi evicted wi th an a< < oss
opening (22) for acceding to the wort surface f!7)s - support means (15) opera ively associated with the wor I .surface and ar nged to define an engagement seal" for location of said acquisition device.
8. An apparatus according to claim 7, char erized in that comprises an optical deviation element (23) operatively engaged on an optical path defined by said bo;;--shaped body (16) between the operating surface (19) 0 and tho acquisition device (2).
9. An apparatus according to claim 7, charac eri ed in t ha L i c ompr i es vent 11 at ι on mean ^ (2A ) αper a t i ve] y associated wi h the support structure to cause movement 5 of air from an upper area substan ially clo-iO lo said ligh ing means, to a lower area subs an ially close to said specimen submitted o examination.
10. An apparatus according to claim t, characteri ed in 0 that said data input moans (8) comprise? a predetermined number of transducer devices (9, 10, 2D, 26, 27, 28) , each opera* lvely connected with a corresponding centred bloc I (9a, 10a, 25a, 26a, 27a, 28a) in turn associated with said processing unit, said processing unit being 5 adapted, on the one hand, to receive the signals from the corresponding transducer device-1 and, on the other hand, in the absence of one or more of said transducer- devices, to be subjected to recon iguration for exclusively mat ing u=e of the transducer devices really
11 „ An apparatus a> coi ch ng to laim 1 , characteri ed in that a I" least one of s-π d transducer devices comprises a we ι g 11111j b a I a n o o ( 6 ) . D
12. An apparatus acccoi ding to c laims 7 and 10, charac erized in that said weighing balance (26) is asset a I ed wi h said operating surfa e (19) .
1"'. An apparatus according to claim 7, char cterized in that said lighting moans (20) comprises cold lamps.
14, An apparatus according to cl im ch ar "ict or s z ed i n that sai lighting mean-.- (20) is adapted to ensure light ng of the specimen uncloi e amι na Li on substanti lly independently of the light level cr i ting at the outside of s-iirl bo:;-shapecl body (16).
15. An apparatus according to claim ", characte ized in that said lighting means (20) compri es a diffuser body (20c) arranged to ensure a uniform lighting of the specimen under ei' ami nal i on .
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IT1996/000208 WO1998021681A1 (en) | 1996-11-11 | 1996-11-11 | An apparatus for detecting data related to histological specimens taken from a human or animal body |
| AU77081/96A AU7708196A (en) | 1996-11-11 | 1996-11-11 | An apparatus for detecting data related to histological specimens taken from a human or animal body |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IT1996/000208 WO1998021681A1 (en) | 1996-11-11 | 1996-11-11 | An apparatus for detecting data related to histological specimens taken from a human or animal body |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO1998021681A1 true WO1998021681A1 (en) | 1998-05-22 |
Family
ID=11332600
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IT1996/000208 WO1998021681A1 (en) | 1996-11-11 | 1996-11-11 | An apparatus for detecting data related to histological specimens taken from a human or animal body |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU7708196A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1998021681A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7138226B2 (en) | 2002-05-10 | 2006-11-21 | The University Of Miami | Preservation of RNA and morphology in cells and tissues |
| WO2022234377A1 (en) | 2021-05-07 | 2022-11-10 | Algoscope | Pathological anatomy and cytology station for macroscopic examination |
Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0332322A2 (en) * | 1988-02-26 | 1989-09-13 | Elsevier Science Publishing Co., Inc. | Data creating, storage and processing system |
| WO1994027238A1 (en) * | 1993-05-14 | 1994-11-24 | Mds Health Group Ltd. | Electronic worksheet system for microbiology testing and reporting |
| WO1995022114A1 (en) * | 1994-02-14 | 1995-08-17 | Neuromedical Systems, Inc. | Automated histological specimen classification system and method |
-
1996
- 1996-11-11 WO PCT/IT1996/000208 patent/WO1998021681A1/en active Search and Examination
- 1996-11-11 AU AU77081/96A patent/AU7708196A/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0332322A2 (en) * | 1988-02-26 | 1989-09-13 | Elsevier Science Publishing Co., Inc. | Data creating, storage and processing system |
| WO1994027238A1 (en) * | 1993-05-14 | 1994-11-24 | Mds Health Group Ltd. | Electronic worksheet system for microbiology testing and reporting |
| WO1995022114A1 (en) * | 1994-02-14 | 1995-08-17 | Neuromedical Systems, Inc. | Automated histological specimen classification system and method |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US7138226B2 (en) | 2002-05-10 | 2006-11-21 | The University Of Miami | Preservation of RNA and morphology in cells and tissues |
| WO2022234377A1 (en) | 2021-05-07 | 2022-11-10 | Algoscope | Pathological anatomy and cytology station for macroscopic examination |
| FR3122734A1 (en) | 2021-05-07 | 2022-11-11 | Algoscope | Pathological anatomy and cytology station for macroscopic examination |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU7708196A (en) | 1998-06-03 |
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