Establishment of Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) networking for digital transportation of diagnostic pathology images.

为了建立快速有效的病理诊断图像数字化传输计算机网络系统，研究了异步传输模式（ATM）网络的适用性。与使用Sun工作站（Ultra A12-YBA1-1E-128AB-E）和SunATM-155/UTP5 Sbus Adapter 2.0扩展卡的系统相比，使用Power Macintosh G3 B/W （Mac OS J1-8.6）通过PCI总线与ATM进行组网连接更容易建立，推荐一般病理实验室使用。通过ATM网络传输数字数据非常有效，并且比普通以太网系统（最大10Mbps）要快得多（最大155mbps）。然而，利用数码摄影设备对显微图像进行数字化处理，获取显微图像，仍然是建立诊断性病理图像实时动态可视化的最困难的障碍之一，因为它需要非常强大的CPU和大的随机存取存储器（RAM）（可能超过几gb）。在建立用于病理诊断的动态图像传输计算机网络系统之前，还需要解决许多问题。

In order to establish a fast and effective computerized networking system for digital transportation of diagnostic pathology images, applicability of Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) networking was investigated. Networking connection with Power Macintosh G3 B/W (Mac OS J1-8.6) to ATM through a PCI bus ATM extension interface card iXMicro Lightning II-25/155 M was easier to establish than the system using Sun work station (Ultra A12-YBA1-1E-128AB-E) and SunATM-155/UTP5 Sbus Adapter 2.0 extension card, and is recommended for general use in ordinary pathological laboratories. Transportation of digital data by ATM network was very effective and much faster (maximum155Mbps) than ordinary Ethernet system (maximum 10Mbps). Entrance and capture of photomicroscopic images through digitalizing process using digital photo apparatus is, however, still one of the most difficult obstacles to overcome for establishing real-time dynamic visualization of diagnostic pathological images, because it is needed very powerful CPU and big random access memory (RAM) (probably more than several gigabytes), and many problems should be solved before establishing computerized network system for transportation of dynamic images for diagnostic pathology.