Telepathology diagnostic network

A telepathology diagnostic system which allows a pathologist located at a diagnostic center to render pathology diagnostic opinions in connection with specimens located at a site which is remote form the diagnostic center, which system comprises:

• a light microscope located at the remote site and including a robotically controlled stage for adjusting the relative position of a specimen to the objective lens, and including means for adjusting the magnification of the specimen and the focus of the specimen;
• means for generating location signals;
• a video camera attached to the microscope for collecting video signals from the microscope;
• means for communicating signals between the remote site and the diagnostic center;
• and
• a pathologist workstation located at the diagnostic center and comprising a first monitor for viewing the video signals collected by the video camera which signals are sent over the bidirectional communication means, and comprising a second monitor for viewing data relative to the specimen and microscope parameters including the location on the specimen of the microscopic field of view currently viewed on the first monitor, said workstation further comprising microscope control means by which the pathologist generates control signals which are sent over the bidirectional communication means to the microscope so that the pathologist can thereby remotely control the stage of the microscope and to adjust the magnification of the specimen and the focus of the specimen;
• whereby the system provides the pathologist located at the diagnostic center with the ability to remotely adjust the relative position of the specimen to the objective lens, the magnification of the specimen, and the focus of the specimen to thereby make observations of the specimen necessary for rendering a pathology diagnostic opinion.

A method for rendering pathology diagnostic opinions at a diagnostic center in connection with specimens located at a site which is remote for the diagnostic center comprising the following steps;

• obtaining a biological specimen for a patient located at the remote site;
• preparing the specimen of microscopic examination;
• placing the specimen on a microscope located at the remote site, said microscope including robotic means for adjusting the relative position of the specimen to the objective lens, the magnification of the specimen, and the focus of the specimen;
• collecting video signals from the microscope by means of a video camera;
• transmitting the video signals collected to a video monitor at the diagnostic center;
• generating control signals at the diagnostic center for adjusting the relative position of the specimen to the objective lens, the magnification of the specimen, and the focus of the specimen to thereby facilitate observations of the specimen necessary for rendering a pathology diagnostic opinion;
• transmitting the control signal from the diagnostic center to robotic means at the remote site
• reporting the pathology diagnostic opinion to the remote site.