Masked Data Record Access

• US 20100063843A1
• Filed: 09/10/2008
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 23andme Incorporated (23andMe Holding Co.)
• Original Assignee: Expanse Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Eldering, Charles Anthony, Kenedy, Andrew Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 8,200,509 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records

Abstract

A computer based method and system for masked data record access are presented in which data masks are applied to sensitive personal information so that non-masked portions of that information can be used in the selection of products, services and service providers for a consumer. In one application the method and system are utilized in the selection of healthcare products, services and providers based on pangenetic (genetic and epigenetic) and non-pangenetic information associated with the consumer.

Claims

1. A computer based method for utilization of masked healthcare data records including pangenetic data associated with a consumer, comprising:

a) transmitting a request for at least one healthcare data record associated with the consumer;

b) receiving the at least one healthcare data record, wherein the at least one healthcare data record contains pangenetic data associated with the consumer that has been masked at one or more locations; and

c) correlating the at least one healthcare data record with at least one data record corresponding to a pangenetic based treatment.

2. The computer based method of claim 1, wherein the masking of one or more locations of the pangenetic data associated with the consumer conceals one or more pangenetic features associated with one or more health conditions.

3. The computer based method of claim 1, wherein the masking of one or more locations of the pangenetic data associated with the consumer conceals one or more pangenetic features associated with one or more disease predispositions.

4. The computer based method of claim 1, further comprising:

d) approving the pangenetic based treatment when the correlation exceeds a predetermined threshold.

5. The computer based method of claim 4, further comprising:

e) transmitting the approval to at least one destination selected from the group consisting of a user, a database, a dataset, a computer readable memory, a computer readable medium, a computer processor, a computer network, a printout device, a visual display, and a wireless receiver.

6. The computer based method of claim 1, further comprising:

d) approving payment for the pangenetic based treatment when the correlation exceeds a predetermined threshold.

7. The computer based method of claim 1, further comprising:

d) approving an insurance claim for the pangenetic based treatment when the correlation exceeds a predetermined threshold.

8. The computer based method of claim 1, further comprising:

d) repeating steps (c) for a plurality of pangenetic based treatments.

9. The computer based method of claim 8, further comprising:

e) tabulating a rank listing of the pangenetic based treatments based on the results of the correlations.

10. The computer based method of claim 1, wherein correlating the at least one healthcare data record with at least one data record corresponding to a pangenetic based treatment in step (c) comprises determining the correlation between pangenetic data contained in the at least one healthcare data record and pangenetic data contained in the at least one data record.

11. The computer based method of claim 1, wherein correlating the at least one healthcare data record with at least one data record corresponding to a pangenetic based treatment in step (c) comprises determining the correlation between pangenetic and non-pangenetic data contained in the at least one healthcare data record and pangenetic and non-pangenetic data contained in the at least one data record.

12. The computer based method of claim 1, wherein correlating in step (c) comprises identifying the amount and type of pangenetic data contained in the at least one healthcare data record that is equivalent to pangenetic data contained in the at least one data record to determine the degree of correlation.

13. The computer based method of claim 1, wherein correlating in step (c) comprises identifying pangenetic data contained in the at least one healthcare data record that is equivalent to pangenetic data contained in the at least one data record.

14. The computer based method of claim 13, wherein pangenetic data are identified as being equivalent if they are identical.

15. The computer based method of claim 13, wherein pangenetic data are identified as being equivalent if the pangenetic data are pangenetic features known to be statistically associated with the same outcome with respect to the pangenetic based treatment.

16. The computer based method of claim 13, wherein pangenetic data are identified as being equivalent if the pangenetic data differ with respect to one or more silent pangenetic variations.

17. The computer based method of claim 13, wherein step (d) further comprises transmitting at least a portion of the pangenetic data identified as being equivalent.

18. The computer based method of claim 1, wherein the pangenetic data are selected from the group consisting of single nucleotide polymorphisms, nucleotides, base pairs, nucleotide sequences, gene sequences, genomic sequences, gene mutations, epigenetic modifications, epigenetic sequence patterns, and pangenetic based disorders, traits and conditions.

19. The computer based method of claim 1, wherein the identity of the consumer is masked or anonymized.

20. The computer based method of claim 1, wherein the at least one healthcare record also contains non-pangenetic data associated with the consumer, and wherein step (c) further comprises correlating the non-pangenetic data associated with the consumer with non-pangenetic data contained in the at least one data record corresponding to a pangenetic based treatment.

21. The computer based method of claim 1, wherein the healthcare data record is selected from the group consisting of an electronic medical record, an electronic health record, and a personal health record.

22. The computer based method of claim 1, wherein the pangenetic based treatment is selected from the group consisting of a healthcare service, a non-healthcare service, a clinical service, a medical procedure and a surgical procedure.

23. A computer based method for providing access to consumer controlled pangenetic information, comprising:

a) receiving a request for a pangenetic record associated with a consumer;

b) accessing a data mask, wherein the data mask corresponds to record positions which convey pangenetic features associated with one or more health conditions;

c) applying the data mask to the pangenetic record associated with the consumer to generate a masked pangenetic record; and

d) transmitting the masked pangenetic record.

24. The computer based method of claim 23, wherein the transmitting in step (d) is to at least one destination selected from the group consisting of a user, a database, a dataset, a computer readable memory, a computer readable medium, a computer processor, a computer network, a printout device, a visual display, and a wireless receiver.

25. The computer based method of claim 23, wherein the pangenetic data are selected from the group consisting of single nucleotide polymorphisms, nucleotides, base pairs, nucleotide sequences, gene sequences, genomic sequences, gene mutations, epigenetic modifications, epigenetic sequence patterns, and pangenetic based disorders, traits and conditions.

26. A computer based method for providing access to consumer controlled pangenetic information, comprising:

a) receiving a request for a pangenetic record associated with a consumer;

b) receiving authorization from the consumer for transmission of a masked pangenetic record;

c) accessing a previously approved data mask, wherein the previously approved data mask corresponds to record positions which convey pangenetic features associated with one or more health conditions;

d) applying the previously approved data mask to the pangenetic record associated with the consumer to generate a masked pangenetic record; and

e) transmitting the masked pangenetic record.

27. The computer based method of claim 26, wherein the pangenetic record is selected from the group consisting of an electronic medical record, an electronic health record, and a personal health record.

28. The computer based method of claim 26, wherein the identity of the consumer is masked or anonymized.