Abstract: Scanned image portions of a virtual slide are stored in accord with a positional index metric associated to each image's location in a mosaic representation of the entire physical slide and a normalized correlation search is performed on next neighbor regional image blocks. A set of relative positional offset values and a correlation coefficient is determined for a regional image block and a next neighbor regional image block. A portion of the regional image blocks is viewed as a field of view of a display and a composite of the portion of regional image blocks is stitched together in accord with the set of relative positional offset values and the correlation coefficient, such that only the blocks comprising the portion are stitched. Moving the field of view of the display causes additional regional image blocks to be displayed, where image stitching is subsequently performed only with respect to the additional regional image blocks brought into the new field of view.

Abstract: A method and system for creating a digital, virtual slide having optimum image quality characteristics. Multiple regions of a physical slide are identified as well as at least two focus z-positions z1, and z2. Each region of the physical slide is scanned (imaged) at the first z position, so as to produce a first set of digital images of each defined region. Each region of the physical slide is also scanned (imaged) at the second z position, so as to produce a second set of digital images of each defined region. Each image of each set is evaluated against a focus quality metric and, for each region, either the first or second image, corresponding to that region, is selected that exhibits a focus quality metric corresponding to a desired focus quality. These images are then merged into a digital virtual slide. Additional focus z-positions may be included, and the multiple z-positions may be scanned seriatim, sequentially, and/or in overlapping fashion.

Abstract: An improved system and method for obtaining images of a microscope slide are provided. In one embodiment, a focus camera includes an optical sensor that is tilted relative to the focal plane of a scanning camera. A scan of a target region is performed, and multiple overlapping images of the target region are captured from a plurality of x-y positions. Each image contains information associated with multiple focal planes. Focus information is obtained from the images, and a desired-focus position is determined for the target region based on the focus information. The scanning camera then captures an image of the target region from the desired-focus position. This procedure may be repeated for selected regions on the microscope slide and the resulting images of the respective regions are merged to create a virtual slide.

Abstract: A method for creating a virtual slide is provided. A virtual slide is a digital representation of an area of interest of a microscopic slide. One method is to use a motorized microscope that can move a specimen with respect to a microscopic objective. With such a system, one can capture one or more images through a microscopic objective, such that a region of interest is imaged. Each image is then joined together to form a composite or “virtual image.” In one embodiment, after a virtual slide is created, a user may fully utilize the full capabilities of the remote microscope. Among these capabilities is a set of “optical objectives” and :virtual objectives.” Optical objectives are images created by digitizing an image through a microscopic objective in real time. Virtual objectives are digitally created magnifications created by utilizing the existing virtual slide data to digitally create a field of view.