Smart microscope slide for concurrent storage of a specimen and associated digital data, and method of use thereof

A smart microscope slide for concurrent storage of a specimen and associated digital data consists of a data storage device and a microscope slide which are connected adjacent to each other. The data storage device and the microscope slide are connected together through a structural body. Digital data associated with a specimen may be stored in the same physical object as the specimen mounted to the slide, thus consolidating the physical specimen and the digital information in one place for ease of access.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to pathology. More particularly, the present invention relates to microscope slides used to examine biological specimens.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The science of histopathology and cytopathology is going towards more and more objectivity day by day. The recent increase in newer tools like automated microscopes, digital cameras, etc. are giving rise to the need for more sophisticated diagnosis and analysis software tools. Reading and analysis of histological, cytological and immunohistochemical specimens on glass slides in the anatomic pathology laboratory is the most challenging task. This is also the need of time as clinicians and oncologists are expecting a high level of precision, objectivity, reproducibility and standardization in the pathological results from the pathologists.

While pathologists are required to look at glass slides with these pathological/biological specimens, often they tend to look at images of glass slides. For any queries, concerns, or doubts, they require verification with a microscopic view of the actual glass slides. Herein lies a challenge to correlate data between the glass slide and digital images of the glass slides. In order to assist pathologists in their analyses for the purpose of detecting, counting, and classifying tissues or cells of clinical interest, a sophisticated SmartGlassSlide is designed which will enable pathologists to deliver more consistent, more precise analyses of a slide's contents than would be possible through a manual analysis of either glass slides though standard light microscope or digital image of the same glass slide.

The present invention provides a novel way of storing digital data of the pathological/biological specimen, whether said data is an image, clinical, patient, experiment, biomarker, treatment, diagnostics, therapy, or contextual data saved in USB storage provided on the same glass slide which has the pathological/biological specimen adjacent to it.

The pathologist thus can put the same glass slide under a microscope to read optically or connect to a computer through USB to read digitally. This establishes 100% correlation between the optical and digital data, ensuring lower errors and thus improved accuracy of analysis for the betterment of health care.

The present invention will thus be a digital transformation of age old glass slides without losing benefits of having access to actual pathological/biological specimens along with digital information side by side.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The present invention is to be described in detail and is provided in a manner that establishes a thorough understanding of the present invention. There may be aspects of the present invention that may be practiced or utilized without the implementation of some features as they are described. It should be understood that some details have not been described in detail in order to not unnecessarily obscure focus of the invention.

The present invention is a smart microscope slide for concurrent storage of a pathological, biological, or other type of specimen on a microscope slide, with the digital data associated with the specimen stored on a digital storage medium attached to the same slide. Thus, the specimen and its associated digital data are consolidated into a singular form, making accessing the specimen itself for optical examination as well as its correlated digital data much more convenient.

In general, the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a data storage device1and a microscope slide2, as seen inFIGS. 1-2. The data storage device1comprises a non-volatile computer memory10and a data interface11, as shown inFIG. 3. The non-volatile computer memory10may be, but is not limited to, flash memory or another type of digital data storage medium. In the preferred embodiment, the data interface11is a universal serial bus (USB) interface. In other embodiments, the data interface11may be another type of interface, such as, but not limited to, a secure digital (SD) card interface, a serial ATA (SATA) interface, or any other relevant type of computer data interface11. The microscope slide2is connected adjacent to the data storage device1opposite the data interface11. In other embodiments, the microscope slide2and the data storage device1may be connected together in any configuration that facilitates the data storage device1to be connected to a computing device and the microscope slide2to be utilized according to its typical purpose. The digital data associated with a specimen must be acquired through typical means, such as a digital microscope or a word processing or other type of data processing application, and manually stored on the data storage device1.

In one embodiment, the data storage device1and the microscope slide2are connected through a structural body3. The data storage device1is connected to the structural body3, and the microscope slide2is connected to the structural body3opposite the data storage device1.

More particularly, in one embodiment, the structural body3comprises a data storage support member30and a slide support member31. The data storage member is connected adjacent to the slide support member31. The data storage device1is connected atop the data storage support member30, or within the data storage support member30, or in any configuration in which the data interface11is exposed for insertion into a receiving port in a computing device. The microscope slide2is connected to the slide support member31opposite the data storage support member30. In one embodiment, the data storage support member30is pivotally connected to the structural body, as seen inFIGS. 1-2.

Referring toFIG. 4, in one embodiment the structural body3comprises a data storage recess32and a slide recess33. The data storage recess32and the slide recess33are positioned opposite each other on the structural body3. The data storage recess32traverses into the data storage support member30, while the slide recess33traverses into the slide support member31. The data storage device1is connected within the data storage recess32, so that the data interface11is offset from the structural body3along the data storage device1. Alternatively, the data storage device1may be removably positioned into the data storage recess32. The microscope slide2is removably positioned into the slide recess33. Alternatively, the microscope slide2may be permanently connected into the slide recess33. Thus, the structural body3forms a structural connection between the data storage device1and the microscope slide2. In one embodiment, both the data storage device1and the microscope slide2may be removed from their respective recesses, enabling modularity and re-use of the data storage device1, structural body3, and microscope slide2, if desired.

Moreover, in one embodiment, the slide support member31comprises a first lateral member34, a central member35, and a second lateral member36. The first lateral member34is terminally and perpendicularly connected to the central member35, and the second lateral member36is terminally and perpendicularly connected to the central member35opposite the first lateral member34along the central member35. The microscope slide2is connected within the first lateral member34, the central member35, and the second lateral member36. Thus, the first lateral member34, the central member35, and the second lateral member36form a U-shaped bracket which serves to support the microscope slide2in connection adjacent to the data storage device1.

It is considered herein that there may be two processes of creating a filled smart slide with a mounted specimen and associated digital data, which depend on the method of mounting the specimen. In one case, the specimen is mounted through means which would damage the data storage device1, and thus the specimen is mounted to a separate microscope slide2first, and the microscope slide2is subsequently attached to the structural body3. In another case, the bottom portion of the microscope slide2may come pre-installed to the structural body3. Thus, the specimen is mounted to the pre-installed slide portion, and the cover slip is then placed atop the specimen.

Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment, a dedicated self-running software is used to authenticate users before allowing access to the digital information stored on the data storage device1. Thus, as shown inFIG. 5, in a method of use of the smart microscope slide2with a stored specimen and associated digital data, provided is a smart microscope slide2comprising a data storage device1connected to a microscope slide2, a biological specimen mounted to the microscope slide2, and specimen data stored on the data storage device1, wherein the specimen data correlates to the biological specimen. Further provided is specimen analysis software and a user interface on a computing device. When the data storage device1is inserted into a corresponding data port of the computing device, the specimen analysis software prompts to validate user credentials in order to allow access to the specimen data. The specific method of validation of the user credentials may be performed in any relevant manner, and is inconsequential to the present invention. If the user credentials are validated, the specimen data is retrieved from the data storage device1with the computing device. The specimen data is then displayed with the specimen analysis software on the computing device.

In addition to viewing the specimen data, users may make modifications to the specimen data. Thus, if modifications to the specimen data are received through the user interface, a historical modification log of the modifications is stored on the data storage device1. The historical modification log may include, but is not limited to, the user profile making the modifications, as well as all previous versions of the data. In one embodiment, where for example the modifications are made to a digital image or images, the historical modification log is displayed as an incremental overlay on the computing device. Thus, the user is able to see a timelapse of changes made to the digital image or images.