# US 8,571,286 B2 · System and method for quality assurance in pathology > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,571,286 B2 - Document ID: US8571286B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/453,767 - Filed: 2012-04-23 - Published: 2012-08-16 - Granted: 2013-10-29 - Earliest claimed: 2007-05-04 - Assignees: Leica Biosystems Imaging, Inc. - Applicants: Dirk G. Soenksen; Kathy Zirker-Smith - Inventors: Dirk G. Soenksen; Kathy Zirker-Smith - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8571286B2 ## CPC - G16H 30/20: for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS - G02B 21/365: {Control or image processing arrangements for digital or video microscopes (G02B21/361, G02B21/362 take precedence)} - G06T 7/0002: {Inspection of images, e.g. flaw detection} - G06T 7/0012: {Biomedical image inspection} - G06V 10/987: {with the intervention of an operator} - G06V 20/69: Microscopic objects, e.g. biological cells or cellular parts - G06V 20/693: {Acquisition} - G16H 40/20: for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms - G06T 2207/10024: Color image - G06T 2207/10056: Microscopic image - G06T 2207/30024: Cell structures in vitro; Tissue sections in vitro - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING ## Abstract Systems and methods for improving quality assurance in pathology using automated quality assessment and digital image enhancements on digital slides prior to analysis by the pathologist are provided. A digital pathology system (slide scanning instrument and software) creates, assesses and improves the quality of a digital slide. The improved digital slide image has a higher image quality that results in increased efficiency and accuracy in the analysis and diagnosis of such digital slides when they are reviewed on a monitor by a pathologist. These improved digital slides yield a more objective diagnosis than reading the corresponding glass slide under a microscope. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer implemented method of providing quality assurance in pathology, where one or more processors are programmed to perform steps comprising: acquiring a digital image of a pathological sample disposed on a glass slide; comparing one or more characteristics of the digital image against one or more predetermined criteria to determine if a quality of the digital image is sufficient; if it is determined that the quality of the digital image is insufficient, rejecting the glass slide to cause a new glass slide to be prepared; and, when it is determined that the quality of the digital image is sufficient, enhancing at least a portion of the digital image. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring the digital image comprises scanning the digital image using a line scanning system, and further comprising acquiring a second digital image of a second pathological sample disposed on the new glass slide using the line scanning system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising, if it is determined that the quality of the second digital image is insufficient, modifying parameters of the line scanning system and reacquiring the second digital image using said modified parameters. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein modifying the parameters of the line scanning system comprises changing a brightness of a light of the line scanning system. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein enhancing the digital image comprises transforming the digital image into a different color space. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein enhancing the digital image comprises enhancing spatial details in the digital image. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein enhancing the digital image comprises enhancing a color of a stain captured in the digital image. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein enhancing the color of the stain comprises changing the color of the stain. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein enhancing the digital image comprises, based on pattern recognition, automatically identifying regions of the digital image having diagnostic significance. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the enhanced digital image to at least one recipient. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: accessing a database of reference images; identifying reference images which match one or more patterns in the digital image; and sending the identified reference images to the at least one recipient. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the recipient is a remote viewing station, and wherein sending the enhanced digital image to the at least one recipient comprises sending the enhanced digital image over at least one network. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising: acquiring a digital image of a barcode disposed on the glass slide; and determining the at least one recipient based on the digital image of the barcode. ### Claim 14 A system for providing quality assurance in pathology, the system comprising: at least one hardware processor that acquires a digital image of a pathological sample disposed on a glass slide, compares one or more characteristics of the digital image against one or more predetermined criteria to determine if a quality of the digital image is sufficient, if it is determined that the quality of the digital image is insufficient, rejects the glass slide to cause a new glass slide to be prepared, and, when it is determined that the quality of the digital image is sufficient, enhances at least a portion of the digital image. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the system further comprises a line scan camera, wherein acquiring the digital image comprises scanning the digital image using the line scan camera, and further comprising acquiring a second digital image of a second pathological sample disposed on the new glass slide using the line scan camera. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one hardware processor, if it is determined that the quality of the second digital image is insufficient, modifies parameters of the line scan camera and reacquires the second digital image using said modified parameters. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein modifying the parameters of the line scan camera comprises changing a brightness of an illuminating light. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein enhancing the digital image comprises transforming the digital image into a different color space. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein enhancing the digital image comprises enhancing spatial details in the digital image. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein enhancing the digital image comprises enhancing a color of a stain captured in the digital image. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein enhancing the color of the stain comprises changing the color of the stain. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein enhancing the digital image comprises, based on pattern recognition, automatically identifying regions of the digital image having diagnostic significance. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the at least one hardware processor sends the enhanced digital image to at least one recipient. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23, wherein the at least one hardware processor: accesses a database of reference images; identifies reference images which match one or more patterns in the digital image; and sends the identified reference images to the at least one recipient. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23, wherein the recipient is a remote viewing station, and wherein sending the enhanced digital image to the at least one recipient comprises sending the enhanced digital image over at least one network. ### Claim 26 (depends on 23) The system of claim 23, wherein the at least one hardware processor: acquires a digital image of a barcode disposed on the glass slide; and determines the at least one recipient based on the digital image of the barcode.