Digital Pathology Blog

Aurora Opens Viewer Architecture

Came across this press release on LinkedIn about Aurora Interactive.  Aurora recently also announced they power the new PathXchange and provide a universal viewer for the site.

Aurora Interactive in line with its “Open Architecture” philosophy will supply developers with a SDK and free developer licences for its mScope universal medical image viewing platform.

"Aurora Interactive, the world leader in digital pathology communications, announced today that, in line with its “Open Architecture” philosophy, it will supply developers with a software development kit and free developer licences for its mScope universal medical image viewing platform.

Medicine is increasingly becoming a knowledge and information industry and it makes sense to draw on digital pathology in making this type of transition, to use information technology to improve health care. Aurora has achieved a worldwide leadership position by collaborating on a continuous basis with its healthcare customers and its highest priority is satisfied customers.

“It is a commitment to overall quality that extends to our customers, shareholders, partners, employees and, most importantly, to those patients who depend on us all” declared Mr. Pierre Le Fèvre, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aurora Interactive.

Mr. Le Fèvre further added: “We are committed to better patient outcomes and believe that digital pathology will greatly contribute to these. We want to encourage and facilitate the development of the analytical tools that will improve the diagnostic efficiency and efficacy of today’s pathologists”.

Aurora’s customers receive the kind of quality and service they expect from a leader. Aurora continues to evolve as the needs of its customers change and as new opportunities are created in the market."

 

Aperio Introduces Industry's First Digital IHC Solution With Integrated Image Analysis for Quantification of Breast Cancer

In yet another step towards full adoption of digital pathology in the clinical workspace Aperio recently announced a complete solution for reading and IHC stains with integrated reporting for a wide variety of tissue types and stains.  

Pathologists now can read and report digital slides with added ease of reporting in the same application.  Adoption has been occurring in niches and this is another barrier to entry that has been crossed - the ability to interpret and report in a more functional clinical workflow.  The added advantage of "real-time onsite image analysis" provides another deliverable over "analog pathology".

Abbreviated press release:

Slides to Reports in Less Than 30 Minutes

Aperio Technologies, Inc., (Aperio), a global leader in digital pathology for the healthcare and life sciences industry, is pleased to announce the launch of a digital pathology solution for Immunohistochemistry (IHC) designed specifically for the clinical market. Aperio’s digital IHC solution is the only commercially available FDA-cleared system allowing pathologists to run quantitative IHC image analysis while reading slides on a computer monitor.

A digital IHC system significantly streamlines clinical workflow. By using a single system to read digital IHC slides, perform quantitative image analysis, and create professional reports, pathologists can provide faster turn-around times, more informed decision-making, and accurate and consistent test results.

Eric F. Glassy, MD, medical director at Pathology Inc., stated, "After switching to Aperio's digital IHC solution from a different computer-assisted technology, we immediately experienced improved efficiency. More importantly, the interpretation algorithms offer far more control and accuracy, and the reporting capability is superior. We especially appreciate the ability to link thumb nail images on the PDF file to the actual whole slide images. The power and flexibility are simply remarkable."

The digital IHC system includes FDA-cleared algorithms for HER2, ER and PR stained breast specimens for diagnosing digital slides for clinical use in pathology. In addition, the system comes with a suite of image analysis algorithms that can be tuned for different tissue types (e.g. breast, colon, prostate), stains (e.g. HER2, ER, PR, Ki-67, P53, EGFR), reagents (e.g. Dako, Ventana) or to correlate algorithm results with other test methods (e.g. FISH, CISH).

“An integrated system is key to providing an efficient workflow for pathologists, and a major advantage over add-on image analysis systems,” said Dirk Soenksen, CEO of Aperio. “Pathologists can now use Aperio’s sophisticated cell-based image analysis capabilities with the click of a button while reading a slide.”

What is your disaster recovery plan?

I was recently asked a question about digital pathology I had never given much thought to.

The question came out of a discussion relating to storage needs for digital pathology, particularly in a full adoption mode for 100% sign-out.  There are matters of capacity, live versus archival, storage time, redundancy, backups, etc...

A colleague of mine recently had his external 1 TB hard drive "crash".  Every powerpoint lecture, reams of research data, manuscripts, personal files & 25,000 mp3 files were thought to be lost.  He neglected to backup any of it obviously.  A commercial service restored the disk with everything but the music files.  We all know this happens routinely.  He did this only recently due to some constraints on enterprise servers and personal storage available on the institutional network and issues with file loss on shared folders with larger capacity.

A clock starts ticking the day you first use such a device that overtime will determine when some mechanical or software function will fail and loss is inevitable, in my opinion.  It has happened to me twice, both after about 3 years of use with varying sized drives and manufacturers.  Both times mirror drives caused no loss of any data.

In pathology we are careful to track what and how much tissue was collected, how may blocks are made, slides from those blocks, stains, recuts, slides sent-out, etc...

As we discuss storage needs and requirements for digital pathology we will have to think about similar issues and disaster recovery plans.

It made me think - what is our disaster recovery plan for stored tissue, wax blocks & glass slides?

I can't recall ever seeing a procedure or policy to address this issue at any institution. 

In case of fire, flood or hurricane what do you do?  What is your lab/institution's policy?

This hospital can trace its roots back to a tornado devastating the town.  The images can always be re-created assuming the real raw data is there to be had.

Research Institute Speeds Cancer Research with High-Performance Computing System

From Microsoft:

"Using Windows HPC Server 2008 for research enhances cancer detection and optimizes the pathology review process. We can now tackle research areas that we’ve never dreamed of tackling before.” - Dave Billiter, Director, Research Informatics Core Nationwide Children's Hospital

Watch a video.

BioImagene Develops Companion Algorithms (TM) to Further Enable Personalized Medicine

This morning BioImagene annouced the use of companion algorithms.  What I think we are seeing in digital pathology is less talk and interest in hardware and more interest with software whether it be image analysis, algorithms for detection/diagnosis or software to help meet the demands of personalized medicine. 

While the actual scanning is not trivial and much effort has been put in to this to provide adequate solutions for clinical use, the value of the whole slide rests not only with being able to view this locally or remotely but use the digital data set to enhance what may not be possible or feasible with the "raw" glass alone.  I gather we will see more applications like this in the near future. 

Full press release below.

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--June 29, 2009  -- (BUSINESS WIRE)--BioImagene, the leading provider of innovative digital pathology solutions, announced today that the company is advancing its goal of bridging personalized medicine and the clinical practice of pathology by providing Companion Algorithms (TM). These specialized algorithms, which BioImagene develops for use with its Virtuoso (TM) suite of web-based software, aid pathologists in the quantitative assessment of specialized diagnostic tests used to determine patient suitability for specific cancer therapies. As pharmaceutical companies work to develop companion diagnostics to individualize therapy for cancer patients, Companion Algorithms further enable pathologists to correctly identify and accurately measure specific biomarkers used to determine appropriate treatment options for patients.

“Companion diagnostics will play an increasing role in cancer care as physicians strive to provide the therapies that are most likely to be advantageous to individual patients,” said Keith J. Kaplan, M.D., Mayo Clinic. “Companion Algorithms bring personalized medicine one step closer to reality and can help the pathologist provide the most actionable information to the oncologist.”

Ajit Singh, Ph.D., chief executive officer of BioImagene, commented: “The Human Genome Project opened the doors to research in the field of biomarkers and cancer diagnostics; however, challenges still exist in using biomarkers to identify subpopulations of patients that are likely to respond favorably to targeted treatments. Providing pathologists with Companion Algorithms will ultimately move our industry closer to the goal of personalized medicine.”

BioImagene’s Companion Algorithms can be used by pathologists to aid in the interpretation of digitized images of cancer diagnostic tests including immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Digitized images can be generated by one of BioImagene’s iScan slide scanning systems, such as Coreo, Concerto, or Solo. In February 2009, BioImagene received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use of one of its Companion Algorithms in the company’s PATHIAM™ IVD Imaging Software for HER2/neuimmunohistochemistry tests. The iScan Coreo and associated software are used to detect and provide a quantitative measurement of HER2/neu, a protein measured in breast cancer patients to determine their candidacy for treatment with the Genentech drug Herceptin (TM).

“The Herceptest, the first FDA-approved companion diagnostic, is used to identify the subset of breast cancer patients who over-express the HER2/neu protein and will therefore have a high probability of responding to Herceptin,” said Robert Monroe, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer of BioImagene. “BioImagene’s FDA-cleared HER2/neu Companion Algorithm improves the accuracy and reproducibility of Herceptest interpretation. BioImagene offers additional Companion Algorithms for breast cancer and is committed to developing new Companion Algorithms for other companion diagnostic tests used in prostate, colon, lung and other cancers.”

 

Olympus VS110™ Virtual Slide Scanning System Debuts in U.S.

CENTER VALLEY, PA., June 10, 2009 – The Olympus VS110 virtual slide scanning system is now available in the U.S. The system can scan from one to 100 slides at very high fidelity, allowing users anywhere on the globe to view and fully navigate high-resolution images of entire slides or areas of slides. With more than 170 Olympus virtual slide scanning systems installed worldwide, the VS110 is the latest in the series of Olympus automated solutions for digital and whole slide imaging.

The VS110 system is ideal for training, education, consultation, archiving, and research.  It offers enormous flexibility, allowing multiple-magnification scanning as well as an option for high-resolution oil immersion scans.

The Virtual-Z™ feature allows the capture and display of multiple Z focal planes. Above all, the system is easy to use, with simple three-click operation. Three system models are available.

“This robust system allows users to capture accurate slide image data quickly and easily,” said Olympus America's Christopher Higgins, group manager for clinical digital imaging in the Scientific Equipment Group. “Users can customize it according their own needs.”

The system is built around Olympus’ renowned optical and microscope technology. For superior optical performance and scanning flexibility, Olympus Plan Apo 2x, 10x, 20x and 40x objectives come as standard, with optional 60x and 100x Plan Apo oil objectives for high-magnification scanning. The VS110 produces images that are rich in detail and contrast, thanks to its Peltier-cooled, 1376 x 1032 pixel camera featuring low background noise, fast frame rates, high sensitivity, excellent signal-to-noise ratio and a broad dynamic range.

The VS110 comes with feature-rich OlyVIA™ viewing software that makes it simple and intuitive to remotely access its extensive capabilities.  “It is some of the easiest and most comprehensive software available anywhere for virtual slide applications,” said Higgins.

The VS110 is designed for versatility, performance and security.  Slides can be scanned in one location and reviewed almost instantaneously in another via network or web browser. Multiple users can add linked annotations, markers, dictation and files.

In addition to single-specimen brightfield microscopy imaging, the VS110 system can handle tissue microarrays (TMAs). The system documents each of the multiple small tissue TMA cores on the slide separately, recording both the slide and core reference for traceability.

With the VS110-1 model, each slide is loaded manually and a virtual file is created automatically based on the user’s preferences. The VS110-5 allows automated scanning of up to five slides. The VS110-L version has a 100-slide robotic loader for automated scanning; slides can be selected sequentially, at random, or via the software. An integrated barcode scanner ensures that metadata is automatically loaded and linked with each slide’s virtual image.

For more information on the VS110 slide scanning system, contact Olympus America Inc., 3500 Corporate Parkway, Center Valley PA 18034-0610; phone 1-800-446-5967; visit www.olympusamerica.com/vs110 or email christopher.higgins@olympus.com.

About Olympus Scientific Equipment Group
Olympus America Scientific Equipment Group provides innovative microscope imaging solutions for researchers, doctors, clinicians and educators. Olympus microscope systems offer unsurpassed optics, superior construction and system versatility to meet the ever-changing needs of microscopists, paving the way for future advances in life science.

About Olympus
Olympus is a precision technology leader, creating innovative opto-digital solutions in healthcare, life science and consumer electronics products. Olympus works collaboratively with its customers and its affiliates worldwide to leverage R&D investment in precision technology and manufacturing processes across diverse business lines. These include:

• Gastrointestinal endoscopes, accessories, and minimally invasive surgical products;
• Advanced clinical and research microscopes;
• Lab automation systems, chemistry-immuno and blood bank analyzers and reagents;
• Digital cameras and voice recorders.

Olympus serves healthcare and commercial laboratory markets with integrated product solutions and financial, educational and consulting services that help customers to efficiently, reliably and more easily achieve exceptional results. Olympus develops breakthrough technologies with revolutionary product design and functionality for the consumer and professional photography markets, and also is the leader in gastrointestinal endoscopy and clinical and educational microscopes. For more information, visit www.olympusamerica.com.

Aurora Firms Up Its Leadership in Digital Pathology

PORTUGAL JOINS OTHER COUNTRIES AND CHOOSES mScope

MONTREAL, June 5, 2009 – Aurora MSC, the world leader in digital pathology communications, announced today the Hospital Espirito Santo of Évora Portugal has chosen to equip the hospital laboratories with mScope digital pathology clinical software. This is part of an ongoing plan to connect multiple pathology laboratories in the Iberian Peninsula, and the European Community in general, for consultation, continuing education and quality control.

The agreement was made possible through funding provided by the European Commission to assist European hospitals in achieving pathology interconnectivity. The objective is to allow access to state-of-the-art technologies to improve patients’ clinical outcome. This is one more step in a series of initiatives to increase the outreach of hospitals in Portugal and Spain.

Dr. Marcial Garcia Rojo of General Hospital of Spain’s Ciudad Real and chair of the European project Euro-Telepath, Anatomic Telepathology Network, commented "this action by Espirito Santo Hospital is one more step in the elaboration of a trans-Iberian network for pathology collaboration".

"We have chosen mScope Clinical suite to create an online diagnostic center of excellence to improve our quality control and diagnostic capabilities" stated Dr. Luis Gonçalves, Director of Anatomic Pathology of the Espirito Santo Hospital. The agreement covers two applications, one is for tumor panels where specialized pathologists from different centers in Portugal and Spain will regularly come together and look at digital slides using mScope. The other application will be for teleconsultation.

Mr. Pierre Le Fèvre, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aurora MSC stated that: "We are extremely happy to add Dr Gonçalves, a leading specialist in Anatomic Pathology who has been recognized by the European Cervical Cancer Association for his work, as a collaborator and user of digital pathology."

Mr. Le Fèvre pointed out that: "increasingly, a larger number of pathology laboratories throughout the world are using digital pathology to communicate faster and more effectively. These initiatives empower Specialists to work better and ultimately positively impact patient care".

About Aurora MSC

Aurora MSC’s mission is to facilitate and contribute to better patient outcomes. Its medical communications software enables physicians and members of the medical community to realize their full potential by eliminating the learning, diagnostic and collaborative restrictions imposed by time and space. The professionals at Aurora MSC develop and commercialize mScope, a universal web viewer and its collaborative tools to view all medical images anytime, anywhere. mScope is aimed at serving the medical practice (doctors and health professionals) and ultimately the patients. Its digital pathology software has three applications, mScope Education, mScope Clinical, and mScope Universal Viewer. A fourth application is currently in the development phase.

Introducing PathXchange

Since first hearing and seeing this site in the BioImagene booth at USCAP have uploaded over 50 cases and the service provided for scanning and web hosting your cases has been top notch! 

Included in the cases I have had scanned to date is a soft tissue tumor study set with comments submitted on a few of the cases (I still need to respond to...) about the diagnosis, histogenesis or prognosis of the lesions. 

We also recently uploaded another set of 40 pancreas cases with 10 examples each of 3 different forms of pancreatitis and 10 cases of carcinoma for comparison.  One of the goals of this project is to include gastroenterologists to share in the discussion as well.  Another application I plan on using the site for is resident education as "unknown" cases.

Overall, a great service and site and another example of the Pathology 2.0 revolution - content by users, for users, sharing cases, knowledge, experience & collective experience.

To date, over 800 users have joined and 1200 cases have been uploaded to the site.  I encourage you to take a look for yourself.

Introducing PathXchange – bringing pathologists together online

PathXchange.org (Px) is professional networking portal for the global pathology community.  Think of it as YouTube and Facebook for pathology! Px brings the field of pathology into the digital age with Web 2.0 features:

·       Browse interesting cases from around the world

·       Create your own online case gallery

·       Share your cases and slides with colleagues

·       Search our expanding global knowledge base

·       Learn about the latest advances in the field

·       Ask experts for their opinion on your case

Creating and sharing a case in Px takes only a minute. In just a few clicks, you can upload case images that you captured using any device, in any format, whether they are area snapshots or whole slide images. If you have glass slides for your case – no problem! Just mail us your slides.  We will digitize and upload the images for you.

Join the fastest growing pathology community! Sign up now for a FREE membership: www.PathXchange.org.

Sign up before June 11, 2009 for a chance to win an iPod Shuffle. Create and share a case before June 18, 2009 for a chance to win an iPod Touch.

About PathXchange.org
Px is not-for-profit and vendor neutral.  BioImagene Inc. is a proud Platinum Sponsor of the site.  If you have any questions or would like to learn more about Px, don’t hesitate to send us an email or call us at (408) 207.4272. You can also find more information about Px by visiting our site: www.PathXchange.org

THE INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF PATHOLOGY (FRENCH DIVISION) WILL USE mScope

MONTREAL, May 6, 2009 – Aurora Interactive, the world leader in digital pathology communications, announced today that they have been selected by the French Division of the International Academy of Pathology (IAP) to supply their medical educational software platform, mScope for the continuing education of 1200 French Pathologists.

“We are happy to collaborate with Aurora’s team on this ambitious project and train our country’s pathologists with a leading-edge digital technology” declared Dr. André Balaton, President of the IAP (French Division). “This is a turning point in the way teaching is done by the IAP France which extends outside the country” he stated.. He added: “the software mScope is widely used in Austria, Canada, Holland, Spain, the Czech Republic and the United States for clinical and pedagogical ends”.

Mr. Pierre Le Fèvre, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aurora Interactive stated that: “This is the beginning of an exciting collaboration. Pathologists worldwide are looking for solutions to improve communication among them. They have turned to digital pathology as a way to confront these challenges and mScope is the solution.”

About Aurora Interactive Aurora Interactive’s mission is to facilitate and contribute to better patient outcomes. Its medical communications software enables physicians and members of the medical community to realize their full potential by eliminating the learning, diagnostic and collaborative restrictions imposed by time and space. The professionals at Aurora Interactive develop and commercialize mScope, a universal web viewer and its collaborative tools to view all medical images anytime, anywhere. mScope is aimed at serving the medical practice (doctors and health professionals) and ultimately the patients. Its digital pathology software has three applications, mScope Education, mScope Clinical, and mScope Universal Viewer. A fourth application is currently in the development phase.

Founded in 2002, Aurora Interactive, a privately-held company, has a list of clients that include universities and hospitals in the United States, Canada and across the European Union. Aurora Interactive allows HealthCare Authorities, Hospitals, Teaching Facilities, Veterinary, Pharma and Reference Laboratories throughout the world, access to state-of-the-art telemedicine in order to bring a simple reliable medical communication platform for images and content to physicians and other health care professionals.

For further information, please consult our web site at www.auroramsc.com or contact:

Jacques C. Gagnon
(514) 713-7303
jcgagnon@jcgcom.ca

Webinars on Digital IHC

Check out some nice webinars on digital IHC including one on study results with comparison between glass slide and virtual microscopy.  Both are from Dr. Holger Lange at Aperio and can be found at: http://www.aperio.com/IHC/immunohistochemistry-slides.asp.  (Scroll to bottom of page).