ASX-listed medical technology innovator Optiscan Imaging has just fired a major shot across the bow of the global diagnostics industry with the launch of its game-changing cloud-based telepathology platform prototype.

The company confirmed it has reached the minimum viable product (MVP) stage for its secure streaming software, developed in collaboration with Canadian software firm Prolucid Technologies.

Successful beta-testing of the new software means pathologists could soon dial in from anywhere in the world to stream live, high-resolution tissue scans captured by clinicians in real time via a secure cloud connection - whether a hospital theatre, remote clinic or a clinician in the deep Outback.

In addition to viewing images, pathologists will be able to flag key areas, annotate pictures, generate reports and collaborate with surgeons or imaging specialists live or on demand.

‘This platform is a potential game changer for global digital pathology.’

Optiscan Imaging chief executive officer and managing director Dr Camile Farah

The platform is designed to integrate seamlessly with Optiscan’s range of digital imaging devices, including the company’s InVue, InForm and InVivage systems.

Optiscan Imaging chief executive officer and managing director Dr Camile Farah said: “This platform is a potential game changer for global digital pathology, with particular relevance to regional, rural and remote healthcare settings where access to pathology expertise is limited. Our telepathology solution essentially brings the pathologist into the heart of the operating theatre and bridges the gap between surgery and pathology.”

Optiscan says security is top of mind. All communications are encrypted, with personal patient data hidden or made anonymous. Only registered devices with valid digital certificates can access the system, which uses a WebRTC-based protocol to keep the upload lag time under half a second.

The system has been designed as a Software as a Medical Device (SaMD), meaning it’s ready to slot into everyday clinical use. It will let doctors stream images directly to each other, review scans later, share second opinions and generate reports - all while keeping patient data safe and secure.

With the concept design now complete, Optiscan is pushing ahead with real-world testing and collecting user feedback to clinch clinical validation ahead of a commercial rollout.

Prolucid Technologies chief executive officer Darcy Bachert said the platform is set to shake up patient care by bringing the pathology lab to the bedside. Bachert said it also shows how smart tech can break down barriers in healthcare to help doctors make quicker, better decisions.

Optiscan says the platform has been built to use hand-in-hand with the company’s unique pen-sized digital microscope, which can produce high-resolution single-cell images in real time.

With healthcare systems under pressure globally, and regional hospitals and patients often left out of access to specialist services and innovations, Optiscan’s new telepathology platform appears to offer a timely solution.

On the back of its prototype milestone, the company isn’t just imaging the future of pathology - it’s live-streaming it.

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