Automation of gross photography using a remote-controlled digital camera system.

Abstract

Conventional gross photography requires a series of tedious and time-consuming steps, including taking, developing, labeling, sorting, filing, and tracking numerous photographs. To describe how to automate the gross photographic process by way of controlling a digital camera remotely. After defining the requirements of automation regarding gross photography, a remote control board, foot switch, barcode system, and image retrieval system were devised. The surgical pathology laboratory of a university medical center with a commercially available megapixel digital camera. 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. 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.