Telemedicine Microscopy

A system that uses standard PCs to connect microscopes to the Internet enables users in remote areas to view and navigate slides for accurate consultation and diagnosis.

This system is now being used by West Parry Sound Health Center (WPSHC, Ontario, Canada), a network of healthcare facilities covering 70,000 people in Ontario. Traditionally, the network has used couriers to transport patient's slides to appropriate specialists to obtain the best diagnostic results. However, this method has several flaws that undermine the network's ability to provide the best healthcare. One is that the process often takes 24 hours or more, not acceptable when dealing with an urgent diagnosis. Another flaw is that the photo of a specimen does not reveal the detail that an actual slide can provide.

"When viewing a specimen, a pathologist needs to move the slide, zoom in or out, and illuminate certain areas,” explained Dr. Ola Kassim, the network's chief pathologist and director of laboratory medicine. "With a photo or a static digital image, none of this is possible.”

The system allows pathologists to control an actual slide on an actual microscope in another facility and even to share control of a slide while conducting a consultation between doctors in different facilities. In addition, since there is no need to bring in another pathologist to be on call for emergencies, which Dr. Kassim can handle on his laptop computer wherever he is, the system reduces costs.

The system was developed by Trestle Holdings, Inc. (Irvine, CA, USA). The company develops and markets digital imaging and telemedicine products that link geographically dispersed users with each other, information databases, and analytical tools.





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West Parry Sound
Trestle Holdings