My interest is in pathology so I want to focus on telepathology here.
Applications of telepathology generally are of two types:
- Dynamic imaging telepathology (DI), also known as Real-Time video imaging.
- Static imaging telepathology (SI), sometimes refered to as store-and-forward telepathology.
Dynamic imaging telepathology is where a specialists doctor, a pathologist, actually gets to remote control the microscope to view a slide to make a diagnosis. Compared to store-and-forward telepathology, as the name suggests, the images a captured, stored and forwarded to a specialist for a diagnosis or second opinion. DI also has the benefit of direct involvement of a specialist but it is usually more expensive to manage. In Papua New Guinea, a SI would be more appropriate as it is cheaper and easier to manage.
What Do We Need To Set Up A Telepathology system?
Generally I think equipment required to set up a telepathology system would fall into three categories:
- Hardware
- Software
- Internet connection
Hardware would include the actual microscope with a mountable digital camera and an imaging device like a TV screen. More specifically, elements that will need to be considered are:
- Digital image capture system
- Digital data transfer system
- Digital data connection
- Digital data receiver system
- Digital data display system
- Storage and archive system
- Patient information system interface
This generally gives a picture of what may be needed if we want to have a telemedicine network established in PNG. This network would probably include Port Moresby General Hospital, including the UPNG Medical School, Lae (for Momase region), Goroka (Highlands region) and Nonga (for Islands region). These base hospitals would process the images and upload them to a portal that can be accessed by all participating hospitals.
In my next post I will try to give some estimates of the costs of a telemedicine network. I am not sure where to get those kind of information but will go surfing the web and let you all know.
References
City University, School of Medical Informatics website – Telemedicine and Telehealth.
Pacific Family Health Journal 
Hello,
Interesting reading!
I am trying to do the same thing with a desktop video conference solution in HD (720P and/or 1080P).
At the same time recording content in the network in video format for later retrieval in the intranet.
AV-Telemedicine Engineer
Hello. Interesting application! I’m always looking for new ways that people are leveraging video communications and it sounds like a desktop application might be worth looking into. there are several out there for consideration including skype, oovoo, nefsis and others. I’ve evaluated most of them. My company has been working to complete a hosted desktop video conferencing service called auralink (www.auralink.com). The service will be available after 5/17 and it will oprovide full HD quality video at the desktop through normal internet connections. Not sure of details of your application, but we’ve successfully tested several USB peripherral devices with the application as well with pretty good results. I’m more than happy to provide a couple test accounts on our beta site if your interested. Let me know.
Good Day!
Rob
I read in artical “Dynamic imaging telepathology is where a specialists doctor, a pathologist, actually gets to remote control the microscope to view a slide to make a diagnosis. ” Kindly let me know the manufacturer of such microscopes. I am interested to commision telepathology for cancer hospital in Mumbai India as described above in artical. Kindly reply at earliest.
Shripad Paranjape
Thank you for asking. I have not directly purchased any such microcopscope and I am not sure which companies manufacture them. You may have to ask biomedical equipment manufacturers.
Rodney Itaki
realtime dynamic telepathology is a reality in 2013…..visit YouTube channel “TheMICROBG” and check out the RMT iMedHD. Live microscopy/grossing station using standard internet browser in realtime.