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Nikon Instruments Inc. (Nikon) is pleased to announce the launch of upgraded software for the ECLIPSE Ui Digital Microscope to version 1.4, which will be phased in beginning March 18, 2025.

The ECLIPSE Ui medical device continues to improve pathological observation workflows with its unique, eyepiece-less design and remote control and viewing functions via network.

This update includes new functions to streamline the pathology observation workflow, including Tile View and Layer View, which can record up to 20 specimen images consecutively and allow up to 10 specimen images to be compared on a single screen. In addition, the Remote Mode function, which supports data viewing in remote locations, has been enhanced. This functionality makes data sharing with doctors and teams in remote locations more efficient, reducing the burden on pathologists and clinical sites.

There are rising concerns in regard to the shortage of pathologists in the US, whose numbers reportedly stand at roughly 11,000 as of May 2023*, resulting in a high observation burden per clinician. For this reason, there is a demand for techniques that can achieve efficient and accurate observation with limited resources.

Pathology tests to observe diseases such as cancer use a variety of staining methods, including "HE staining" to observe the shape of tissue, "immunostaining" which uses antigen-antibody reactions, and "special staining" which uses chemical reactions.

Previously, it was necessary to slice multiple specimens from the same tissue and stain them with different dyes before observing them. In many cases, multiple dyes were required to make a single observation, and the task of finding the same area in each specimen had to be repeated, placing a burden on pathologists.

To address these issues, Nikon developed the Alignment Mode for its ECLIPSE Ui Digital Imaging Microscope. Version 1.4 includes two new functions: Tile View, which records up to 20 specimen images in succession and displays up to 10 images on one screen, and Layer View, which switches between images of the same location stained with different methods. The new functions make it easier to compare images and eliminate the need to switch specimens.

Additionally, clinical sites face challenges such as regional disparities, aging medical practitioners due to a shortage of pathologists, fatigue from long periods of observation and coping with difficult cases. Given these conditions, the update includes functions to enhance remote observation efficiency and support seamless teamwork.

Nikon has developed ECLIPSE Ui Version 1.4 as an observation support tool that integrates microscope and digital technologies. This enables fast and accurate observe with limited medical resources, helping to address challenges in pathology observation and improve overall efficiency in medical treatment environments.

* US Bureau of Labor Statistics

Main Update Features

1. High-quality overall display and digital zoom functionality enable quick access to lesion sites, supporting improved observation efficiency.

In Tile View, multiple images captured at the same location are displayed in parallel, making it easy to compare differences between stained images. In Layer View, multiple images of the same location can be switched seamlessly, enabling comparison of HE-stained tissue morphology with antigen localization in immunostaining. This reduces the effort required to locate the same region across different specimens, a challenge in conventional observation workflows, thereby supporting improved observation efficiency.

2. Enhanced Remote Operation for More Efficient Telemedicine Support

Features introduced in previous versions are now available for remote observation, enabling smoother and more efficient data sharing with physicians and teams in different locations.

Key Features:

• Visualization of the trajectory of observed areas: Displays examined fields on macro images to help prevent oversight errors.
• Customizable movement steps: Enables systematic examination based on observation conditions.
• Enhanced usability:
  • Expanded keyboard shortcuts
  • Automatic return to high-quality display after autofocus
  • Adjusted display of digital zoom levels
  • 90-degree rotation of micro images

These enhancements improve remote observation efficiency and facilitate seamless collaboration across locations.