The Daily Scan

chalk tip #26: copying an image view to the clipboard

Did you know?  In ImageScope, you can easily copy the current view of an image to the clipboard with Ctrl-C.  From there you can paste it into a Word document, PowerPoint presentation, image editing software, an email, etc.  (even include it in a blog post :)

The copied image view will include any visible annotations, including algorithm markup images, but will not include the ImageScope window or controls like the Zoom Slider, Thumbnail, Magnifier, etc.

Here’s the whole ImageScope window:

And here’s the image view, as copied to the clipboard:

Pretty cool, eh?

The Convergence Of Health Care & Information Technology

The Wall Street Journal's VentureWire dispatch posted an interesting article about The Convergence Of Health Care & Information Technology:

New efforts to overhaul the health care system is creating opportunity for a new generation of health care-IT hybrids. The federal stimulus law, which allocates $19 billion to health care-IT, combined with Congress’s efforts to provide health insurance to the uninsured, is enticing entrepreneurs and investors alike.

...

The stimulus law provides financial incentives for physicians to exchange paper health records for electronic ones, which creates opportunity for providers of solutions to store and share sensitive patient data. Technologies for monitoring patients remotely, and keep them out of the hospital, will also be in demand because of their ability to hold down health care spending, some investors contend.

If you're a regular reader you know I'm a broken record on this, but digital pathology is a key technology enabling electronic health records.  Including pathology reports in EHR is fine, but without digitized slides the original primary information is not being recorded for later research, secondary consults, etc.

Overall the trend toward EHR helps patients, payers, and physicians alike, and is one of the most positive outcomes of the federal stimulus plan.

Aperio joins new Digital Pathology Association

I’m excited to announce that Aperio has joined the newly formed Digital Pathology Association (DPA), a non-profit organization committed to the advancement of digital pathology applications in healthcare. 

Goals of the DPA include supporting digital pathology education initiatives, defining best practices, influencing standards and interfaces, organizing an annual conference that addresses diverse needs within the industry, and more.

“I am thrilled about the prospect of a unifying organization, and invite anyone involved with digital pathology to participate and help shape the emergence of this important new healthcare market,” said Dirk Soenksen, CEO of Aperio and Gold Sponsor of the DPA.

For more information, visit the website or contact the DPA:
www.digitalpathologyassociation.org
info@digitalpathologyassociation.org
T 760.539.1162

chalk tip #25: setting camera gains

Today's tip is for those of you using a ScanScope instrument.

Did you know?  A wide range of scanning problems can be solved by setting the camera gains.  And this is easy to do:

1. In the ScanScope Console main window, navigate to the Start tab.  Click "Manual Load".
2. Load a clean tissue slide into the slide tray (on CS systems) or onto the scanning stage (on XT systems).
3. Click "Manual Scan".  The system will retract the stage and capture a macro image.
4. Navigate to the Tools menu at the top of the Console main window.  Select Configure.
5. In the Configure window, click on the "Motion Properties" tab.
6. Click on "Set Line Camera Gains".  The system will find the tissue on the slide and focus as if it's scanning the slide.
   
   
7. After the system finishes setting the camera gains, ensure the calibration image displayed is clean of dust/tissue and light grey in color.  If the calibration image is dark or does not show correct color balance, the bulb may need to be replaced.

Simple, eh?  Next time you’re at a ScanScope, please try it. 

BONUS TIP: One of the most popular scanning errors is: “Unable to obtain macro focus after 5 attempts”.  If you receive this error, try setting the camera gains as a way to address it.

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#3 Obtain First-hand Knowledge of Industry Advances

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For more information, visit www.pathologyvisions.com

FDA to go digital for post-market safety reporting

From HealthImaging: FDA to go digital for post-market safety reporting:

The FDA is proposing to amend post-market safety reporting regulations for three of its centers to require that manufacturers and other facilities subject to current reporting requirements submit their reports in an electronic format.

The agency issued two proposed rules: one that applies to electronic medical device adverse event reporting and one that applies to electronic drug and biologic product adverse experience reporting.

Additionally, the agency stressed that this proposed change would not alter what types of incidents are required to be reported to the FDA—it would require that the incidents be reported in an electronic format that the FDA can process, review and archive.

Excellent. The more the FDA pushes for digital reporting, the more impetus that will give digital pathology.

Aperio webinar: Application-Based Algorithm Tuning

Hey everyone - just wanted to let you know, this Thursday August 20, 2009 Aperio is hosting a FREE webinar.  Please check it out!

Topics in Image Analysis:
Application-Based Algorithm Tuning

Thursday, August 20, 2009
8:00 am PDT / 11:00 am EDT / 3:00 pm GMT
OR
4:00 pm PDT / 7:00 pm EDT
(8:00 am JST / 9:00 am Australia EST)

Presenter: Trevor Johnson, Sr. Image Analysis Specialist Aperio

In this 60-minute, complimentary webinar, we will discuss how the Aperio whole slide image analysis toolbox can be adjusted to analyze several types of histology slides.  Topics covered will include:

• Defining and adjusting color vectors for true stain separation and measurement
• Altering parameters for quantifying and scoring different cell events (i.e. protein expression, positive/negative events)
• Modifying the Microvessel tool for consistent and accurate quantification
• Applications for rare event detection
• Approaches for improving histology pattern recognition

To register for the 8am PDT session, click here. 

To register for the 4pm PDT session, click here. 

chalk tip #24: zooming while viewing slides

In Chalk Tip #23, we talked about navigating while viewing slides.  Now let’s talk about different ways to zoom in and out.

Zooming in ImageScope

Mouse

• Roll the mouse wheel to zoom in and out.
• Drag the Zoom Slider (shown at right), or click on specific magnifications.
• Double-click to zoom all the way in, then zoom back out.  (Chalk tip #9: zooming in and out)
• Use the Zoom Tool (Ctrl-Z).   Once this tool is selected, click and drag to select a region of the image.  Upon releasing the mouse, the window will be zoomed to contain the selected region.  You can use the Zoom Tool in the thumbnail as well as the main image.  (Chalk tip #9: zooming in and out)

Keyboard

• Hit Ctrl-Plus to zoom in, Ctrl-Minus to zoom out.
• Ctrl-0: Fit, Ctrl-1: 100%, Ctrl-2: 50%, Ctrl-3: 25%, Ctrl-4: 20%, Ctrl-5: 10%, Ctrl-6: 5%.  (same values as Zoom Slider buttons.)

Zooming in WebScope

Mouse

• Drag the zoom slider above the Toolbar (shown at right).
• Click on the Plus and Minus icons in the Toolbar.
• Double-click to zoom in.

Keyboard

• Hit Plus to zoom in, Minus to zoom out. 

There isn’t one “best way” to zoom, like navigating, this is somewhat a matter of personal preference.  I’m a fan of the double-click method and use Ctrl-Z to bring up the Zoom Tool a lot.  But your mileage may vary, please try these yourself!

 

Pathology Institute Defends Its Turf

The other day I noted the formation of AFIP Labs, as a "replacement" for the AFIP's lab services.  So it turns out reports of the death of the AFIP were greatly exaggerated, and the Washington Post notes Pathology Institute Defends Its Turf:

Despite the institute's renown, the Pentagon announced plans four years ago to shut it down as part of the closure of Walter Reed Army Medical Center in 2011 because of the federal base-closing program.

A private company revealed plans this month to fill the "critical void" left by the institute's closing.  A news release Aug. 7 announced the formation of "AFIP Laboratories," made up of staff from "the soon-to-be-closed Armed Forces Institute of Pathology."

Company officials say they are hiring more than two dozen civilian pathologists from the institute.  The company has leased space in Silver Spring, three miles from Walter Reed, and is set to begin operations on Sept. 8.

But the military institute insists that reports of its demise are exaggerated.

Last Monday, the private company, a division of Bostwick Laboratories, received a letter from the Defense Department requesting that it cease using the AFIP name.  On Thursday, the company agreed, changing its name to "AIP Laboratories."

In addition, the military institute placed a scrolling notice on its Web site last week denying that the institute will be closing soon and will not be taking new cases.

Wow, interesting.  AFIP vs AIPL, old vs new.  Stay tuned for more!

(PS I updated the logo in my previous post, and am using the correct AFIP logo here :)

Google Health vs Microsoft HealthVault

In these pages I've been posting about Google Health and Microsoft HealthVault, the two major consumer software companies entries into the personal health care portal market.  So far Microsoft has been more active and more successful at partnering with major health systems, and appears to be investing a lot more in this business.  Leading Bruce Friedman at LabSoftNews to worry that Google Health is running out of steam.  He quotes John Moore:

Please Google, for the sake of all, at least quintuple the size of Google Health’s team so that it is at least a tenth the size of HealthVault’s. Maybe then we will begin to see some sign of a viable competitor, a viable platform and a viable choice for the consumer and Google Health will once again become relevant to the market.

The problem for Google is that they typically offer these products free and monetize them with advertising, and that might not play well in this market.  Microsoft tends to charge for services, which is more along the lines of what consumers might expect.  (Free finanical products which monetize themselves with ads have lagged behind for-fee products for similar reasons; people want to trust the service, and advertising carves away at trust.)

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.  Independent financial service products really never made it - Quicken notwithstanding - most people still turn to their bank for these services.  I'd guess stand-alone health portals won't work either, and the partnerships with major health organizations like Mayo and Cleveland Clinic will probably win out in the end.