METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MANAGING DISTRIBUTED DIGITAL MEDICAL DATA
First Claim
1. A method operable on a computer for managing distributed medical data, comprising the steps of:
- receiving, by a computer, a first metadata file containing attributes relating to a remotely stored patient medical file, the first metadata file including attributes relating to the contents of the patient medical file and a location of the patient medical file;
extracting the attributes from the first metadata file;
processing selected attributes extracted from the first metadata file to place the selected attributes in a standardized format;
storing the selected attributes, in the standardized format, in a database entry in a database relating to patients;
receiving a second metadata file containing attributes relating to a remotely stored patient medical file;
extracting the attributes from the second metadata file; and
comparing, by the computer, the attributes from the second metadata file to the attributes stored in the database entry to determine if the second metadata file matches the database entry.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network for mediating the peer-to-peer transfer of digital patient medical data includes a plurality of distributed agents each associated with a health care provider and connected to a central system. Periodically the agents collect local information relating to patient medical files and/or data streams, for example diagnostic images and associated reports, and process that information into metadata files acting as pointers to the original files. The metadata files are transmitted to the central system where they are parsed and the attributes are stored on the central system in patient records with records from the same patient grouped together whenever possible. Registered users can search the central system, even in the absence of a unique identifier, to identify patient records pointing to the remote patient medical files. Upon finding a patient medical file, the invention provides a streamlined process for communicating access authorization from the patient to the hospital or facility storing the medical files. Once patient authorization is received, secure processes are provided for transferring the data in its entirety to or for viewing by the user in a peer-to-peer fashion.
34 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method operable on a computer for managing distributed medical data, comprising the steps of:
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receiving, by a computer, a first metadata file containing attributes relating to a remotely stored patient medical file, the first metadata file including attributes relating to the contents of the patient medical file and a location of the patient medical file; extracting the attributes from the first metadata file; processing selected attributes extracted from the first metadata file to place the selected attributes in a standardized format; storing the selected attributes, in the standardized format, in a database entry in a database relating to patients; receiving a second metadata file containing attributes relating to a remotely stored patient medical file; extracting the attributes from the second metadata file; and comparing, by the computer, the attributes from the second metadata file to the attributes stored in the database entry to determine if the second metadata file matches the database entry. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for managing distributed medical data, comprising:
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a processor; a memory connected to the processor and storing instructions for controlling the operation of the processor; the processor operative with the instructions in the memory to perform the steps of; receiving a first metadata file containing attributes relating to a remotely stored patient medical file, the first metadata file including attributes relating to the contents of the patient medical file and a location of the patient medical file; extracting the attributes from the first metadata file; processing selected attributes extracted from the first metadata file to place the selected attributes in a standardized format; storing the selected attributes, in the standardized format, in a database entry in a database relating to patients; receiving a second metadata file containing attributes relating to a remotely stored patient medical file; extracting the attributes from the second metadata file; and comparing the attributes from the second metadata file to the attributes stored in the database entry to determine if the second metadata file matches the database entry. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer-implemented method for managing distributed medical data, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a first metadata file containing attributes relating to a remotely stored patient medical file, the first metadata file including attributes relating to the contents of the patient medical file and a location of the patient medical file; extracting the attributes from the first metadata file; processing selected attributes extracted from the first metadata file to place the selected attributes in a standardized format; storing the selected attributes, in the standardized format, in a database entry in a database relating to patients; receiving a second metadata file containing attributes relating to a remotely stored patient medical file; extracting the attributes from the second metadata file; and comparing the attributes from the second metadata file to the attributes stored in the database entry to determine if the second metadata file matches the database entry.
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18. A system for managing distributed medical data, comprising:
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means for receiving a first metadata file containing attributes relating to a remotely stored patient medical file, the first metadata file including attributes relating to the contents of the patient medical file and a location of the patient medical file; means for extracting the attributes from the first metadata file; means for processing selected attributes extracted from the first metadata file to place the selected attributes in a standardized format; means for storing the selected attributes, in the standardized format, in a database entry in a database relating to patients; means for receiving a second metadata file containing attributes relating to a remotely stored patient medical file; means for extracting the attributes from the second metadata file; and means for comparing the attributes from the second metadata file to the attributes stored in the database entry to determine if the second metadata file matches the database entry.
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19. A computer readable storage medium storing thereon a computer program operable on a computer for managing distributed medical data by performing the steps of:
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receiving, by the computer, a first metadata file containing attributes relating to a remotely stored patient medical file, the first metadata file including attributes relating to the contents of the patient medical file and a location of the patient medical file; extracting the attributes from the first metadata file; processing selected attributes extracted from the first metadata file to place the selected attributes in a standardized format; storing the selected attributes, in the standardized format, in a database entry in a database relating to patients; receiving a second metadata file containing attributes relating to a remotely stored patient medical file; extracting the attributes from the second metadata file; and comparing, by the computer, the attributes from the second metadata file to the attributes stored in the database entry to determine if the second metadata file matches the database entry.
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Specification