Methods and apparatus for image recognition and dictation

• US 20020172405A1
• Filed: 05/18/2001
• Published: 11/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leonard S. Schultz
• Original Assignee: Imasurg Incorporated
• Inventors: Schultz, Leonard S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,735,329 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/128
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/38 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/532 Query formulation, e.g. graphical querying
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/70 for mining of medical data, e.g. analysing previous cases of other patients
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/923 by comparison of patient data to other data

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods of and apparatus for producing and digitizing a number of images to create a digital library of images, providing an image from outside the digital library, digitizing it and comparing it to the digital images in the digital library, and providing a text descriptive of the image from outside the digital library.

Claims

1. A device for providing a text related to an image, comprising:

a microprocessor; and

a library of images and related texts, wherein an image from outside the library may be compared to the images in the library and one of the related texts is selected.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the library of images and associated texts is digital.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the image from outside the library is digital.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of one of the related texts is adapted to be inserted in a record.

5. A device for producing a text suitable for use in a record concerning a surgical procedure, comprising:

a library of images drawn from surgical procedures;

a microprocessor;

an image from outside said library; and

a library of texts, wherein the microprocessor is adapted to compare the image from outside the library to the images in the library, and wherein, based on the comparison, one of none, one or more portions of one or more of said texts, and one or more of said texts is selected for use in the record.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the images in the library, the image from outside the library and the texts are digital.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein the image from outside the library is a recorded image.

8. The device according to claim 5, wherein the image from outside the library is a real-time image.

9. Apparatus for producing a record comprising:

means for manipulating data, including storing a plurality of images and a plurality of texts, each text respectively descriptive of one of said plurality of images;

means for comparing another image to said plurality of images and for selecting the one of said plurality of images most similar to said another image; and

means for selecting the one of said texts descriptive of said most similar of said plurality of images.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising means for digitizing said images.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising means for communicating said images and texts.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said images comprise aspects of medical procedures.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein a plurality of video images and respective digital image signals and text descriptions are provided.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the digital image signals and text descriptions comprise an electronically accessible database.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising indicating that none of said digital image signals are similar to said another digital image signal.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein when none of said digital image signals are similar to said another digital image signal a warning signal is produced.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the digital image signals and text descriptions comprise an electronically accessible database, further comprising creating a text description of said another digital signal and including said another digital signal and the respective text description in the database.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising accessing the database from remote locations.

13. A method of providing a medical record comprising the steps of:

capturing a video image of a medical procedure;

processing said video image to provide a digital image signal;

creating a text description of said video image;

capturing another video image of another medical procedure and processing said another video image to provide another digital image signal; and

comparing said digital image signals, wherein, if said digital image signals are similar said text description is selected to become at least a portion of the medical record.

20. A method of evaluation comprising creating a collection of images and comparing an image from outside the collection to the images in the collection.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said comparing leads to the selection of an image in the collection generally corresponding to the image from outside the collection.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising providing a library of texts and selecting from the library of texts a text generally descriptive of the selected image and the image from outside the collection.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising comparing the selected image from the collection to the image from outside the collection to identify similarities and differences between the two images.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising providing a library of texts and selecting from the library of texts a text generally descriptive of the selected image and the image from outside the collection.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the image from outside the collection is drawn from a situation, and wherein the similarities and differences are used to evaluate the situation.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the collection of images is digital.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising capturing images of said another medical condition.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising digitizing the images of said another medical condition.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein at least a portion of said comparing is accomplished by a microprocessor.

31. The method of claim 24, further comprising creating a collection of descriptions, each description generally corresponding to one or more of the images in the collection of images.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising selecting from the collection of descriptions a description generally corresponding to said another medical condition.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising determining if one of the collection of descriptions generally corresponds to said another medical condition, wherein, if not, a description of the another medical condition is created and added to the collection of descriptions.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said collection of images and said collection of descriptions are stored.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein said collection of images and said collection of descriptions comprise a selectively accessible database.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein said database is digital.

38. The device according to claim 37, further comprising one or more remote accesses.

39. The device according to claim 38, wherein said remote accesses comprise an in-wall connector.

26. A method of evaluating a medical condition comprising creating a collection of images of medical conditions and comparing another medical condition to the images in the collection.

37. A device for providing a text related to an image, comprising:

a microprocessor; and

a digital library of images and related texts, wherein an image from outside the library may be compared to the images in the library and one of the related texts is selected.

40. A method of creating a record comprising the steps of forming groups of selected images, each group depicting a portion of a procedure, and forming a group of selected texts describing the procedure, wherein each of the selected texts forming the group of selected texts corresponds to one of said portions of a procedure.

41. The method according to claim 40, further comprising comparing a new image to the groups of selected images and selecting one of selected texts from the group of selected texts which corresponds most closely to the new images.

42. The method according to claim 419, wherein said images and texts are digital, and wherein said selecting one of selected texts from the group of selected texts is accomplished by a microprocessor.