System for remote viewing and display of a slide

Abstract

A method for creating a virtual slide is provided. A virtual slide is a digital representation of an area of interest of a microscope slide. One method is to use a motorized microscope that can move a specimen with respect to a microscope objective. With such a system, one can capture one or more images through a microscope objective, such that a region of interest is imaged. Each image is then joined together to form a composite or “virtual image.” In one embodiment, after a virtual slide is created, a user may fully utilize the full capabilities of the remote microscope. Among these capabilities is a set of “optical objectives” and “virtual objectives.” Optical objectives are images created by digitizing an image through a microscope objective in real time. Virtual objectives are digitally created magnifications created by utilizing the existing virtual slide data to digitally create a field of view.

1 . A system for remote viewing of a slide, comprising: 
 a microscopy system comprising a microscope having a stage to receive the slide and a camera to couple with the microscope;    a single display to show an image of a portion of the slide and to show a plurality of control features, the plurality of control features comprising:    one or more first selections to command the microscopy system to capture a real time version of an other image of at least part of the slide and to transmit the captured image to the single display; and    one or more second selections to command a previously-captured version of the other image to be transmitted to the single display.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the single display is further to show a thumbnail view of the slide.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the thumbnail view of the slide comprises multiple images joined together.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more first selections are further to specify a microscope objective of the microscope through which the microscope system is to capture the real time version of the other image.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more second selections are further to specify a magnification of the previously-captured version of the other image to be transmitted.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more second selections are further to specify a region of interest of the slide, the region of interest to be shown by the previously-captured version of the other image.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein if the image of the portion of the slide to be shown on the display comprises part of the specified region of interest, then the previously-captured version of the other image to be transmitted to the single display is to not include the part of the specified region of interest.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of control features further comprise one or more third selections to specify qualifying information for at least one of the real time version of the other image and the previously- captured version of the other image.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the qualifying information comprises an x, y microscope position.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the qualifying information comprises an x, y, z microscope position.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the qualifying information comprises image dimensions.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the qualifying information comprises an exposure setting.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the qualifying information comprises a compression level.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the qualifying information comprises a compression type.  
     
     
         15 . A method for remote displaying of a slide, comprising: 
 providing a single display showing an image of a portion of the slide and showing a plurality of control features;    receiving, by receipt of a selection of one or more of the control features, a command to obtain an other image of at least part of the slide, the command specifying the other image as either previously-captured or for capture; and    in response to the command:    if the command specified the other image as previously-captured, retrieving a previously-captured of the other image and transmitting the previously-captured version to the single display; and    if the command specified the other image as for capture, capturing the other image and transmitting the captured other image to the single display.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the single display further shows a thumbnail view of the slide.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the command specifying the other image as for capture further specifies a microscope objective, and wherein if the command specified the other image as for capture, the other image is captured through the microscope objective.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the command specifying the other image as previously-captured further specifies a magnification of the other image, and wherein if the command specifies the other image as previously- captured, the previously-captured other image that is retrieved is at the specified magnification.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the command further specifies the other image with qualifying information.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the qualifying information comprises an x, y microscope position.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the qualifying information comprises an x, y, z microscope position.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the qualifying information comprises image dimensions.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the qualifying information comprises an exposure setting.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the qualifying information comprises a compression level.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the qualifying information comprises a compression type.  
     
     
         26 . A method for remote viewing of a slide, comprising: 
 receiving an image of a portion of the slide and showing a plurality of control features and the image on a single display;    selecting certain of the image control features and thereby requesting an other image specified as either previously-captured or for capture, the other image of at least part of the slide; and    receiving the specified other image and showing the other image on the single display.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the single display further shows a thumbnail view of the slide.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the request further specifies the other image with qualifying information.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the qualifying information comprises an x, y microscope position.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the qualifying information comprises an x, y, z microscope position.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the qualifying information comprises image dimensions.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the qualifying information comprises an exposure setting.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the qualifying information comprises a compression level.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the qualifying information comprises a compression type.