Decision support system and method for diagnosis consultation in laboratory hematopathology

• US 5,692,220 A
• Filed: 09/02/1993
• Issued: 11/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Coulter International Corp.
• Original Assignee: Coulter Corporation (Danaher Corporation)
• Inventors: Diamond, Lawrence W., Nguyen, Doyen T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, Jack B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILEY, DAVID ARMAND
• Application Number:
  US08/116,131
• Time in Patent Office: 1,545 Days
• Field of Search: 364/413.07, 364/413.08, 364/413.02, 128/630, 128/920, 128/921, 128/924, 436/63, 436/17, 436/172, 382/6, 395/54, 395/60, 395/64, 395/924
• US Class Current: 600/368
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/14 Optical investigation techniques, e.g. flow cytometry
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00603 Reinspection of samples
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/0092 Scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 706/924 Medical

Abstract

A system and method of diagnosis provides that data from a hematopathology analyzer, e.g., hematology analyzer and/or other blood testing instrument or test, is input and compared with patterns corresponding to specific patient conditions. The matched patterns are arranged in a hierarchy in accordance with predetermined rules. Initially the patterns matched are displayed, optionally with recommendations for additional testing. If additional testing is done, a comparison of the original test data and new data is done, the patterns matched and at least one highest ranked pattern is identified, optionally with a differential diagnosis.

Claims

1. A method of interpreting hematopathology test results to arrive at a diagnosis of a patient comprising the steps of:

conducting at least one hematopathology test on at least one sample from a patient;

retrieving data from said at least one hematopathology test for the patient and storing said hematopathology test data in a database;

comparing said hematopathology test data with at least one set of a predetermined number of hematopathology patterns, each of said hematopathology patterns corresponding to different patient conditions and said patterns arranged in a predetermined hierarchy, to determine which patterns match said hematopathology test data in said database;

displaying the patterns matched, with recommendations corresponding to the matched patterns for one of no additional testing and one of a plurality of identified additional testing, the results of which are likely to lead to a diagnosis of the patient'"'"'s condition;

conducting any additional testing recommended, retrieving the data therefrom and storing it in said database with said hematopathology test data;

comparing said additional test data and hematopathology test data with said predetermined number of patterns, to determine which patterns match said hematopathology test data in said database; and

identifying and displaying the highest ranked pattern in said hierarchy to arrive at a differential diagnosis of the patient'"'"'s condition.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein said hematopathology test is a hematology test in which peripheral blood analysis is conducted.

3. A method as in claim 1 wherein said hematopathology test is a hematology test in which peripheral blood analysis is conducted.

4. A method as in claim 3 wherein said additional test is a review of a blood smear from the patient, and further comprising one of inputting additional data from the blood smear review and correcting for any erroneous data input into said database from said hematology test.

5. A method as in claim 4 wherein said differential diagnosis includes recommendations for additional testing comprised of flow cytometry testing of a sample from the patient, and further comprising:

conducting said flow cytometry testing;

inputting the flow cytometry test data from said testing into said database with said hematology test data;

comparing said flow cytometry test data and hematology test data with said at least one set of a predetermined number of patterns, to determine which patterns match said hematology test data and flow cytometry test data in said database; and

identifying and displaying at least one highest ranked pattern in said hierarchy to arrive at a differential diagnosis of the patient'"'"'s condition.

6. A method as in claim 4 wherein said differential diagnosis includes recommendations for additional testing comprised of bone marrow testing of a sample from the patient, and further comprising:

conducting said bone marrow testing;

inputting the bone marrow test data from said testing into said database with said hematology test data;

comparing said bone marrow test data and hematology test data with said at least one set of a predetermined number of patterns, to determine which patterns match said hematology test data and bone marrow test data in said database; and

identifying and displaying the highest ranked pattern in said hierarchy to arrive at a differential diagnosis of the patient'"'"'s condition.

7. A method of interpreting hematopathology test results to arrive at a diagnosis of a patient;

comprising the steps of;

conducting at least one hematopathology test on at least one sample from a patient, said hematopathology test being a flow cytometry test;

retrieving data from said flow cytometry test for the patient and storing said flow cytometry test data in a database;

comparing said flow cytometry test data with at least one set of a predetermined number of hematopathology patterns previously stored in said database, each of said hematopathology patterns corresponding to different patient conditions and said patterns arranged in a predetermined hierarchy to determine which patterns match said flow cytometry test data in said database; and

identifying and displaying at least one highest ranked pattern in said hierarchy to arrive at a differential diagnosis of the patient'"'"'s condition.

8. A method as in claim 7 wherein said hematopathology test is a bone marrow test, and wherein said comparing step is conducted by comparing said test data from said bone marrow test and data from a hematology test previously entered into said database with said at least one set of patterns.

9. A method as in claim 7 wherein said hematopathology test is a flow cytometry test, and wherein said comparing step is conducted by comparing said test data from said flow cytometry test and data from a bone marrow test previously entered into said database with said at least one set of patterns.

10. A method as in claim 7 wherein said hematopathology test is a hematology test, and wherein said comparing step is conducted by comparing said test data from said hematology test and data from a flow cytometry test previously entered into said database with said at least one set of patterns.

11. A method as in claim 7 wherein said hematopathology test is a hematology test, and wherein said comparing step is conducted by comparing said test data from said hematology test and data from a bone marrow test previously input into said database with said patterns.

12. A method as in claim 7 wherein said hematopathology test is a bone marrow test, and wherein said comparing step is conducted by comparing said test data from said bone marrow test and data from a flow cytometry test previously input into said database with said patterns.

13. A system for interpreting hematopathology test results to arrive at a diagnosis of a patient, comprising:

database storage means for storing a database of test results from hematopathology tests for specific patients;

knowledge base/inference engine means for storing at least one set of a predetermined number of patterns corresponding to specific patient conditions, including a normal condition, with said patterns arranged in a predetermined hierarchy, and for storing instructions for comparing said patterns to said database of test results for determining which patterns are matched;

comparing means for comparing data from said tests for a specific patient with said patterns to determine which patterns are matched and which pattern is highest in the hierarchy;

input means for inputting said data from test results into said database; and

output means for outputting the results of said comparison by said comparing means, said results being comprised of at least one of the highest ranked pattern, a differential diagnosis and recommendations for additional testing.

14. A system as in claim 13 wherein said input means comprises a keyboard, said output means comprises a display, said database storage means and knowledge base storage means comprise a "direct access storage device" (DASD), and said comparing means comprises a central processing unit.

15. A system as in claim 14 wherein said input means further comprises interface means connected to said comparing means and configured for being connected to a hematology analyzer for having test results therefrom directly input into said database storage means.

16. A system as in claim 14 wherein said input means further comprises interface means connected to said comparing means and configured for being connected to a flow cytometry analyzer for having test results therefrom directly input into said database storage means.

17. A system as in claim 13 further comprising textbook storage means for storing textbook reference data about hematopathology and connected for allowing a user to make reference to hematopathology reference data when reviewing the results of any comparison conducted with said system.

18. A system as in claim 14 further comprising textbook storage means for storing textbook reference data about hematopathology and connected for allowing a user to make reference to hematopathology reference data when reviewing the results of any comparison conducted with said system and wherein said textbook storage means comprises a "direct access storage device" (DASD).