Network image review in clinical hematology

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for using digital imaging and networked communications in clinical hematology. An Area of Interest (AOI) on a slide is determined. A high resolution image of the AOI is analyzed for sample integrity and adjusted and rescanned based on programmable parameters. Sensitive HIPAA information is removed from the AOI image stored on a server. The server includes Web 2.0 software applications. A remote user reviews the image and adds metadata to the server. The server manages the work flow between the stored AOI images and the available users. A technician accesses information about a particular image file, as well as other topics, through knowledge management and social network applications. Lab reports are generated based on the metadata. The quality of the metadata is subject to quality control processes. The stored images and associated metadata can be mined for subsequent medical research.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hematology review network comprising:
 a slide imager including a low magnification optical path and a high magnification optical path, and configured to receive a blood smear slide, obtain a low magnification image of at least a portion of the slide, and obtain at least one high magnification image of a portion of the blood smear;   an image server operably coupled to the slide imager and configured to determine the dimensional boundaries of a monolayer within a low magnification image obtained by the slide imager, select an area of interest within the monolayer, direct the slide imager to obtain one or more high magnification images of the entire area of interest, identify a plurality of white blood cells in the one or more high magnification images, and, if the count of white blood cells identified in the image is below a threshold value, adjusting an adjusted area of interest and obtaining one or more high magnification images of the adjusted area of interest until the white blood cell count is determined to be greater than the threshold; and   a web server including a workflow management application, the web server configured to store and disseminate the at least one high magnification image of the adjusted area of interest to at least one of a plurality of reviewers, the specific reviewer selected by the workflow management application based on a plurality of programmable parameters.   
     
     
         2 . The hematology review network of  claim 1  wherein the high magnification optical path of the slide imager includes a 100× oil immersion objective lens. 
     
     
         3 . The hematology review network of  claim 1  wherein the high magnification optical path includes a selectable objective head assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The hematology review network of  claim 1  wherein the slide imager is a line scan system. 
     
     
         5 . The hematology review network of  claim 1  wherein the web server includes a knowledge management application configured to provide information relating to blood smear images to the plurality of reviewers. 
     
     
         6 . The hematology review network of  claim 1  wherein the web server includes at least one social networking application configured to allow the plurality of reviewers to interact. 
     
     
         7 . The hematology review network of  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least one review station configured to communicate with the web server, display the at least one high magnification image of the adjusted area of interest, and receive an image information input from the specific reviewer, sequentially highlight in the displayed high magnification image the plurality of identified WBCs, wherein the review station displays the feature at higher magnification for detailed examination, optionally wherein the review station is further configured to record the position of and highlight in the display a feature within the high magnification image previously identified by the reviewer, wherein the review station displays the feature at higher magnification for detailed examination. 
 
     
     
         8 . The hematology review network of  claim 1  wherein the workflow management application is configured to select at least one stored high magnification image and the associated image information input by a first reviewer, wherein the image information is verified by second reviewer. 
     
     
         9 . The hematology review network of  claim 1  wherein the image information input from the specific reviewer is a cell classification, optionally further comprising an image processing software application configured to output an automated cell classification, wherein the cell classification input from a specific reviewer is compared to the cell classification output from the image processing software application. 
     
     
         10 . The hematology review network of  claim 1  wherein the web server and image server are configured to aggregate high magnification images of blood smears and related metadata across multiple patient populations, and provide the aggregated image and metadata to a data mining application such that patient information such as HIPAA-sensitive information or other confidential information is not disclosed.