Methods and apparatus for interpreting measured laboratory data

• US 6,292,761 B1
• Filed: 09/02/1998
• Issued: 09/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William Franklin Jr. Hancock
• Original Assignee: William Franklin Jr. Hancock
• Inventors: Hancock, William Franklin Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAH, KAMINI S
• Application Number:
  US09/145,999
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 702/189, 702/67, 702/19, 702/121, 702/176, 702/183, 345/440, 346/33 ME, 73/23.36, 73/23.2, 73/23.35
• US Class Current: 702/189
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer program products for determining relative normalcy and abnormalcy of a plurality of test results are provided. Test results are transformed into respective unitized values and then graphically displayed with a unitized reference range. An analytical variation of each of the respective unitized values may be determined and displayed.

Claims

1. A method of determining relative normalcy and abnormalcy of a plurality of test results, wherein the test includes a reference range of normal test results associated therewith, the method comprising the following steps that are performed in a data processing system:

unitizing singularly possible normal test results in the normal reference range to a single number, wherein the normal reference range is bounded by upper and lower values of normalcy, wherein a single fractional value of each normal value in the normal reference range is equal to a single fractional value of every other normal value in the normal reference range, and wherein a sum of all fractional values equals the single number;

determining a total number of singularly possible normal test results within respective halves of the normal reference range, comprising;

converting singularly possible normal test results in the normal reference range having a decimal value to a whole number;

determining a total number of singularly possible test results within the normal reference range to produce a normal reference range spread, comprising;

subtracting the lower value of normalcy from the upper value of normalcy; and

adding an integer to the value obtained by subtracting the lower value of normalcy from the upper value of normalcy; and

dividing the normal reference range spread in half;

transforming each of the plurality of test results into respective equilibrated values, wherein each equilibrated value represents relative position of a respective test result with respect to a mean of the normal reference range so as to yield numerically like data values when the data values are equally less than or greater than the respective lower and upper values of normalcy;

transforming each of the equilibrated values into respective unitized values, wherein each unitized value represents relative normalcy or abnormalcy of a respective test result with respect to the upper and lower values of normalcy of the normal reference range; and

graphically displaying each of the unitized values with the unitized reference range and a unitized analytical variation, wherein each test is displayed on a single line with each test referenced to a single uniform reference range for all of the tests, wherein the single uniform reference range comprises the single number.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of transforming each of the plurality of test results into respective equilibrated values comprises the steps of:

converting each test result having a decimal value to a whole number value;

determining a mean of the normal reference range for each of a plurality of tests; and

determining a difference between the respective mean and each of the plurality of test results.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of transforming each of the equilibrated values into respective unitized values comprises multiplying each respective equilibrated value with a fractional value of the plurality of normal test results in one-half of the normal reference range for each of a plurality of tests.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the fractional value of the plurality of test results for each of a plurality of tests comprises a reciprocal of one-half of the total number of singularly possible test results in the normal reference range.

5. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of determining a unitized analytical variation of each of the respective unitized values, wherein a traditionally determined analytical variation of the test is multiplied by a fractional value of the respective test of a plurality of tests.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the unitizing step is preceded by the step of storing a single unitizing normal reference range number, a plurality of test identifications and associated test results, reference range spreads, halves of reference range spreads, fractional values, equivalent values, and normal reference ranges in the data processing system.

7. A data processing system for determining relative normalcy and abnormalcy of a plurality of test results, wherein the test includes a normal reference range of test results associated therewith, comprising:

means for unitizing singularly possible normal test results in the normal reference range to a single number, wherein the normal reference range is bounded by upper and lower values of normalcy, wherein a single fractional value of each normal value in the normal reference range is equal to a single fractional value of every other normal value in the normal reference range, and wherein a sum of all fractional values equals the single number;

means for determining a total number of singularly possible normal test results within respective halves of the normal reference range, comprising;

converting singularly possible normal test results in the normal reference range having a decimal value to a whole number;

determining a total number of singularly possible test results within the normal reference range to produce a normal reference range spread, comprising;

subtracting the lower value of normalcy from the upper value of normalcy; and

adding an integer to the value obtained by subtracting the lower value of normalcy from the upper value of normalcy; and

dividing the normal reference range spread in half;

means for transforming each of the plurality of test results into respective equilibrated values, wherein each equilibrated value represents relative position of a respective test result with respect to a mean of the normal reference range so as to yield numerically like data values when the data values are equally less than or greater than the respective lower and upper values of normalcy;

means for transforming each of the equilibrated values into respective unitized values, wherein each unitized value represents relative normalcy or abnormalcy of a respective test result with respect to the upper and lower values of normalcy of the normal reference range; and

graphically displaying each of the unitized values with the unitized reference range and a unitized analytical variation, wherein each test is displayed on a single line with each test referenced to a single uniform reference range for all of the tests, wherein the single uniform reference range comprises the single number.

8. A data processing system according to claim 7 wherein the means for transforming each of the plurality of test results into respective equilibrated values comprises:

means for converting each test result having a decimal value to a whole number value;

means for determining a mean of the normal reference range for each of a plurality of tests; and

means for determining a difference between the respective mean and each of the plurality of test results.

9. A data processing system according to claim 7 wherein the means for transforming each of the equilibrated values into respective unitized values comprises means for multiplying each respective equilibrated value with a fractional value of the plurality of normal test results in one-half of the normal reference range for each of a plurality of tests.

10. A data processing system according to claim 9 wherein the fractional value of the plurality of test results for each of a plurality of tests comprises a reciprocal of one-half of the total number of singularly possible test results in the normal reference range.

11. A data processing system according to claim 7 further comprising means for determining an analytical variation of each of the respective unitized values.

12. A data processing system according to claim 7 further comprising means for storing a single unitizing normal reference range number, a plurality of test identifications and associated test results, reference range spreads, halves of reference range spreads, fractional values, equivalent values, and normal reference ranges in the data processing system.

13. A computer program product for determining relative normalcy and abnormalcy of a plurality of test results, wherein the test includes a normal reference range of test results associated therewith, the computer program product comprising a computer usable storage medium having computer readable program code means embodied in the medium, the computer readable program code means comprising:

computer readable program code means for unitizing singularly possible normal test results in the normal reference range to a single number, wherein the normal reference range is bounded by upper and lower values of normalcy, wherein a single fractional value of each normal value in the normal reference range is equal to a single fractional value of every other normal value in the normal reference range, and wherein a sum of all fractional values equals the single number;

computer readable program code means for determining a total number of singularly possible normal test results within respective halves of the normal reference range, comprising;

converting singularly possible normal test results in the normal reference range having a decimal value to a whole number;

determining a total number of singularly possible test results within the normal reference range to produce a normal reference range spread, comprising;

subtracting the lower value of normalcy from the upper value of normalcy; and

adding an integer to the value obtained by subtracting the lower value of normalcy from the upper value of normalcy; and

dividing the normal reference range spread in half;

computer readable program code means for transforming each of the plurality of test results into respective equilibrated values, wherein each equilibrated value represents relative position of a respective test result with respect to a mean of the normal reference range so as to yield numerically like data values when the data values are equally less than or greater than the respective lower and upper values of normalcy;

computer readable program code means for transforming each of the equilibrated values into respective unitized values, wherein each unitized value represents relative normalcy or abnormalcy of a respective test result with respect to the upper and lower values of normalcy of the normal reference range; and

graphically displaying each of the unitized values with the unitized reference range and a unitized analytical variation, wherein each test is displayed on a single line with each test referenced to a single uniform reference range for all of the tests, wherein the single uniform reference range comprises the single number.

14. A computer program product according to claim 13 wherein the computer readable program code means for transforming each of the plurality of test results into respective equilibrated values comprises:

computer readable program code means for converting each test result having a decimal value to a whole number value;

computer readable program code means for determining a mean of the normal reference range for each of a plurality of tests; and

computer readable program code means for determining a difference between the respective mean and each of the plurality of test results.

15. A computer program product according to claim 13 wherein the computer readable program code means for transforming each of the equilibrated values into respective unitized values comprises computer readable program code means for multiplying each respective equilibrated value with a fractional value of the plurality of normal test results in one-half of the normal reference range for each of a plurality of tests.

16. A computer program product according to claim 15 wherein the fractional value of the plurality of test results for each of a plurality of tests comprises a reciprocal of one-half of the total number of singularly possible test results in the normal reference range.

17. A computer program product according to claim 13 further comprising computer readable program code means for determining an analytical variation of each of the respective unitized values.

18. A computer program product according to claim 13 further comprising computer readable program code means for storing a single unitizing normal reference range number, a plurality of test identifications and associated test results, reference range spreads, halves of reference range spreads, fractional values, equivalent values, and normal reference ranges in the data processing system.