Olympus licenses digital pathology patents to BioImagene, Inc.

Olympus America Inc. has signed a nonexclusive worldwide licensing agreement with BioImagene, Inc. of Sunnyvale, California, allowing BioImagene to access an extensive portfolio of Olympus patents in the field of digital pathology and virtual microscopy. This is the most recent of several licenses that Olympus has granted for the technologies, which are considered critical for developing future digital imaging and data handling systems for pathology.

Digital pathology technology has the potential to change the way doctors review and manage millions of biopsy slides and other pathology specimens now handled using glass slides and traditional optical microscopes. The patents included in the licensing deal cover methods and equipment for creating, storing and delivering virtual microscopy slides. The technology enables pathologists to view and share high-resolution virtual microscopy images over the Internet.

The companies are not making specific terms and conditions of the agreement public.

Virtual Cell Staining

Invitrogen has a new online tool that lets you explore cell imaging from your computer. You can choose different combinations of cellular structures and fluorophores to create your version of the perfectly labeled fluorescent cell. Use the tool to find various products to label your cell, create a cell image, then print and share your image. I created the cell below. You can try it out here.

Omnyx licenses Olympus digital pathology patents

Olympus America Inc. has signed a nonexclusive worldwide licensing agreement with Omnyx, LLC, a joint venture of GE Healthcare and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. The agreement will give Omnyx access to a portfolio of Olympus America virtual microscopy and digital pathology patents, which will aid the development of future imaging and data handling technologies for the review and management of millions of biopsy slides and other pathology specimens now handled using glass slides and traditional optical microscopes.

The patents cover software and technology related to creating, storing and delivering virtual microscopy images. Virtual microscope slides enable biopsies and other pathology images to be viewed without handling traditional glass slides, and allow doctors to share high-resolution digital microscope images over the Internet for remote pathology consultation. Virtual microscope slide technology also has the potential to aid hospitals in moving to comprehensive patient electronic medical records.