Automated microscope system improves digital pathology
A decade-long research project to provide patients with faster and more accurate pathology results has seen The University of Queensland (UQ) and Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology (SNP) automate a microscope scanning and analysis system. Having now been tested, implemented and accredited for rollout around the world, the system has been designed to significantly improve tests in terms of cost, quality and speed.
“This digital pathology technology processes thousands of tests a day and has been accredited by the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA),” said UQ Professor of AI Brian Lovell.
“At times the system can increase the productivity of pathologists and scientists by factors of 10 or more.
“The system also provides the ability to obtain second opinions via telepathology and dramatically improves record keeping and access of historical records, as the glass slides are no longer needed to be archived for years.”
SNP CEO Dr Michael Harrison said the technology is a game changer in many areas of health care, noting, “SNP laboratories in Brisbane are already using the system to improve the speed and accuracy of diagnoses.
“Our scientists now use a digitised image often with associated AI instead of being tied to a microscope for many hours. This is the most significant change in the performance of morphological tests for decades.”
Lovell said there had previously been major problems with obtaining sharp, in-focus images with no human intervention.
“Digital pathology images are often thousands of times larger than typical digital photos,” he said. “This had meant microscopy for diagnosing from tissue, blood and other specimen types was unable to be automated until now.
“Our active scanner knows what it is scanning and where it should scan, using image analysis and artificial intelligence. This greatly increases image quality and reduces file size.”
The technology recently won the Business and Industry Solution category at the Queensland iAwards, progressing to the national finals to be held later this year. The CEO of UQ commercialisation company UniQuest, Dr Dean Moss, added that the technology demonstrates the benefits of industry collaboration with innovative researchers and “promises to have a transformative impact on better health outcomes”.
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