Image based medical reference systems and processes

• US 10,102,348 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2013
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ikonopedia, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ikonopedia, Inc.
• Inventors: Vendrell, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Young, Kevin L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh, Linda
• Application Number:
  US13/907,304
• Publication Number:
  US 20130326386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,964 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

An image-based diagnostic system may include graphical user interfaces that include image icons. Users may select image icon(s) and/or other icon(s) related to an analysis of expert images, such as medical images. Analytical reports may be generated based on the selection(s). In some implementations, the image icons may be correlated to reference information and references may be retrieved based on image icon(s).

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating a graphical user interface to be presented on a user device, wherein the graphical user interface is related to one or more patient test results presented to a user via a third party interface, and wherein the graphical user interface comprises a plurality of image icons, and wherein each image icon comprises at least a portion of a medical photographic image of an example characteristic, and wherein the example characteristic is not a portion of the one or more patient test results presented via the third party interface;

receiving a selection of one or more of the image icons of the graphical user interface;

receiving a request for reference information associated with at least one of the selected one or more of the image icons; and

in response to receiving the selection of one or more of the image icons and a request for reference information, retrieving a first set of reference information, based on one or more of the selection image icons, from a second set of reference information stored in a database;

wherein the first set of reference information is based on more than one selected image icon when more than one of the image icons are selected; and

wherein the second set of reference information does not include patient medical history associated with the one or more patient test results presented via the third party interface; and

wherein the second set of reference information stored in the database is indexed based at least partially on one or more relationships to one or more of the image icons in the plurality of image icons of the graphical user interface;

receiving one or more follow up test results for a plurality of patients; and

determining one or more outcomes based on received image icon selections for the plurality of patients and the received follow-up test results;

determining a probability of an outcome based on one or more of the selected image icons for the patient and one or more of the previously determined outcomes.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising presenting at least a portion of the retrieved first set of reference information on the user device.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining a third set of reference information based on a secondary association, wherein the secondary association relates one or more references in the third set of reference information with one of the selected image icons; and

presenting at least a portion of the third set of reference information to the user.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the image icons comprises at least one of:

a characteristic image icon, wherein the characteristic image icon comprises at least a portion of a photographic image associated with a medical characteristic;

or

a breast density image icon, wherein the breast density image icon comprises at least a portion of a photographic image associated with breast density.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the generated graphical user interface comprises association icons;

and wherein receiving the selection of one or more of the image icons comprises receiving a selection of more than one image icon, and further comprising;

receiving a selection of one or more of the association icons;

wherein the first set of reference information is retrieved based on more than one of the selected image icons and at least one of the selected association icons.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving one or more anatomical locations via the generated graphical user interface, wherein the one or more anatomic locations indicates at least a part of the portion of the patient presented in the one or more patient test results;

receiving a second selection of one or more of the image icons to associate with at least one of the received anatomical locations, and wherein the second selection is related to a diagnosis based at least partially on one or more of the presented patient test results; and

automatically generating a report comprising at least a portion of the diagnosis for the patient based on at least one of the second selection of one or more of the image icons.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

receiving follow up information for one or more patients;

comparing follow up information with one or more of the image icons previously selected for each of the one or more patients;

determining errors based on a comparison of the received follow up information and one or more of the image icons previously selected for each of the one or more patients; and

identifying a third set of reference information based at least partially on the determined errors and one or more of the previously selected image icons associated with the determined errors.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

transmitting an error notification to the user based on the determined errors, wherein the error notification comprises a listing of the identified third set of reference information.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

transmitting a notification to the user based on at least one secondary association and one or more of the selected image icons, wherein at least one of the secondary associations designates an association between at least one reference of the first set of reference information and at least one of the selected image icons, and wherein at least one of the secondary associations comprises at least one of;

related characteristics, similar characteristics, or misdiagnosed related characteristics;

retrieving a third set of reference information based at least partially on the at least one secondary association.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a request for one or more variation images; and

retrieving one or more of the variation images associated with at least one of the selected image icons.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the reference information comprises one or more expert verified references.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein two or more image icons selections are received, and further comprising:

receiving a request for one or more variation images related to two or more of the selected image icons; and

retrieving one or more of the variation images associated with the two or more of the selected image icons;

presenting one or more of the retrieved variation images;

receiving a selection of at least one of the two or more of the selected image icons; and

generating a diagnosis report based at least partially on the received selection of at least one of the two or more of the selected icons.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the graphical user interface further comprises:

a plurality of diagnostic icons; and

one or more association icons;

wherein one or more of the image icons comprises one or more breast image icons, and wherein receiving the selection of one or more of the image icons comprises;

receiving a selection of at least one of the breast image icons;

receiving a selection of at least one of the associations icons; and

receiving a selection of at least one of the diagnosis icons;

and wherein retrieving the first set of reference information comprises retrieving a first set of reference information based on the received selection of at least one of the breast image icons, the received selection of at least one of the association icons, and the received selection of at least one of the diagnosis icons.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein one or more of the image icons comprises one or more lesion characteristic icons, and wherein receiving the selection of one or more of the image icons comprises receiving a selection of at least one lesion characteristic icon, and wherein retrieving a first set of reference information is based at least partially on one or more of the selected lesion characteristic icons.

15. A method comprising:

generating a diagnostic graphical user interface to be presented on a user device, wherein the diagnostic graphical user interface is related to one or more patient test results, and wherein the one or more patient test results are presented to a user via a third party interface, and wherein the graphical user interface comprises one or more image icons, and wherein each image icon includes at least a portion of a medical photographic image of an example characteristic, and wherein the example characteristic is not a portion of the one or more patient test results presented via the third party interface, and wherein one or more of the image icons includes one or more breast image icons that include at least a portion of a characteristic of a portion of a breast in mammography;

receiving a selection, via the generated graphical user interface, of one or more anatomical locations, wherein each received anatomic location identifies a part of the patient presented in the one or more patient test results, and wherein at least one of the received anatomical locations is proximate the breast or in the breast;

receiving a selection of one or more of the image icons to associate with at least one of the previously received anatomical locations, wherein one or more of the selected image icons are related to diagnosing the patient; and

automatically generating a report comprising at least a portion of a diagnosis for the patient based on at least one of the selected image icons and at least one of the associated previously received anatomical locations;

receiving one or more follow up test results for a plurality of patients; and

determining one or more outcomes based on received image icon selections for the plurality of patients and the received follow-up test results;

determining a probability of an outcome based on one or more of the selected image icons for the patient and one or more of the previously determined outcomes.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein at least one of the image icons comprises a lymph node image icon, and wherein the lymph node image icon includes at least a portion of a characteristic of a lymph node located proximate a breast, and wherein at least one of the selected image icons comprises the lymph node image icon.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein one or more of the selected image icons comprises one or more breast image icons, and the further comprising:

receiving a request for one or more variation images related to at least one of the selected breast image icons; and

retrieving one or more of the variation images associated with a photographic image included in the at least one of the selected breast image icons.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

generating one or more second diagnostic graphical user interfaces comprising breast images, and wherein the breast images include;

a first breast image comprising a representation of lymph nodes proximate a breast; and

a second breast image comprising a transverse view of the breast; and

receiving a second selection of a second anatomic location on at least one of the breast images; and

wherein the generated report is based at least partially on one or more of the second selections in the one or more second diagnostic graphical user interfaces.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein one or more of the breast image icons comprises one or more breast density image icons, and wherein each of the breast density image icons comprises at least a portion of a photographic image associated with breast density.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising automatically generating billing codes based on at least one of:

one or more of the selected image icons

or one or more text icons selected by the user.

21. The method of claim 15 wherein at least one of the image icons selected comprises at least one of the breast image icons, and further comprising:

receiving a request for reference information associated with at least one of the selected breast image icons; and

retrieving a first set of reference information from a database based on at least one of the selected image icons, wherein the reference information in the database is indexed based at least partially on one or more relationships to one or more of the image icons in the plurality of image icons.

22. The method of claim 15 wherein at least one of the breast image icons comprises a legion icon associated with the breast or an area proximate to the breast, and wherein the graphical user interface comprises one or more diagnostic icons, and wherein receiving a selection of one or more of the image icons comprises receiving a selection of at least one of the legion icons;

and further comprising receiving a selection of one or more of the diagnostic icons, and wherein automatically generating the report comprises automatically generating the report based at least partially on one or more of the selected legion icons and one or more of the selected diagnostic icons.