European field tests with HISTKOM telepathology equipment

HISTKOM telemicroscopy equipment for telepathology is designed for the most challenging application in telepathology: intraoperational frozen section diagnosis. Adapted to this application, it is also excellently suited for a ll other telepathology modes requesting less sophisticated equipment. The t echnical concept and user interface are oriented to routine daily pathology . HISTKOM underwent heavy field-tests at several locations. The field-tests designs and the results of five of these are reported in this paper. Telepathology will exploit its advantages in networks hosting participants requesting and offering services. The solution of the interoperability prob lem caused by different equipment from different suppliers within such a ne twork will be a major task, the solution for which is in progress. The new generation of HISTKOM equipment and software is designed in a modul arized concept, allowing the integration of various hardware components fro m different manufacturers; thus special configurations can be realized easi ly. HISTKOM is offered as complete turnkey system, but can also be installe d in yet existing configurations of the customer if they meet specification s.