Collaboration Between Hamamatsu and AIxMed to Enhance Cytology Workflows Using AI Technology

Hamamatsu and AIxMed Collaborate for Cytology Workflow Improvements

In a significant move towards advancing digital cytology workflows, Hamamatsu Corporation has announced a partnership with AIxMed, a software developer specializing in digital cytology solutions. This collaboration aims to evaluate the integration of AIxMed's innovative ScanPilot™ technology with selected configurations of Hamamatsu's acclaimed NanoZoomer® whole-slide scanners.

The ScanPilot™ software is designed to facilitate the technical assessment of image quality in digitized cytology slides, enabling researchers to focus on critical areas needing enhancement. By identifying poorly focused regions, ScanPilot proposes optimal focal points and rescan parameters to improve overall imaging quality.

Aiming for Streamlined Workflows

Robert Moody, the Strategic Manager of Digital Pathology at Hamamatsu, expressed enthusiasm regarding the collaboration, emphasizing the importance of AIxMed's expertise in the realm of cytology and workflow automation. He remarked, “This partnership exhibits our ongoing commitment to delivering enhanced capabilities tailored to the diverse needs of our clients. Together, we aspire to refine the urine cytology research workflow to emphasize both superior image quality and automated scanning processes.”

Samuel Chen, CEO of AIxMed, highlighted the current challenges in cytology scanning, which often necessitate considerable manual quality checks and focus-point adjustments. “Many laboratories still rely heavily on manual steps in their scanning processes,” he noted. The introduction of ScanPilot™ is intended to automate these repetitive tasks, enhancing overall efficiency.

Technical Synergy Between Technologies

As part of this collaboration, the focus will be on assessing the operational performance of ScanPilot™ across various slide types and compatible scanner configurations. The goal is to establish a seamless integration framework that allows for improved cytology digitization workflows.

It’s notable that ScanPilot™ is available for select configurations of the NanoZoomer scanners, although its availability may vary based on jurisdiction and specific configurations. For further details on this innovative software and its applications, interested parties can visit AIxMed’s official website.

About the Companies

Hamamatsu Corporation, a subsidiary of Hamamatsu Photonics K.K., is recognized as a global leader in photonics devices—offering a variety of products ranging from advanced imaging detectors to optical sensors and measurement systems. The company has been pioneering digital scanner technology for pathology research with their NanoZoomer series, which has been instrumental in whole slide imaging for over two decades.

AIxMed, founded in 2018, specializes in digital cytology software solutions, encompassing everything from image acquisition to AI-driven analysis and workflow automation. One of its notable products, AIxURO™, focuses on urinary cytology, providing AI assistance specifically for research usage.

Through this collaboration, Hamamatsu and AIxMed are set to propel the fields of cytopathology and digital imaging into a new era of efficiency and effectiveness, promising substantial contributions to research workflows in clinical laboratories and beyond.