Nikon Instruments, Hamamatsu Photonics and i-Path have joined forces to create an educational pathology resource.
The system will provide web-based access to large collections of high-resolution virtual pathology slides for pathology training and assessment.
The first systems are now in place in London and currently in the testing phase at the three sites.
Nikon is coordinating the installation process, involving Hamamatsu's Nanozoomer slide-scanning systems and i-Path's web-based slide-storage and access software, PathXL.
The aim is to make 20,000 pathology slides available to users.
Each slide will be presented with supporting information to provide a comprehensive online learning environment for the training, external quality assessment (EQA) and professional development of medical staff and students across the three sites.
Three Hamamatsu scanners have been installed at the three sites to digitise selected glass slides, which will then be hosted on i-Path's remote service.
A web interface allows multiple users to share slides at any time and from any location.
Digitised slides allow users to view a slide in its entirety and at a number of magnifications in exactly the same way as observation under the microscope.
Online slide access enables slides to be accessed simultaneously by several users, regardless of location, and slides and other resources can be retrieved quickly using online search terms.
Another benefit is that digital slides, unlike glass slides, are not subject to deterioration or breakage.
Web-based storage, in addition, allows virtually unlimited expansion of the slide resource without the file size or storage limitations normally associated with in-house facilities.
