Remote microscopy through the internet.

A fully robotic microscope Axioplan2 (Zeiss) and CCD camera (RGB-Sony) mounted on this microscope have been connected to a computer dedicated as an Internet server. This server is available by means of an Internet browser with an interpreter of the Java programming language. We have used Java technology for remote control this full-motorized telemicroscope. The Java program for microscope control is automatically downloaded and started when the user selects the Web site of the corresponding microscope server with his Internet browser. At the client's side, there is no need for any additional software except for what is included in Netscape Navigator 3.0, Microsoft Explorer 3.0 or its later versions. Our remote microscope can be remotely controlled from any place in the world through the Internet. The user can move the microscope stage, change the magnification or can execute any other microscope operations by pressing the related buttons of the downloaded telemicroscopy client program. The microscope server receives the commands from the client program, executes the operation on the microscope and after every new command distributes the next microscope image to the connected telemicroscopy clients. There are also software modules which allow marking a field of interest in the image and discuss. Every Internet user can control the remote microscope and discuss the images with others who have direct access to the Internet on-line, or are connected by modem or ISDN. The quality of the transferred microscopic images and response time is sufficient for practical use. No complicated installation processes are necessary and the system is easy to use. The system design makes every pathologist, who is the Internet user, to be a possible consultant.