Patents Assigned to Aperio Technologies, Inc.
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Patent number: 8116547Abstract: A digital slide analysis system comprises an algorithm server that maintains or has access to a plurality of image processing and analysis routines. The algorithm server additionally has access to a plurality of digital slide images. The algorithm server executes a selected routine on an identified digital slide and provides the resulting data. Prior to the application of selected routine, the system employs a digital pre-processing module to create a metadata mask that reduces undesirable image data such that the image data processed by the selected routine has an improved signal to noise ratio. The pre-processing module uses a classifier that may be implemented as a pattern recognition module, for example. Undesirable image data is therefore excluded from the image data that is processed by the digital pathology image processing and analysis routine, which significantly improves the digital pathology image analysis.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2010Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Aperio Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Allen Olson, Ole Eichhorn
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Patent number: 8103082Abstract: Systems and methods for assessing and optimizing virtual microscope slide image quality are provided. In order to determine whether a virtual slide image has any out of focus areas and is therefore a candidate for manual inspection, the various focus points used to scan the virtual slide image are used to calculate a best fit surface for the virtual slide image. The distance of each focus point from the best fit surface is then calculated and the largest distance is compared to a predetermined value. If the largest distance from a focus point to the best fit surface is larger than the predetermined value, then the virtual slide image is designated as needing a manual inspection and possible re-scan.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2010Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: Aperio Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Allen Olson, Dirk G. Soenksen, Kiran Saligrama
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Publication number: 20120014576Abstract: A digital slide analysis system comprises an algorithm server that maintains or has access to a plurality of image processing and analysis routines. The algorithm server additionally has access to a plurality of digital slide images. The algorithm server executes a selected routine on an identified digital slide and provides the resulting data. Prior to the application of selected routine, the system employs a digital pre-processing module to create a metadata mask that reduces undesirable image data such that the image data processed by the selected routine has an improved signal to noise ratio. The pre-processing module uses a classifier that may be implemented as a pattern recognition module, for example. Undesirable image data is therefore excluded from the image data that is processed by the digital pathology image processing and analysis routine, which significantly improves the digital pathology image analysis.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2010Publication date: January 19, 2012Applicant: APERIO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Allen Olson, Ole Eichhorn
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Publication number: 20120011151Abstract: Images created by one or more image acquisition devices are initially stored in remote data bases at one or more remote or satellite locations and copies of the images are subsequently transferred to a central server at a central storage location over a network and stored in a central data base. A common catalog listing local image files stored at the central data base and remote image files stored at one or more remote data bases is stored at the central location and is accessed by users to search for images. User requests for images associated with local image files result in transfer of the requested images by the central server to the user. User requests for images associated with remote image files are relayed by the central server to the associated remote location, and the requested images are then relayed to the user from the remote location via the central server.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2011Publication date: January 12, 2012Applicant: APERIO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventor: Ole Eichhorn
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Patent number: 8094902Abstract: Systems and methods for processing, storing, and viewing extremely large imagery data rapidly produced by a linear-array-based microscope slide scanner are provided. The system receives, processes, and stores imagery data produced by the linear scanner as a series of overlapping image stripes and combines the data into a seamless and contiguous baseline image. The baseline image is logically mapped into a plurality of regions that are individually addressed to facilitate viewing and manipulation of the baseline image. The system enables dynamic imagery data compression while scanning and capturing new image stripes that eliminates the overhead associated with storing uncompressed image stripes. The system also creates intermediate level images, thereby organizing the baseline image into a variable level pyramid structure referred to as a virtual slide.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2011Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: Aperio Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Greg J. Crandall, Ole Eichhorn, Allen H. Olson, Dirk G. Soenksen
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Publication number: 20120002892Abstract: Virtual slide image data and corresponding information are stored in a data storage area on a virtual slide image server. A client viewer requests image data at a particular resolution. The image server obtains corresponding image data from the data storage area at a resolution nearest to the requested resolution. The image data is then sent to the client viewer. The client viewer receives the image data and scales the image data to the requested resolution prior to displaying the image data.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2011Publication date: January 5, 2012Applicant: APERIO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Ole Eichhorn, Anne Brumme
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Patent number: 8086077Abstract: Systems and methods that acquire digital slides and other large images and store these images into commercially available PACS systems using DICOM-standard messaging are provided. A digital slide or other large two-dimensional image is acquired and each separate resolution level of the digital slide or large image is divided into a series of regions that are each identified as a DICOM image. All of the regions at the same resolution in the digital slide or other large image are collectively identified as a DICOM series. A plurality of DICOM series, representing multiple resolution levels in a digital slide are collectively identified and stored as a DICOM study.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2007Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: Aperio Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Ole Eichhorn
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Patent number: 8059336Abstract: Apparatus for and method of rapid three dimensional scanning and digitizing of an entire microscope sample, or a substantially large portion of a microscope sample, using a tilted sensor synchronized with a positioning stage. The system also provides a method for interpolating tilted image layers into a orthogonal tree dimensional array or into its two dimensional projection as well as a method for composing the volume strips obtained from successive scans of the sample into a single continuous digital image or volume.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2008Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Aperio Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Nikolai Ptitsyn, Ole Eichhorn
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Patent number: 8055042Abstract: Apparatus for and method of fully automatic rapid scanning and digitizing of an entire microscope sample, or a substantially large portion of a microscope sample, using a linear array detector synchronized with a positioning stage that is part of a computer controlled microscope slide scanner. The invention provides a method for composing the image strips obtained from successive scans of the sample into a single contiguous digital image. The invention also provides a method for statically displaying sub-regions of this large digital image at different magnifications, together with a reduced magnification macro-image of the entire sample. The invention further provides a method for dynamically displaying, with or without operator interaction, portions of the contiguous digital image. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, all elements of the scanner are part of a single-enclosure that has a primary connection to the Internet or to a local intranet.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2008Date of Patent: November 8, 2011Assignee: Aperio Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Dirk G. Soenksen
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Patent number: 8023714Abstract: A portion of imagery data is obtained from a digital slide and a protocol of image analysis/diagnostic tasks is performed on the portion of imagery data by a pathologist or an image analysis module. The result of each task (e.g., success or no success) is recorded and a score is determined for the portion of the imagery data. Multiple portions of imagery data from the digital slide are analyzed and scored and the various scores from the multiple portions of imagery data are calculated to determine an overall score for the digital slide. Regions of the digital slide can be scored separately. Multiple rounds of scoring (by different pathologists and/or different image analysis algorithms) may be employed to increase the accuracy of the score for a digital slide or region thereof.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2007Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignee: Aperio Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Dirk G. Soenksen
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Publication number: 20110221882Abstract: Systems and methods for processing, storing, and viewing extremely large imagery data rapidly produced by a linear-array-based microscope slide scanner are provided. The system receives, processes, and stores imagery data produced by the linear scanner as a series of overlapping image stripes and combines the data into a seamless and contiguous baseline image. The baseline image is logically mapped into a plurality of regions that are individually addressed to facilitate viewing and manipulation of the baseline image. The system enables dynamic imagery data compression while scanning and capturing new image stripes that eliminates the overhead associated with storing uncompressed image stripes. The system also creates intermediate level images, thereby organizing the baseline image into a variable level pyramid structure referred to as a virtual slide.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2011Publication date: September 15, 2011Applicant: APERIO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Greg J. Crandall, Ole Eichhorn, Allen H. Olson, Dirk G. Soenksen
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Patent number: 8010555Abstract: Images created by one or more image acquisition devices are initially stored in remote data bases at one or more remote or satellite locations and copies of the images are subsequently transferred to a central server at a central storage location over a network and stored in a central data base. A common catalog listing local image files stored at the central data base and remote image files stored at one or more remote data bases is stored at the central location and is accessed by users to search for images. User requests for images associated with local image files result in transfer of the requested images by the central server to the user. User requests for images associated with remote image files are relayed by the central server to the associated remote location, and the requested images are then relayed to the user from the remote location via the central server.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2007Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: Aperio Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Ole Eichhorn
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Patent number: 7978894Abstract: Apparatus for and method of fully automatic rapid scanning and digitizing of an entire microscope sample, or a substantially large portion of a microscope sample, using a linear array detector synchronized with a positioning stage that is part of a computer controlled microscope slide scanner. The invention provides a method for composing the image strips obtained from successive scans of the sample into a single contiguous digital image. The invention also provides a method for statically displaying sub-regions of this large digital image at different magnifications, together with a reduced magnification macro-image of the entire sample. The invention further provides a method for dynamically displaying, with or without operator interaction, portions of the contiguous digital image. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, all elements of the scanner are part of a single-enclosure that has a primary connection to the Internet or to a local intranet.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2010Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: Aperio Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Dirk G. Soenksen
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Publication number: 20110141263Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for computing focus information prior to scanning digital microscope slide data with a line scan camera. The methods include a point-focus procedure that works by moving the slide to the desired measurement location, moving the objective lens through a predefined set of height values, acquiring imagery data at each height, and determining the height of maximum contrast. The methods also include a ribbon-focus procedure whereby imagery data are acquired continuously, while the slide and objective lens are in motion. Both methods may be applied with either a static or a dynamic implementation.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2011Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: APERIO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Allen Olson, Greg Crandall, Dirk G. Soenksen
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Patent number: 7949168Abstract: Systems and methods for processing, storing, and viewing extremely large imagery data rapidly produced by a linear-array-based microscope slide scanner are provided. The system receives, processes, and stores imagery data produced by the linear scanner as a series of overlapping image stripes and combines the data into a seamless and contiguous baseline image. The baseline image is logically mapped into a plurality of regions that are individually addressed to facilitate viewing and manipulation of the baseline image. The system enables dynamic imagery data compression while scanning and capturing new image stripes that eliminates the overhead associated with storing uncompressed image stripes. The system also creates intermediate level images, thereby organizing the baseline image into a variable level pyramid structure referred to as a virtual slide.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2010Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Aperio Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Greg J. Crandall, Ole Eichhorn, Allen H. Olson, Dirk G. Soenksen
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Publication number: 20110115897Abstract: A whole slide fluorescence digital pathology system is provided that uses a monochrome TDI line scan camera, which is particularly useful in fluorescence scanning where the signal is typically much weaker than in brightfield microscopy. The system uses oblique brightfield illumination for fast and accurate tissue finding and employs a unique double sweep focus scoring and objective lens height averaging technique to identify focus points and create a focus map that can be followed during subsequent scanning to provide autofocusing capability. The system also scans and analyzes image data to determine the optimal line rate for the TDI line scan camera to use during subsequent scanning of the digital slide image and it also creates a light profile to compensate for loss of illumination light due to roll off.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2009Publication date: May 19, 2011Applicant: APERIO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Peyman Najmabadi, Gregory J. Crandall, Aaron Alan Stearrett, Dirk G. Soenksen, Christopher Adam Lee, Cynthia Perz
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Publication number: 20110090223Abstract: Systems and methods for creating and viewing three dimensional digital slides are provided. One or more microscope slides are positioned in an image acquisition device that scans the specimens on the slides and makes two dimensional images at a medium or high resolution. These two dimensional digital slide images are provided to an image viewing workstation where they are viewed by an operator who pans and zooms the two dimensional image and selects an area of interest for scanning at multiple depth levels (Z-planes). The image acquisition device receives a set of parameters for the multiple depth level scan, including a location and a depth. The image acquisition device then scans the specimen at the location in a series of Z-plane images, where each Z-plane image corresponds to a depth level portion of the specimen within the depth parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2010Publication date: April 21, 2011Applicant: APERIO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Ole Eichhorn, Greg Crandall, Steven Hashagen, Dirk Soenksen, Mark Wrenn
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Publication number: 20110044518Abstract: Systems and methods for processing, storing, and viewing extremely large imagery data rapidly produced by a linear-array-based microscope slide scanner are provided. The system receives, processes, and stores imagery data produced by the linear scanner as a series of overlapping image stripes and combines the data into a seamless and contiguous baseline image. The baseline image is logically mapped into a plurality of regions that are individually addressed to facilitate viewing and manipulation of the baseline image. The system enables dynamic imagery data compression while scanning and capturing new image stripes that eliminates the overhead associated with storing uncompressed image stripes. The system also creates intermediate level images, thereby organizing the baseline image into a variable level pyramid structure referred to as a virtual slide.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2010Publication date: February 24, 2011Applicant: Aperio Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Greg J. Crandall, Ole Eichhorn, Allen H. Olson, Dirk G. Soenksen
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Patent number: 7893988Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for computing focus information prior to scanning digital microscope slides with a line scan camera. The methods include a point-focus procedure that works by moving the slide to the desired measurement location, moving the objective lens through a predefined set of height values, acquiring imagery data at each height, and determining the height of maximum contrast. The methods also include a ribbon-focus procedure whereby imagery data are acquired continuously, while the slide and objective lens are in motion. Both methods may be applied with either a static or a dynamic implementation.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2009Date of Patent: February 22, 2011Assignee: Aperio Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Allen Olson, Greg Crandall, Dirk G. Soenksen
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Publication number: 20110037847Abstract: Apparatus for and method of fully automatic rapid scanning and digitizing of an entire microscope sample, or a substantially large portion of a microscope sample, using a linear array detector synchronized with a positioning stage that is part of a computer controlled microscope slide scanner. The invention provides a method for composing the image strips obtained from successive scans of the sample into a single contiguous digital image. The invention also provides a method for statically displaying sub-regions of this large digital image at different magnifications, together with a reduced magnification macro-image of the entire sample. The invention further provides a method for dynamically displaying, with or without operator interaction, portions of the contiguous digital image. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, all elements of the scanner are part of a single-enclosure that has a primary connection to the Internet or to a local intranet.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2010Publication date: February 17, 2011Applicant: APERIO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventor: Dirk G. Soenksen