A WEB-BASED APPLICATION FOR LEARNING HISTOLOGY

Abstract

ABSTRACT A WEB-BASED APPLICATION FOR LEARNING HISTOLOGY The present invention is directed to a comprehensive histology web application aimed at assisting medical students gain knowledge through offering an extensive collection of highly magnified compound microscopic images covering the entire human body. The app contains 18 different anatomical systems, each consisting of detailed subcomponents along with precise theoretical content, pencil diagrams, panoramic views and audio explanations. Also included are interactive elements such as clickable labels on images which have further magnified pictures, associated theories and voiceovers. The application also incorporates tests for assessing readers’ understanding after every chapter. This app has high resolution images with interactive labels, audiovisual aids and it covers all parts of the body surpassing other applications while remaining user friendly. It is invented with an intuitive user interface that allows for free access and comprehensive education throughout the field this being a new approach to histology learning experience.

Specification

Description:CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION AND PRIORITY
The present application claims no priority from any of the patent application(s).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a web application for histology education. The said application includes a large number of magnified images of human tissues along with their microscopic features. The application covers all anatomical systems with audio explanations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The web application disclosed herein has unique blend of features that improve medical education. Below is the summary of relevant patent applications.
IN202321055340A is concentrated on a physical anatomy stencil kit whereas our app provides for digital high magnification microscopic images of histological sections which are more detailed in studying tissues.
WO2021188078A2 describes a smart interactive mock-up our web app, which can be identified by having multimedia and interactive elements specifically made for histology education like interactive clickable labels with detailed explanations.
WO0115043A1 describes an online health data management system featuring real-time processing capabilities, it does not focus on histological education using high-resolution pictures, audio commentaries and interactive questionnaires as part of our system. US2019259294A1 introduces a content delivery system for medical instruction with three-dimensional anatomical models; however, it does not target at microscopic histology and accompanying interactive features as in our software.
TW200830135A system uses scalable vector graphics for a dynamic graphical interface, but it primarily serves as a medical information service system, lacking the specialized focus on histology with actual microscopic imagery and audio explanations.
IN202121055483A details a holographic projection system for educational content, but it does not provide the specific interactive digital experience with high magnification images with clickable labels and audio descriptions.

The present web application provides a detailed, real-time exploration of histological sections including histograms, ehistolab slides, memorix anatomy etc., which are described below.


HistoGrams+: Our web- app has some features that HistoGrams+ lacks. Its audio explanations allow auditory learning to be improved so it becomes a complete system of understanding things. Apart from this, there are no clickable labels on the images in the HistoGrams+ which could provide detailed information about individual objects. Moreover, there is no quiz function in HistoGrams+, which means users cannot effectively test themselves. Other areas not covered by HistoGrams+ include epithelium, hepatobiliary system and salivary glands, making it an incomplete application compared to our web product.

Ehistolab-Histology Slides: Whereas Ehistolab offers clickable pictures, the tags show computerized images instead of actual highly magnified images thus reducing the authenticity and precision of learning material. Also, lack of audio explanations and most paid nature make such an application less accessible and user friendly too. Besides this Ehistolab's interface is bad hence it is uncomfortable to use it at times. Ehistolab-Histology Slides does not contain certain crucial parts like epithelium or salivary glands among others.

Histology-USMLE Q&A Review: The application is mainly a test app with no illustrations, audio explanations, or microscopic pictures. This makes it limited in scope. It is designed only for quizzes without giving the theoretical background and visual aids required for histology to be understood correctly. In contrast, our program combines tests with thorough theory explanation detailed images of microorganisms and sound making it a more integrated educational experience.

Memorix Anatomy and Histology: Memorix is more like a classic textbook without any modern interactive features. It lacks audio explanations or microscopic images that are necessary to give an insight into what histology entails. Due to this lack of interaction and visualization, it is not as engaging and efficient for users as our web application which has rich multimedia contents and interactive options.

Histology and Embryology: Like HistoGrams+, this app does not have audio explanations, clickable image labels, and quizzes. The coverage of the human body by this application is less extensive thereby limiting its usefulness concerning deep study on histological terms. Our Application has got elaborate content that beats HistoGrams+ since it has interactive labelling covering each part in human body plus audio-visual means on top of that too.

Veterinary Histology: No audio explanations, clickable labels, and high magnification images in this application. The images included are at low magnifications, which may limit detailed study. It is also built with a poor user interface and does not cover the full human body. Our app, on the other hand, provides high-resolution pictures that are modelled after human histology. These pictures have interactive labels on them through which learners can zoom in and out while reading them to enhance their understanding of different parts within the human body.

Medical Histology + AI Tutor: Despite this application incorporating AI, it does not have audio explanations or clickable image labels which set us apart from it. Also, it neither exhibits full coverage of the human body nor enables students to take quizzes to evaluate what they have learnt so far. In our app we bring education alive by using multimedia tools like interactivity, videos and pictures that cover all systems of the human body.

Teach me Histology: This application has no voice overs and clicking instructions with images that have smaller sizes in terms of magnification power for information purposes. Instead of a regular microscope slide lecture only approach; our web app offers fully microscopic views with talking points at every level from basic cells up until entire organs all explained by text accompanied by questions and answers at various stages so that kids can grasp concepts better without any difficulties.

Histology Quiz: This is an app that only enables users to answer questions without any microphotographs, audio instructions or theory part. Thus, it won't help much in teaching histology. The inclusion of detailed theory behind high quality images together with live voice-overs is one of the things that makes our application really stand out from others.
The website we have created for studying histology differentiates itself from other such online resources through comprehensive coverage of the whole body. This particular app comes with interactive clickable labels on its high-resolution, highly magnified microscopic images as well as an audio explanation option plus a quiz feature not found in any other app. Hence, these elements of interactivity together with media content make it a superior educational tool as far as medical students studying this medical field are concerned.


The proposed histology web application is different from the existing patents due to its unique blend of features as mentioned above. This application provides quizzes and pencil diagrams for better learning.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

The primary goal of the invention is to make a complete web-based application that allows medical students to learn about histology by using microscopic images magnified highly, labelled with clickables and explained orally. This program uses interactive multimedia materials to deliver full, engaging educational experiences in studying the human histological structures.

Additional objectives of the present invention are:

(i) An inclusive education material such as quizzes and detailed theoretical content that can
improve the learning process.

(ii) A user-friendly interface that will be easily navigable even by those not very familiar with
anatomy.

(iii) Ensure Comprehensive Coverage of all human parts to make the study for students more
complete.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a web app that helps medical students learn histology. It contains greatly magnified images of human body tissues, which come with clickable labels and audio explanations to provide extra details for ease learning. The application also has quizzes as well as detailed theoretical content to enable individuals to tests their knowledge and become better acquainted with various topics. This app covers all anatomical systems exhaustively through a friendly user-interface, making it an indispensable resource for an exhaustive histological study.




BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 represents the system architecture of our web-app.

Figure 2 represents the process diagram i.e. how the user will utilize the website.

Figure 3 represents component Kidney Cortex of excretory system. Suppose the user wants to learn about the label 2 i.e. Glomerulus so the user clicks it. The user will see the page as seen in Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows highly magnified image of Glomerulus with textual description and audio.

Figure 5 and Figure 6 display signup and login page respectively.

Figure 7 displays the quiz section of the website.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:
The histology web app is a new tool to aid medical students in the study of histological concepts through an integrated platform. It has images with high magnification and clickable labels, supplemented with theoretical content, audio explanations, quizzes, pencil diagrams and panoramic views. With 18 anatomy systems having different subcomponents, this application offers extensive educational experience.

The system architecture is represented in Figure 1. The slides were prepared (301) and highly magnified images were captured using a Magcam HD Pro Camera (303), mounted as an eyepiece on an Olympus microscope (302). These images were subsequently stored in a database (304). MongoDB (305) serves as the database (304), housing all images (306), audio (307) files, and quizzes (308). Upon accessing the website via a mobile device or laptop (311), users (312) are required to log in or sign up if it is their first time using the site. After completing the sign-up process, the user's information is securely stored in the database through cloud integration. Once logged in, users can access all learning materials (310)), with content being retrieved from the database via cloud technology (309).

The workflow for user is illustrated in Figure 2. 100 represents the login/signup page for website. User needs to sign-up for the first time and then login every time whenever desires to use website. From 100, user will be navigated to 101-Home Page,102-Contact Us,103-Learning and 104-Feature. 101 is the Home Page of the website.102 is Contact Us page for user in case of any query.104 Is the Feature page where user can find carousel to navigate to the desired system page. 103 is the learning tab from which user can navigate to a page where user will find the list of all the system names.

103.1-103.18 represent the name of all the systems.

103.1. Epithelium

103.2. Connective tissue

103.3. Cartilage

103.4. Bone

103.5. Lymphoid tissue

103.6. Muscular tissue

103.7. Blood vessels

103.8. Integumentary system

103.9. Nervous system

103.10. Respiratory system

103.11. Excretory system

103.12. Digestive system

103.13. Hepatobiliary system

103.14. Salivary glands

103.15. Endocrine system

103.16. Male Reproductive system

103.17. Female Reproductive system

103.18. Special senses

On clicking any of the system name, user will be navigated to 107. 107 represents the theory of the system. User can also move to 105 i.e. quiz for that system. User can also navigate to 106 i.e. type section from where user will navigate to 10 to find respective components(subtopics) of the system.

The table below displays the list of all the systems in the website along with their subtopics. The website has got an overall of 18 major units. While a user chooses any unit in the learning chapter, for instance, the learning page of that unit appears, helping the user to view the theory related to it, its sub topics and a quiz. So, if the user were to select 'connective tissue' for example, the user would be able to read the theory and the sub topics (like Adipose tissue, Loose areolar tissue, Dense regular tissue, Dense irregular tissue) and also answer a quiz on the subject. Audiences can then click on any of the subtopics to explore the subtopic in detail with the help of images and audio and text.









Table 1

Table 1 states the names of all the systems in our web application along with their components.

From 108, user will find 109 i.e. pencil diagram or panoramic view of the system, 110 i.e. textual description and 111 i.e. highly magnified labelled image which is clickable. On clicking any of the labels, user will be navigated to page where user will find 112 i.e. audio explanation of the label, 113 textual description of the label and 114 i.e. highly magnified image of the label.

To summarize, when the user logs in (100), the home page (101) appears first which has a user-friendly interface. A carousel in the Features section (104) shows pictures of each of the eighteen anatomical systems. In the carousel, users can select any system for quick navigation to its respective page. User can also navigate to the contact us page (102). The learning tab (103) on this homepage also has all these systems listed alongside one another. Each system contains its parts that can be reached through 'Types' (106). The options available after clicking on a system's name include; "Quiz" (105), "Types" (106) and "Theory" (107). Detailed descriptions are found in the theory section (107). Quizzes (106) help to reinforce learning. All the components of respective systems fall under Types section (105). Clicking on any component will navigate the user to that component where user will find highly magnified microscopic images with clickable labels (111), textual description (100), as well as pencil diagram (109) for the respective component. On clicking any of the labels, user will get more magnified image of that label (114) along with description (113) and audio (112). The systems and their components are shown in Table 1.

Interactive Features:
Clickable Labels on Images:
The first thing to notice in this application is that it has clickable labels on highly magnified images (111). Each image has multiple labels on it, which provide more information and resources about the labelled part when clicked upon. When one clicks on a label, high magnification images (114) of such component are shown with theoretical detailed explanations (113) and audio narrations (112) being also included in the same view. This interactive characteristic improves learning by enabling users to look into every single bit of the component and see how complex it is. Additionally, paper drawings and wider-angle views are shown displaying a more holistic perspective as well as detailed pictures of histological constructions.





Audio Explanations:
In addition, for different learning preferences, there are audio explanations (112) provided on the application for all theoretical content. These help in understanding through listening thus making it easier for students to access information.

Quizzes:
Moreover, at the end of each chapter there are quizzes (105) that can be used to evaluate how much one has learnt so far. The questions cover both theory-based content as well as those that are tested using images thereby ensuring that students understand what they have learned in totality.

User Interface:
This is a user-friendly application with easy navigation. Users can easily access different systems, components, and features, enhancing their overall learning experience.

Unique Features:
1. Pencil diagrams and panoramic views for a comprehensive visual understanding.
2. Audio explanations to aid auditory learners.
3. Precise theoretical content and detailed diagrams.
4. High-resolution, highly magnified images with interactive clickable labels.
5. Quizzes to assess and reinforce knowledge.
6. Comprehensive coverage of the entire human body.
7. A user-friendly interface ensuring ease of use. , Claims:WE CLAIM:

1. A web-based application for learning histology comprising:
a) MongoDB (305), which serves as the database (304) of human anatomical images; and
b) Audio files;
wherein, the content of the database can be retrieved via cloud technology (309),
and the said web-based application is accessible via a mobile device or laptop.

2. The web-based application as claimed in claim 1, wherein the human anatomical
images are magnified images, the magnified images being captured using a Magcam
HD Pro Camera (303).

3. The web-based application as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Magcam HD Pro
Camera (303) is mounted as an eyepiece on an Olympus microscope (302).

4. The web-based application as claimed in claim 1, wherein the human anatomical images are from 18 anatomical systems, which are:
i) Epithelium
ii) Connective tissue
iii) Cartilage
iv) Bone
v) Lymphoid tissue
vi) Connective tissue
vii) Muscular tissue
viii) Blood vessels
ix) Integumentary system
x) Nervous system
xi) Respiratory system
xii) Excretory system
xiii) Digestive system
xiv) Hepatobiliary system Endocrine system
xv) Salivary glands
xvi) Male reproductive system
xvii) Female reproductive system
xviii) Special senses

5. The web-based application as claimed in claim 1, wherein the application has clickable labels on highly magnified images (111) and audio explanations (112).

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