Automation of gross photography using a remote-controlled digital camera system.
BACKGROUND
Conventional gross photography requires a series of tedious and time-consuming steps, including taking, developing, labeling, sorting, filing, and tracking numerous photographs.


OBJECTIVE
To describe how to automate the gross photographic process by way of controlling a digital camera remotely.


METHODS
After defining the requirements of automation regarding gross photography, a remote control board, foot switch, barcode system, and image retrieval system were devised.


METHODS
The surgical pathology laboratory of a university medical center with a commercially available megapixel digital camera.


RESULTS
The digital camera zoom and shutter were controlled remotely by a foot switch. A large portion of the gross photographic process, including specimen number labeling, image downloading, labeling, sorting, filing, and tracking, were automated. In addition, the elimination of several manual specimen-processing steps, along with not having to wait for the developing and mounting of conventional 35-mm film, reduced the entire time span required in conventional gross photography from 2 to 5 days, to a few minutes. It was also possible to review the gross images at the time of microscopic sign-out.


CONCLUSIONS
The automation of gross photography using a remote-controlled digital camera changes the conventional gross workflow markedly. We found use of a remote-controlled gross photography system to be practical, convenient, and efficient.
Department of Pathology, Armed Forces Capital Hospital, Sungnam, Republic of Korea.
Rae-Woong
RW
Park
Joon-Hoe
JH
Eom
Ho-Yong
HY
Byun
Peom
P
Park
Kyi-Beom
KB
Lee
Hee-Jae
HJ
Joo
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D010340:Pathology, Surgical / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D010781:Photography / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D012371:Robotics / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012984:Software; D014741:Video Recording