Hampshire and Isle of Wight Cancer Network are to install a telepathology solution to improve the care of patients with cancer.
The network has purchased a system from Olympus which will enable real-time and virtual slide analysis, as well as discussion, from remote locations.
The solution chosen by the network combines the properties of two technologies. The Olympus intraScope will enable a team member to directly control a microscope from a remote site, manipulating the slide and the microscope itself as if they were physically there. The Olympus dotSlide then scans the slides at high resolution into a virtual slide file, enabling the user to examine it as if they were viewing the original on a microscope.
The solution includes specialised software, which allows pathologists to review and comment on the virtual slide, adding annotations, markers and files (including dictations), which are directly linked to the slide. The software also allows live discussions between any number of people, recording the meeting notes and any additional highlighting marks.
The two systems work together via a fully automated Olympus BX51 upright microscope.
Olympus says the system will allow the multidisciplinary team to review case slides and get second opinions, while remaining in their own facilities.
