Realtime Telepathology Imaging System™

What is RTIS?

Realtime Telepathology Imaging System™ (RTIS™) is the latest patent pending solution for communicating diagnostic quality images between pathologists and it is very simple to use.

The brain of RTIS™ is a special compression-decompression device (codec) with its own built in web server that allows users to use an Internet browser to view a live signal from a unique, fully automatic, high definition (HD) video camera. The camera attaches to any existing microscope via a ‘C’ mount and what you see through the eyepieces is what is being broadcast to remote observers. In order to see live streaming images, a commercial grade 42-inch HD monitor is also included. The large display monitor is essential for optimum visual impact. In this case, the significantly larger than life images have a profound impact on understanding what is actually being viewed. The images being broadcast can travel over the Internet or Intranet using your own server. Since no patient information is broadcast, it is HIPAA compliant.
The people who you communicate with simply view the live streaming video on their own computer monitors. All they have to do is type in the IP address of the Realtime Telepathology Imaging System™ using the URL address bar of their browser and watch.

All the broadcast operator does is control the microscope. What he sees on the large screen monitor is what is being broadcast. One simply uses a telephone or conference bridge to communicate audio back and forth. What could be simpler?

No software to learn, no complicated setup, no long term service commitments and no yearly maintenance fees.

Realtime Telepathology Imaging System™ Basic Design

What can RTIS do?

The Realtime Telepathology system can transmit HD images to 3 or 100 people simultaneously on the Internet. The Realtime Telepathology will support up to 3 viewers simultaneously while the Realtime Telepathology-Pro can handle up to 100 viewers simultaneously. There is unlimited streaming to people on the same intranet server. The Realtime Telepathology Imaging System™ can be used on PCs or Macs and theRealtime Telepathology-Pro can also be used with iPads and iPhones.(However, due to the small screen size of iPad’s and iPhones they are NOT recommended receiving devices). Additionally, with the RTIS™ whatever is streaming can be recorded along with audio. It comes with a simple microphone and a large, simple, one button-recording device.

This system compliments existing scanning technology, but offers the advantage of simplicity that is rarely found today. And unlike scanners, oil immersion lenses can be used with amazing clarity. This is the perfect tool for cytopathology, frozen sections, fine needle aspirations and high magnification applications.

hsrc Price $25,000 $29,000

RTIS™ Features

• View, Stream, and Record HD video from one location to another
• Video streams viewable by 3 (RTIS™-Std) or 100 (RTIS™-Pro) people at once each at different locations
• Resolutions of up to 1920x1080p @ 30 frames per second, user adjustable
• Auto storage push to FTP, CIFS, or RSYNC.
• Works with existing hospital Ethernet network infrastructure
• Six types of compression available, user adjustable
• Voice over IP (VoIP) capable
• Battery Backup Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), 390 Watt with AVR Management (up to 70 minutes runtime on battery)
• Includes Image Control Software.

Administratively control all parameters of the system with remote access by designated operator. Includes Administrator Access controls, Viewer Access, Frame Grabber Setup, Network Controls, Stream Setup, Stream Publishing, Audio Controls, Recorded File Controls, Branding, and Automatic File Upload parameters.

• Analog High Fidelity Microphone
• Full 2 Year Warranty

HD Camera System

• Small remote head C-mount digital camera
• HD True High-Definition 3-chip medical grade camera system
• Offers a 2-Megapixel, progressive scan image at 60 frames per second
• State-of-the-art 3CCD image sensors and sophisticated embedded software technology
• Designed to deliver unsurpassed resolution and color fidelity in real-time in a variety of microscope imaging applications
• Camera has the performance to adapt quickly to changing conditions in all types of cinemicrography and photomicrography applications including microsurgery
• No complicated menus or ambiguous controls
• A simple press of a button provides access to a rich user experience that is straightforward and simple
• Camera comes complete with power supply and cable and has 2 DVI, RGB, and S-Video outputs
• Captures JPG images directly to a thumb drive for use with Mac or PC computers. No computer is required for image capture
• Full 2 Year Warranty on Camera

Large Format Monitor

• 42″ Precision HDTV Commercial Grade LCD Monitor and 1920×1080 computer/graphic display
• Color calibrated with dual cooling fans for 24-7 use and performance
• Includes VESA slim tilt wall mount
• 55.5 lbs. / 38-7/8″ (w) x 25-3/8″ (h) x 3-3/4″ (d)
• FUll 3 Year warranty on monitor

Installation Services

The RTIS™ comes with full services to install RTIS™ to microscope, computer workstation, monitor, and configuration to hospital network

Applications

There are many different possible applications for the RTIS™ system. In the past, unless we could afford a pathologist in our own offices, the best we could do was sending samples to a pathology lab and waiting for a report. Sometimes it can take hours or days to send things from where a sample is taken to a pathology lab for a consultation and a report. And often times the answers provided are simple notes indicating “benign” or “malignant”.

Waiting for the pathology report can become a thing of the past.

With the RTIS™ system that all changes! Now a sample can be taken, put into a microscope immediately and a real time consultation with a pathologist can begin. With our RTIS™-Pro system there can be up to 100 users consulting simultaneously seeing the info on various monitors and interacting in realtime! Waiting for the pathology report can become a thing of the past. And much more detailed information can be passed instead of a simple report.

There are many applications for this technology. Click on the buttons below to learn more.

Frozen Section	Fine Needle Biopsies	Cytopathology

Frozen Section

The technology you have been waiting for since you first started your practice . . .

RTIS™ allows rapid consultation directly with the surgeon from the pathologist.

The frozen section is a pathological laboratory procedure designed to perform rapid microscopic analysis of a specimen. It is used most often in ontological surgery. The quality of the slides produced by frozen sections is of lower quality than formalin fixed, paraffin embedded, tissue processing. While diagnosis can be rendered in many cases, fixed tissue processing is preferred in many conditions for more accurate diagnosis. RTIS™ allows rapid consultation directly with the surgeon from the pathologist.

RTIS™ allows visual confirmed malignancy

The intraoperative consultation report given by the pathologist is usually limited to a “benign” or “malignant” diagnosis, and communicated to the surgeon operating via intercom or telephone. RTIS™ allows visual confirmed malignancy, which is the main purpose of the pathologist to inform the surgeon if the surgical margin is clear of residual cancer, or if residual cancer is present at the surgical margin.

Enable true consultation between surgeon and pathologist!

Fine Needle Biopsies

The technology that lets you finally think out of the box . . .

The need to communicate results quickly is one way to use RTIS™ effectively.

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB, FNA or NAB), or fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), is a diagnostic procedure used to investigate superficial (just under the skin) lumps or masses. In this technique, a thin, hollow needle is inserted into the mass for sampling of cells that, after being stained, will be examined under a microscope. Fine-needle aspiration biopsies are minor surgical procedures. Today, this procedure is widely used in the diagnosis of cancer and the need to communicate results quickly is one way to use RTIS™ effectively.

The need to eliminate the time transfer of actual sample slides can be accomplished using the RTIS™ to share results instantaneously.

A needle aspiration biopsy is safer and less traumatic than an open surgical biopsy, and significant complications are usually rare, depending on the body site. There is a risk, because the biopsy is very small (only a few cells), that the problematic cells will be missed, resulting in a false negative result. There is also a risk that the cells taken will not enable a definitive diagnosis. The need to eliminate the time transfer of actual sample slides can be accomplished using the RTIS™ to share results instantaneously.

RTIS™ allows you to share instantaneously!

Cytopathology

The technology that you could only dream about in Medical School . . .

Cytopathology is a branch of pathology that studies and diagnoses diseases on the cellular level. A common application of cytopathology is the Pap smear, used as a screening tool, to detect precancerous cervical lesions and prevent cervical cancer. Cytopathology is also commonly used to investigate thyroid lesions, diseases involving sterile body cavities (peritoneal, pleural, and cerebrospinal), and a wide range of other body sites. It is usually used to aid in the diagnosis of cancer, but also helps in the diagnosis of certain infectious diseases and other inflammatory conditions. Cytopathology is generally used on samples of free cells or tissue fragments, in contrast to histopathology, which studies whole tissues.

RTIS™ allows rapid sharing of cytopathology samples between pathologists aiding in instant confirmation rather than having to wait hours or even days for results.

Cytopathologic tests are sometimes called smear tests because the samples may be smeared across a glass microscope slide for subsequent staining and microscopic examination. Different types of smear tests may also be used for cancer diagnosis.

RTIS™ allows for realtime consultation!

Testimonials

North Houston Pathology Associates, L.L.P.
“This new system is so simple to use even an old country pathologist like me can appreciate its performance”.

Dr. J.B. Askew is a local Houston pathologist practicing at North Houston Hospital. Dr. Askew fondly refers his new system as “RTIS” and has been using it since July of last year. Dr. Askew has produced several videos showing its merits. According to J.B., This new system is so simple to use even an old country pathologist like me can appreciate its performance”. Dr. Askew uses RTIS for a variety of pathology applications.

RTIS Accessories

RTIS™-Mobile

In many situations you would want to have portable or mobile access to your RTIS™. We have put together a solution to meet those needs! The Portable RTIS™ allows you to use your RTIS™ system wherever you need it within your practice, clinic, or hospital. Just roll the complete configuration to the point of use, connect it to the network, and begin your consultation.

The system includes the mobile cart and an HD Monitor. Installation of our RTIS™ system on the cart is also available.

PathScan Enabler IV

The RTIS™ system is also compatible with our famous patented PathScan Enabler. With a switchbox that we can provide, you can switch the view for your remote viewers and yourself to the PathScan Enabler giving you even more flexibility to use your RTIS™ system.

The PathScan Enabler IV is designed to allow scanning of an entire whole mounted histology sample attached to standard 1 x 3 inch cover slipped glass slide. The PathScan Enabler IV solves low power, large field of view, and high resolution imaging problems.

This fourth generation low cost histology scanner scans an area of 1.42 x 0.85 inches (36.14 x 21.59 mm), resulting in useable images up to 10,248 x 6,120 pixels, uninterpolated. File size can be as large as 188 megabytes. It produces image files which can be saved in a variety of formats including TIFF, PICT, BMP, GIF, etc. Compatible with PC Windows & Mac based computers.

This instrument will not replace a microscope and digital camera. It is designed to compliment those instruments by doing something they cannot. Namely, capture an ENTIRE histological sample without having to stitch it together. The resulting picture will have the image quality of a 5.0x objective.

Conventional microscopes equipped with low power objectives and digital cameras typically cannot capture samples larger than 6 mm in diameter. The PathScan Enabler IV captures specimens as large as 36 mm in diameter! Better yet, there is no uneven illumination or out of focus sample edges, as can be the case with traditional low power image capture techniques.