Universal computer assisted diagnosis
First Claim
1. A method of creating a computer searchable data base for use with a computer having a display screen, input device, and processor, for ultimately diagnosing a condition or event from a large plurality of possible conditions or events or events that may exist in a particular art, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) determining what key words describe the characteristic features of each of the possible conditions or events of the large plurality of possible conditions or events;
(b) creating in computer searchable form a master map for each of the large plurality of possible conditions or events using the key words from step (a) that accurately describe each of the conditions or events, to provide a data base containing all the master maps; and
(c) providing search access to the master maps data base in the computer so that by a user manipulating the input device to provide a narrative containing some of the key words from step (a), the computer processor will compare the key words input to the key words associated with each master map to determine what conditions or events represented by master maps have the highest degree of similarity with the narrative input, and display those conditions or events on the display screen.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided which facilitates diagnosis of any describable condition or event. One example is specialty related medical conditions and diseases. The method first provides, in a computer accessible data base, for the creation of a plurality of master maps using keywords and a new diagnostic mapping language. Then a medical description of a patient'"'"'s history and physical information is input into a computer using simple medical file language. Chemical and test data information are displayed on the screen to prompt entry of available chemical and test data for the patient, and this may also be practiced for imaging selections which may be in a yes/no/empty format. Using a computer processor a data base of specialty medical information is searched to determine the degree of similarity between the information entered and the master maps, and the possible diagnoses are ranked based on the degree of similarity. The three most probable diagnoses are displayed on a monitor, such as in the form of horizontal bar graphics which bar graph is a first color in a horizontal field and the diagnosis corresponding to the bar graph is in the same field in a different color. Biopsy and imaging icons, which are miniature versions of actual biopsies or images exemplary of the disease or condition, may be selected. The computer and data base may be used in a catalog mode, in addition to the above-description analytical mode, by displaying on the screen options relating to the biopsy, imaging, management (a condensed opinion and textual information about how to understand and treat a particular disease or medical condition) and bibliography (a listing of suggested readings).
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of creating a computer searchable data base for use with a computer having a display screen, input device, and processor, for ultimately diagnosing a condition or event from a large plurality of possible conditions or events or events that may exist in a particular art, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) determining what key words describe the characteristic features of each of the possible conditions or events of the large plurality of possible conditions or events;
(b) creating in computer searchable form a master map for each of the large plurality of possible conditions or events using the key words from step (a) that accurately describe each of the conditions or events, to provide a data base containing all the master maps; and
(c) providing search access to the master maps data base in the computer so that by a user manipulating the input device to provide a narrative containing some of the key words from step (a), the computer processor will compare the key words input to the key words associated with each master map to determine what conditions or events represented by master maps have the highest degree of similarity with the narrative input, and display those conditions or events on the display screen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of diagnosing a condition or event from a large plurality of possible conditions or events that may exist in a particular art, each condition or event being provided in a master map which describes that condition or event using a plurality of art specific key words, said method practiced using a computer having a display screen, input device, and processor, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing search access to the master maps data base in the computer so that by a user manipulating the input device to provide a narrative containing some of the key words, the computer processor will compare the key words input to the key words associated with each master map;
(b) using the input device, inputting a narrative description that can facilitate diagnosis, the narrative description using some of the key words;
(c) using the input device, activating the computer processor to recognize the key words from the input narrative description, compare the key words to the key words of each of the master maps, to determine what conditions or events represented by master maps have the highest degree of similarity with the narrative input; and
(d) displaying on the display screen at least the two conditions or events represented by master maps having the highest degree of similarity with the narrative input. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of facilitating diagnosis of medical conditions using a computer having a display screen, an input device, and processor, and connected to a data base of detailed medical information including a plurality of master maps, one for each known medical condition to be evaluated, said method, comprising the steps of:
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(a) using the keyboard, inputting into the computer a medical description of a patient'"'"'s history and physical information, including signs and symptoms, using simple medical file language;
(b) displaying chemical and test data information on the screen to prompt entry of available chemical and test data for the patient;
(c) using the input device, entering all relevant chemical and test data in response to the prompt from step (b);
(d) displaying a plurality of imaging option selections on the screen in yes/no format;
(e) using the input device, entering known imaging data in yes/no format in response to the display in step (d);
(f) using the processor, searching the data base of detailed medical information to determine the degree of resemblance between the data input and each of the master maps, and ranking possible diagnoses based upon the degree of resemblance; and
(g) displaying on the screen at least the two most probable diagnoses based upon the degree of resemblance determined in step (f), and in order of the degree of resemblance. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of facilitating diagnosis of specialty related medical conditions using a computer having a display screen, input device, and processor, and connected to a data base of specialty medical information, comprising the steps of:
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(a) using the input device, inputting into the computer a medical description of a patient'"'"'s history and physical information, including signs and symptoms, and any relevant available chemical and test data and imaging information;
(b) using the processor searching the data base of specialty medical information to determine the most likely possible diagnosis;
(c) displaying on the screen at least the two most probable diagnoses located in step (b); and
(d) substantially simultaneously with step (c), displaying on the screen textual information, and at least one of biopsy and imaging icons, corresponding to a selected diagnosis, the biopsy and imaging icons, if selected, displaying on the screen actual pictorial representations of actual biopsies or images associated with the diagnosis selected. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method of providing specific categorized information relating to medical information using a computer having a display screen and input device, and connected to a data base of medical information, comprising the steps of:
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(a) displaying on the screen the options of biopsy, imaging, management, and bibliography relating to a particular disease or medical condition;
(b) using the input device, selecting the biopsy option to display pictorially on the screen actual biopsy pictorial representations of the particular disease or medical condition;
(c) using the input device selecting the imaging options to display pictorially on the screen actual imaging pictorial representations of the particular disease or medical condition;
(d) using the input device selecting the management option to display on the screen a condensed opinion and textual information about how to understand and treat the particular disease or medical condition; and
(e) using the input device selecting the bibliography option to display on the screen a listing of suggested readings related to pathogenesis and therapy for the particular disease or condition. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A method of providing specific categorized information relating to medical information, using a computer having a display screen, an input device, a CD ROM, and a data base on a CD, comprising the steps of:
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(a) displaying on the screen an analytical option and a catalog option;
(b) using the input device, selecting the analytical option to bring up screens allowing the input of a patient'"'"'s history and physical information, including signs and symptoms, chemical and test data, and imaging data, that may contribute to an accurate differential diagnosis;
(c) using the input device entering the known information from step (b);
(d) with the computer searching the CD data base to compare the information entered with known disease and medical condition information contained in the data base;
(e) using the input device selecting the catalog option to display on the screen options relating to an opinion about how to understand and treat a disease or condition, reading material relating to a selected disease or condition, and at least one of biopsy and imaging information relating to a selected disease or condition; and
(f) using the input device, selectively displaying the at least one of biopsy and imaging information from the CD in pictorial form on the display screen, which biopsy or imaging information relates to a selected disease or condition. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification