Digital microscopy is the future of disease diagnostics: it makes previously high-cost diagnostic services more accessible, which is of great importance to those in resource-limited countries. Essentially, this technology creates a digital representation of a microscopic navigated with a computer monitor and mouse.
Furthermore, digital images can be shared through computer networks – without time- or space-related limitations.
Why is this important? Certain diseases are only able to be diagnosed after microscopic examination. Furthermore, microscopic examination of a body’s tissue can help distinguish between surface colonization and invasive disease. However, traditional (or optical) microscopy comes with drawbacks, including a maximum magnification of 1500x and a relatively poor resolution of 0.2 μm.
Digital microscopes use a digital camera and optics to capture images, which are displayed on a computer monitor. Highly advanced systems have features like 3D sample analysis, image editing, and report generation. They perform the same tasks as an optical microscope, but they have greater observation angle capabilities (the sample doesn’t need to be tilted), a deeper depth-of-field (20x greater than conventional optical microscopy), and quantitative data tools.
Furthermore, digital microscopy comes with excellent data-sharing capabilities. The digital slides can be integrated within the hospital information system (HIS) and used for primary diagnosis, quality assurance, teleconsultation, and teaching.
One of our clients, a forerunner in the optics digital imaging industry, recognizes the incredible role that digital microscopy plays in diagnostics. They wanted Intetics to develop a multi-functional desktop application that would help their customers work with in-vitro diagnostic data.
The Client
The Client has over 25 years of experience in digital imaging, optics, laser technology, sensors, and optoelectronics. Their customers specialize in various areas like healthcare, life science, safety, and research institutes.
The Project
The Client needed Intetics to create a multi-functional desktop application capable of interacting with their miniaturized module diagnostic imaging hardware platform. The platform works with molecular diagnostics, live-cell imaging, and flow cytometry. In addition to creating a flexible and powerful application, Intetics was tasked with building in functionalities like:
- Capturing images of cells in different channels
- Creating time-lapse videos
- Combining many images into a large one
- Customizing the automatic image post-processing
- Implementing an automatic experiment planner
- Live video streaming
- And much more besides this.
The Challenge
The Client has deep knowledge of digital microscopy, but there weren’t enough developers available to create an application that met all requirements. The Client didn’t want to build an in-house team for the project, as it wouldn’t be cost-effective. Developing an in-house team would not only require significant managerial effort but could also lead to timeline and quality risks.
The Solution
Intetics created an experienced Remote In-Sourcing team, which worked alongside members of the Client’s team. Together, a world-class digital microscopy system was built.
The new application quickly grew in popularity and didn’t experience any issues. Users could use the application to quickly and efficiently generate all sorts of image data for in-vitro diagnostics.
After the first prototype was ready, the Client received rapid feedback from the market. The final product is able to obtain images of cells within different channels, execute experiments, create time-lapse videos, and carry out all other functions required by the Client.
Throughout the partnership, Intetics Remote In-Sourcing Team provided work on time and within budget constraints. Intetics managed the entire development process, and the Client was only involved in business-related decisions. The Intetics team consisted of 4 Java Developers, which were allocated within one week of the project’s start. The tech stack used included Java, Spring, REST, WebRTC, Junit, JDBC, Log4J, Eclipse, and JVM.
The Bottom Line
“The Intetics Remote In-Sourcing Team showed outstanding results in engineering. The team size was scaled up and down immediately upon request.” – Client’s R&D VP
The Client decided to apply a development process that was proposed by Intetics. Because the Intetics Remote-Insourcing Team developed software in parallel with hardware, the total development time was reduced by 2x. Furthermore, the architecture was chosen and built flawlessly; the Client continues to use the architecture for development purposes.
Because of this powerful desktop application, members of the healthcare sector can now easily work with in-vitro images gained through digital microscopy, receive insights, share data, and make strides towards more accessible diagnostics.
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