SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTE MELANOMA SCREENING

• US 20120008838A1
• Filed: 12/21/2010
• Published: 01/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Health Discovery Corporation
• Original Assignee: Health Discovery Corporation
• Inventors: Guyon, Isabelle, Barnhill, Stephen D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,543,519 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/128
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 20/00 Machine learning
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 20/10 using kernel methods, e.g. support vector machines [SVM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 20/20 Ensemble learning
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10024 Color image
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20081 Training; Learning
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30088 Skin; Dermal
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0012 Biomedical image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/62 of area, perimeter, diameter or volume
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/66 of image moments or centre of gravity
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/68 of symmetry
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment

Abstract

A system and method are provided for diagnosing diseases or conditions from digital images taken by a remote user with a smart phone or a digital camera and transmitted to an image analysis server in communication with a distributed network. The image analysis server includes a trained learning machine for classification of the images. The user-provided image is pre-processed to extract dimensional, shape and color features then is processed using the trained learning machine to classify the image. The classification result is postprocessed to generate a risk score that is transmitted to the remote user. A database associated with the server may include referral information for geographically matching the remote user with a local physician. An optional operation includes collection of financial information to secure payment for analysis services.

Claims

1. A system for analyzing image data received from a remote user for evaluating a medical image for screening for a disease or condition, the system comprising:

a server in communication with a distributed network for receiving a digital image data set from the remote user, the remote user also in communication with the distributed network;

a processor for executing a learning machine, wherein the learning machine is trained using image data sets having known outcomes for skin cancer, the processor further operable for;

receiving the digital image data set from the remote user;

pre-processing the digital image data set to extract from the image;

inputting the extracted features into the trained learning machine to produce an output comprising a recognized pattern within the digital image data set;

post-processing the output to generate a score corresponding to the recognized pattern associated with the disease or condition; and

transmitting the score to the server;

wherein the server is further operable for transmitting the score to the remote user across the distributed network.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is further operable for transmitting information about the disease or condition to the remote user across the distributed network.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the disease or condition is skin cancer.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital image is generated by the remote user using a camera integrated into a smart phone and wherein the smart phone is in communication with the distributed network.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital image is generated by the remote user using a digital camera and wherein the digital image is stored on a personal computer that is in communication with the distributed network.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is further operable for generating a survey for completion by the remote user.

7. A system for analyzing image data received from a remote user for screening for skin cancer, the system comprising:

a server in communication with a distributed network for receiving a digital image data set from the remote user, the remote user also in communication with the distributed network;

a processor for executing a learning machine, wherein the learning machine is trained using image data sets having known outcomes for skin cancer, the processor further operable for;

receiving the digital image data set from the remote user;

pre-processing the digital image data set to extract features including contour, dimension and color features;

inputting the extracted features into the trained learning machine to produce an output comprising a recognized pattern within the digital image data set;

post-processing the output to generate a skin cancer risk score corresponding to the recognized pattern; and

transmitting the skin cancer risk score to the server;

wherein the server is further operable for transmitting the alphanumerical skin cancer risk score to the remote user across the distributed network.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the server is further operable for transmitting information about skin cancer to the remote user across the distributed network.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the digital image is generated by the remote user using a camera integrated into a smart phone and wherein the smart phone is in communication with the distributed network.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the digital image is generated by the remote user using a digital camera and wherein the digital image is stored on a personal computer that is in communication with the distributed network.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the server is further operable for generating a survey for completion by the remote user.

12. The system of claim 7, further comprising a physician referral database, wherein the server is further operable for obtaining geographical location information from the remote user and matching physicians within the referral database with the remote user based upon the remote user'"'"'s geographical location.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein preprocessing includes an algorithm for identification of garbage images that are unrelated to skin cancer.