Image reporting method and system

• US 20050135662A1
• Filed: 08/31/2004
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David J. Vining, David K. Ahn, David R. Stelts, Yaorong Ge
• Original Assignee: David J. Vining, David K. Ahn, David R. Stelts, Yaorong Ge
• Inventors: Ge, Yaorong, Ahn, David K., Stelts, David R., Vining, David J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,289,651 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/128
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/5838 using colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10527 Audio or video recording; Data buffering arrangements G11B20/12 - G11B20/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2020/10944 Real-time recording or reproducing, e.g. for ensuring seamless playback of AV data
• 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 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/922 including image analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A method and system are provided to report the findings of an expert'"'"'s analysis of image data. The method and system are based on a reporting system that forms the basis of an image management system that can efficiently and systematically generate image reports, facilitate data entry into searchable databases for data mining, and expedite billing and collections for the expert'"'"'s services. The expert identifies a significant finding on an image and attaches a location:description code to the location of that finding in order to create a significant finding and an entry into a database. Further descriptions of that finding, such as dimensional measurements, may be automatically appended to the finding as secondary attributes. After the evaluation, the system sorts the findings in the database and presents the findings by prioritized categories. The expert edits and approves a multimedia report which may be delivered by electronic means to an end-user.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for the analysis of image data comprising the steps of:

presenting an image of at least a selected portion of anatomy to a user for review;

associating a position descriptor with a selected feature of the anatomy, the position descriptor representing the position of the selected feature within the image;

associating a location-code with the selected feature, the location-code representing the location of the selected feature relative to a structure depicted in the image;

associating a physical property characteristic with the selected feature, the characteristic representing a physical property of the selected feature; and

storing the position descriptor, location-code, and physical property characteristic in a computer database, whereby an image finding is created.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the image comprises anatomical information, and the location-code comprises a location of the selected feature relative to an anatomical structure depicted in the image.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the physical property includes at least one of a pathology and dimension of the selected feature.

9. A method according to any one of claims 1, 4, and 7, comprising retrieving a content-code associated with the image, the content-code specifying that a specific object is depicted within the image, and initializing a menu in response to the content-code, whereby menu items associated with the specific object are listed in a predetermined manner in the menu.

11. A method according to any one of claims 1, 4, and 7, comprising retrieving a prior report containing a most recent physical property characteristic, and initializing a menu in response to the most recent physical property characteristic, whereby menu items associated with the most recent physical property characteristic are listed in a predetermined manner in the menu.

12. A method according to any one of claims 1, 4, and 7, comprising retrieving a prior report containing a plurality of physical property characteristics, and initializing a menu in response to the most frequently used physical property characteristic, whereby menu items associated with the most frequently used physical property characteristic are listed in a predetermined manner in the menu.

13. A method according to any one of claims 1, 4, and 7, comprising retrieving a selected patient characteristic associated with the image, and initializing a menu in response to the patient characteristic, whereby menu items associated with the patient characteristic are listed in a predetermined manner in the menu.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the patient characteristic comprises the gender of the patient.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein the menu comprises at least one of an anatomical-location menu and a pathology description menu.

16. A method according to claim 15 comprising retrieving a prior report containing a most recent physical property characteristic, and initializing the menu in response to the most recent physical property characteristic, whereby menu items associated with the most recent physical property characteristic are listed in a predetermined manner in the menu.

17. A method according to claim 15, comprising retrieving a prior report containing a plurality of physical property characteristics, and the a menu in response to the most frequently used physical property characteristic, whereby menu items associated with the most frequently used physical property characteristic are listed in a predetermined manner in the menu.

18. A method according to any one of claims 1, 4, and 7, comprising retrieving a selected patient characteristic associated with the image, and initializing a menu in response to the patient characteristic, whereby menu items unrelated to the patient characteristic are not presented in the menu.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the patient characteristic comprises the gender of the patient.

20. A method according to any one of claims 1, 4, and 7, comprising creating a summary of prior findings.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein the step of creating a summary comprises retrieving a prior report relating to a patient shown in the image and extracting a prior finding from the prior report.

22. A method according to claim 20, wherein the step of arranging the prior findings comprises omitting a selected prior finding from the summary.

23. A method according to claim 20, wherein the step of creating a summary comprises arranging the prior findings according to a selected significance of the prior findings.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein the step of arranging the prior findings comprises at least one of grouping the prior findings within the summary and ranking the prior findings within the summary.

25. A method according to claim 23, wherein the significance of the prior findings includes at least one of a designated priority code, a designated anatomical feature, and an image modality.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein the priority code is selected from the group consisting of “

life-threatening,”

“

significant,” and

“

incidental.”

27. A method according to claim 25, wherein the anatomical feature comprises a particular body structure.

28. A method according to claim 25, wherein the image modality includes at least one of an x-ray, a sonogram, and a CAT scan.

29. A method according to any one of claims 1, 4, and 7, comprising retrieving a plurality of prior findings of the selected feature from at least one prior analysis of an image, and displaying an element of the prior findings in a graphical display to describe a chronology of the element.

30. A method according to claim 29, wherein the element comprises the size of the selected feature.

31. A method according to claim 30, wherein the size comprises at least one of an area, volume, and a distance of the selected feature.

4. A computer implemented method for creating a report pertaining to the diagnostic analysis of image data comprising the steps of:

displaying an image of at least a selected portion of anatomy from the image data to a user for review;

creating in a computer memory a diagnostic finding comprising the steps of

a) identifying a feature shown in the anatomy,

b) recording in the computer memory an image-detail of the identified feature,

c) associating a physical property characteristic with the diagnostic finding, the characteristic representing a physical property of the diagnostic finding; and

generating a report comprising the diagnostic finding.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the image-detail comprises a snapshot of the feature.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein the physical property includes at least one of a pathology and dimension of the selected feature.

7. A computer implemented method for analysis of an image of at least a portion of anatomy comprising the steps of:

associating a position descriptor with a selected feature shown in the image, the position descriptor representing the position of the selected feature within the image;

associating a physical property characteristic with the selected feature, the characteristic representing a physical property of the selected feature; and

storing the position descriptor and the physical property characteristic in a database,

whereby an image finding is created.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the physical property characteristic comprises at least one of a location description which describes the location of the selected feature relative to an object depicted in the image and a pathology description of the selected feature.

10. A method according to claim 7, wherein the content-code comprises at least one of an anatomical-location code and a pathology-description code.

32. A system for the analysis of image data comprising:

a display for presenting an image of at least a selected portion of anatomy to a user for review;

a position annotator for associating with a selected feature shown in the image a position descriptor representing the position of the selected feature within the image;

a location annotator for associating with the feature a location-code denoting the location of the feature relative to a structure depicted in the image;

a physical property annotator for associating with the selected feature a physical property characteristic representing a physical property of the selected feature; and

a memory for storing the position descriptor, location-code, and physical property characteristic in a computer database to create an image finding.

33. A system according to claim 32, wherein the image comprises anatomical information, and the location-code comprises a location of the selected feature relative to an anatomical structure depicted in the image.

34. A system according to claim 32, wherein the physical property includes at least one of a pathology and dimension of the selected feature.

37. A system according to claim 32 or claim 35, wherein the image comprises the content-code denoting that a specific object is depicted within the image, and the system comprises a menu initializer for initializing a menu in response to the content-code, whereby menu items associated with the specific object are listed in a predetermined manner in the menu.

38. A system according to claim 37, wherein the content-code comprises at least one of an anatomical-location code and a pathology-description code.

39. A system according to claim 32 or claim 35, comprising a report loader for retrieving a prior report containing a most recent physical property characteristic and comprising a menu initializer for initializing a menu in response to the most recent physical property characteristic, whereby menu items associated with the most recent physical property characteristic are listed in a predetermined manner in the menu.

40. A system according to claim 32 or claim 35, comprising a report loader for retrieving a prior report containing a plurality of physical property characteristics and comprising a menu initializer for initializing a menu in response to a most frequently used physical property characteristic, whereby menu items associated with the most frequently used physical property characteristic are listed in a predetermined manner in the menu.

41. A system according to claim 32 or claim 35, comprising a menu initializer for retrieving a selected patient characteristic associated with the image and for initializing a menu in response to the patient characteristic, whereby menu items associated with the patient characteristic are listed in a predetermined manner in the menu.

42. A system according to claim 41, wherein the patient characteristic comprises the gender of the patient.

43. A system according to claim 41, wherein the menu comprises at least one of an anatomical-location menu and a pathology description menu.

44. A system according to claim 32 or claim 35, comprising a menu initializer for retrieving a selected patient characteristic associated with the image and for initializing a menu in response to the patient characteristic, whereby menu items unrelated to the patient characteristic are not presented in the menu.

45. A system according to claim 44, wherein the patient characteristic comprises the gender of the patient.

46. A system according to claim 32 or claim 35, comprising a finding analyzer for creating a summary of prior findings.

47. A system according to claim 46, wherein the finding analyzer comprises a file loader for retrieving a prior report relating to a patient shown in the image and for extracting a prior finding from the prior report.

48. A system according to claim 46, wherein the finding analyzer comprises a sorter for arranging the prior findings according to a selected significance of the prior findings.

49. A system according to claim 48, wherein the significance of the prior findings includes at least one of a designated priority code, a designated anatomical feature, and an image modality.

50. A system according to claim 49, wherein the priority code is selected from the group consisting of “

life-threatening”

, “

significant”

, and “

incidental.”

51. A system according to claim 49, wherein the anatomical feature comprises a particular body structure.

52. A system according to claim 49, wherein the image modality includes at least one of an x-ray, a sonogram, and a CAT scan.

53. A system according to claim 48, wherein the finding analyzer comprises a finding grouper for grouping the prior findings within the summary according to the selected significance.

54. A system according to claim 32 or claim 35, comprising a graph generator for retrieving a plurality of prior findings of the selected feature from at least one prior analysis of an image and for displaying an element of the prior findings in a graphical display to describe a chronology of the element.

55. A system according to claim 54, wherein the element comprises the size of the selected feature.

56. A system according to claim 55, wherein the size comprises at least one of an area, volume, and a distance of the selected feature.

35. A computer system for analysis of an image of a selected portion of anatomy comprising:

a position annotator for associating with a selected feature shown in the image a position descriptor representing the position of the selected feature within the image;

a physical property annotator for associating with the selected feature a physical property characteristic representing a physical property of the selected feature; and

a memory for storing the position descriptor and the physical property characteristic in a database to create an image finding.

36. A system according to claim 35, wherein the physical property characteristic comprises at least one of a location description which describes the location of the selected feature relative to an object depicted in the image and a pathology description of the selected feature.

57. A computer implemented method for the analysis of image data comprising the steps of:

presenting an image of at least a selected portion of anatomy to a user for review;

associating a position descriptor with a selected feature of the anatomy, the position descriptor representing the coordinate of the selected feature within the image;

associating a location-code with the selected feature, the location-code representing the location of the selected feature relative to an entity depicted in the image;

associating a property characteristic with the selected feature, the characteristic representing a property of the selected feature; and

storing the position descriptor, location-code, and property characteristic in a computer database, whereby an image finding is created.

58. A method according to claim 57, wherein the image comprises anatomical information, and the location-code comprises a location of the selected feature relative to an anatomical structure depicted in the image.

59. A method according to claim 57, wherein the property includes at least one of a pathology and metric of the selected feature.

60. A computer implemented method for creating a report pertaining to the analysis of image data comprising the steps of:

displaying an image of at least a selected portion of anatomy from the image data to a user for review;

creating in a computer memory a finding comprising the steps of

a) identifying a feature shown in the image,

b) recording in the computer memory an image-detail of the identified feature,

c) associating a physical property characteristic with the finding, the characteristic representing a physical property of the finding; and

generating a report comprising the diagnostic finding.