Collaborative diagnostic systems
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a microscope that provides an image of a biological specimen in digital form, the microscope responsive to a control signal to change a parameter used to obtain the image of the biological specimen, the parameter including at least one of an objective lens, a focus, a light level, and a specimen position;
a database that includes one or more pathology profiles associated with one or more pathologies, the one or more pathology profiles derived from images of one or more other biological specimens having one or more pathologies;
a decision support system that processes the image from the microscope to obtain an image profile, the image profile including descriptive data of the image, the decision support system comparing the image profile to the one or more pathology profiles in the database to identify one or more of the one or more pathologies that are candidates for a pathology associated with the biological specimen; and
a client interface through which one or more remote users receive the image of the biological specimen and provide input to the system including at least one of generating the control signal to the microscope, communicating with other ones of the one or more remote users, and controlling operation of the decision support system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The systems described herein include tools for computer-assisted evaluation of objective characteristics of pathologies. A diagnostic system arranged according to the teachings herein provides computer support for those tasks well suited to objective analysis, along with human decision making where substantial discretion is involved. Collaborative diagnosis may be provided through shared access to data and shared control over a diagnostic tool, such as a telemicroscope, and messaging service for clinicians who may be at remote locations. These aspects of the system, when working in cooperation with one another, may achieve improved diagnostic accuracy or early detection for pathologies such as lymphoma.
157 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a microscope that provides an image of a biological specimen in digital form, the microscope responsive to a control signal to change a parameter used to obtain the image of the biological specimen, the parameter including at least one of an objective lens, a focus, a light level, and a specimen position;
a database that includes one or more pathology profiles associated with one or more pathologies, the one or more pathology profiles derived from images of one or more other biological specimens having one or more pathologies;
a decision support system that processes the image from the microscope to obtain an image profile, the image profile including descriptive data of the image, the decision support system comparing the image profile to the one or more pathology profiles in the database to identify one or more of the one or more pathologies that are candidates for a pathology associated with the biological specimen; and
a client interface through which one or more remote users receive the image of the biological specimen and provide input to the system including at least one of generating the control signal to the microscope, communicating with other ones of the one or more remote users, and controlling operation of the decision support system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method comprising:
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providing a database that includes one or more pathology profiles associated with one or more cells having one or more pathologies, the pathology profile for each pathology including a shape measure derived from a shape of one or more cells associated with the pathology, a texture measure derived from a texture of the one or more cells associated with the pathology, and an area measure derived from an area of the one or more cells associated with the pathology;
receiving an image of a cell in digital form;
processing the received image to obtain a query vector that includes a shape measure of the cell in the received image, a texture measure of the cell in the received image, and an area of the cell in the received image; and
comparing the query vector to the one or more pathology profiles in the database to obtain a quantitative measure of similarity between the cell in the received image and one of the one or more cells having one or more pathologies. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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17. A system comprising:
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database means for providing a database that includes one or more pathology profiles associated with one or more cells having one or more pathologies, the pathology profile for each pathology including a shape measure derived from a shape of one or more cells associated with the pathology, a texture measure derived from a texture of the one or more cells associated with the pathology, and an area measure derived from an area of the one or more cells associated with the pathology;
imaging means for receiving an image of a cell in digital form;
processing means for processing the received image to obtain a query vector that includes a shape measure of the cell in the received image, a texture measure of the cell in the received image, and an area of the cell in the received image; and
comparing means for comparing the query vector to the one or more pathology profiles in the database to obtain a quantitative measure of similarity between the cell in the received image and one of the one or more cells having one or more pathologies.
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18. A computer program product comprising:
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computer executable code for providing a database that includes one or more pathology profiles associated with one or more cells having one or more pathologies, the pathology profile for each pathology including a shape measure derived from a shape of one or more cells associated with the pathology, a texture measure derived from a texture of the one or more cells associated with the pathology, and an area measure derived from an area of the one or more cells associated with the pathology;
computer executable code for receiving an image of a cell in digital form;
computer executable code for processing the received image to obtain a query vector that includes a shape measure of the cell in the received image, a texture measure of the cell in the received image, and an area of the cell in the received image; and
computer executable code for comparing the query vector to the one or more pathology profiles in the database to obtain a quantitative measure of similarity between the cell in the received image and one of the one or more cells having one or more pathologies.
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19. A method of doing business comprising:
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providing a database that includes one or more pathology profiles associated with one or more pathologies, the pathology profile for each pathology including a shape, a texture, and an area for one or more images of biological specimens that carry the pathology;
providing a decision support system for comparing a new specimen to the one or more pathology profiles and identifying a pathology from the one or more pathology profiles associated with the new specimen; and
providing a server that includes a client interface through which a user may submit the new specimen to the decision support system from a remote location in a network, the server providing a result from the decision support system to the user at the remote location.
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Specification