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What do I get when I buy
a ScanScope System?
The ScanScope System provides you with everything needed to scan slides.
It includes a ScanScope scanner, Spectrum operating system for integrated digital slide creation, viewing, management,
and analysis, including software that enables digital slides to be viewed
and analyzed on a computer monitor from anywhere in the world; and accompanying
supporting hardware.
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How big
are the digitized images ("digital slides")?
When scanned at 54,000 pixels per inch, a 15 mm x 15 mm area of a slide
corresponds to a 2.8 GB file. A 20:1 JPEG2000 compression of this file
results in a more manageable 140 MB file. Using a 40x objective lens (108,000
pixels per inch) the file size for the same area quadruples to 11.4 GB
uncompressed, and 560 MB compressed. Smaller file sizes can be realized
at higher compression ratios.
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Do the ScanScope scanners
use conventional microscope objective lenses?
Yes. Although ScanScopes are scanners and not microscopes, a single conventional
objective lens is used for scanning. Contact
us to learn more about the specific lenses supported.
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How long does it take to scan
a slide?
The scan time is proportional to the area of the slide that is scanned and the resolution, but generally a 15mm x 15mm slide will scan at 20X in under two minutes. Aperio
is continually making ScanScope scanners faster, so please check back
with us for the latest scan time estimates.
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How automated is the slide
scanning process?
Once a slide has been loaded (whether manually or by autoloader), the ScanScope
scanner automatically finds the areas of the slide containing tissue and
automatically determines the tissue contour information necessary to maintain
accurate focus during scanning. All aspects of slide scanning are fully
automatic.
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How are digital slides compressed?
ScanScope scanners generate TIFF data that are immediately viewable after
scanning using Aperio's ImageScope viewer. TIFF data are not compressed.
In addition, Spectrum's Digital
Slide Studio module provides a means of compressing the TIFF data
into a single JPEG2000 file at a user-selectable quality (compression
ratio).
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How do I store my digital slides?
We recommend an optional Digital Slide Repository (DSR) for storing digital
slides to improve system performance and manageability. Currently we offer
1- and 4-terrabyte RAID, rack mountable DSRs.
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Do you offer a slide scanning
service?
Yes, we scan slides on
a service basis. You can opt to have them posted on our Digital Slide Hosting service (www.slidehosting.com), or just receive them on a CD-ROM or DVD. Please
see our Scanning Services area
for more details.
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How do I send digital slides
across a network?
Digital slides are too large to be emailed or sent across a network. Aperio
has developed two software solutions for remotely accessing digital slides:
a web server and a client/server option. The ScanScope Digital Slide Gallery
at www.aperio.com provides access both ways.
Aperio's web server software allows digital slides to be efficiently
displayed on a web page for remote access by any web browser - without
requiring a download or plug-in.
The speed and functionality of the client / server configuration are superior
to that of the web server application. Contact us for more information.
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Do I need a special computer to
view digital slides?
The viewing computer should be a reasonably fast PC with 256 MB of RAM.
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Do ScanScopes work in fluorescence
mode?
Currently, ScanScope scanners are designed for transmitted light applications.
We expect to add fluorescence and reflection scanning capabilities in
the future.
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Can I scan along the z-axis?
Yes, ScanScope scanners have the ability to scan along the z-stack and capture the stack for future viewing. Click here
to learn more.
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Can I export images for image
analysis?
Yes, any region of a digital slide can be exported as a TIFF file or a
JPEG2000 file using the editing capabilities included in Spectrum. Images can
also be scaled and cropped as desired.
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Bringing Digital Pathology to Life
