Computer-automated implementation of user-definable decision rules for medical diagnostic or screening interpretations

• US 6,394,811 B2
• Filed: 03/19/1998
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Optimization ZORN Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kenneth D. Pool Jr, Terese Finitzo
• Inventors: Pool, Kenneth D. Jr., Finitzo, Terese
• Primary Examiner(s): RIMELL, SAMUEL G
• Application Number:
  US09/044,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20020012899A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,531 Days
• Field of Search: 600/324,595,300,301 700/86 705/1,2,3,4 434/262 706/45
• US Class Current: 434/262
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/121 evaluating hearing capacity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/38 Acoustic or auditory stimuli
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

Software is utilized for allowing a physician to modify the rules of a decision tree so that the individual judgment of the doctor is best utilized. A technician can then carry out tests on a patient, obtain test data in the form of digital data, and apply the test data to the software. The patient test data is then processed through the decision tree to thereby obtain a diagnosis of the patent using the professional judgment without the presence of the physician.

Claims

1. A computer program product storing data and instructions therein for instructing a computer to analyze medical data wherein the computer program product comprises:

a memory device readable by the computer encoded with the following;

a hierarchical decision tree comprising a plurality of hierarchical levels wherein each of said hierarchical levels corresponds to a particular result and wherein each of said hierarchical levels includes a plurality of rules that can be applied in an analysis of data elements;

a first set of instructions that allow a user to select at least one of said rules within each of said plurality of hierarchical levels;

a second set of instructions that allow a user to select a plurality of numerical quantities wherein each of said numerical quantities corresponds to a number of rules that must be met to indicate a result for a corresponding one of said hierarchical levels;

a third set of instructions for receiving medical data obtained from a patient;

a fourth set of instructions for processing said medical data so as to define a set of data elements;

a fifth set of instructions for performing, for each of said hierarchical levels, the following steps;

i) comparing said set of data elements to each of said selected rules within the hierarchical level to determine a number of selected rules that are met within the hierarchical level;

ii) comparing said number of selected rules that are met to the numerical quantity corresponding to the hierarchical level; and

iii) indicating a result corresponding to the hierarchical level when the number of selected rules that are met is greater than or equal to said numerical quantity corresponding to the hierarchical level.

2. A computer program product in accordance with claim 1, wherein a result corresponding to one of said hierarchical levels is a technical fail result.

3. A computer program product in accordance with claim 1, wherein a result corresponding to one of said hierarchical levels is a pass result.

4. A computer program product in accordance with claim 1, wherein a result corresponding to one of said hierarchical levels is a refer result.

5. A computer program product in accordance with claim 1, further including a set of instructions for providing a graphical user interface on a computer display device.

6. A computer program product in accordance with claim 1, further including a set of instructions for selecting a plurality of numerical values wherein each of said numerical values indicates a value at which a corresponding one of said selected rules is met.

7. A computer program product in accordance with claim 1, further including instructions for generating a written report describing said result.

8. A software program stored on a computer readable medium including computer executable instructions for processing data, comprising:

a first set of computer code that enables a user to customize medical decision making criteria, said first set of computer code including;

computer code that enables a user to define features characteristic of a predetermined type of data;

computer code that enables a user to define a plurality of decision levels;

computer code that enables a user to define for each decision level at least one rule based on at least one of said features; and

computer code that enables a user to define for each rule a criteria; and

a second set of computer code that enables the computer to process data, said second set of computer code including;

computer code that receives data of said predetermined type to be processed;

computer code that processes said received data so as to extract values corresponding to said features;

computer code that compares said extracted values with said rules according to said criteria; and

computer code that outputs a conclusion based on said comparison.

9. The software program of claim 8, wherein said first set of computer code further comprises computer code that enables a user to designate for each decision level, a quantity of rules effective to influence a result for that level.

10. The software program of claim 8, wherein said first set of computer code further comprises computer code that enables a user to designate, for each decision level, whether that level represents a condition selected from the group consisting of a technical fail condition, a necessary condition, a sufficient condition, a contributing condition and a refer condition,

wherein said computer code that compares said extracted values with said rules according to said criteria performs a comparison of said extracted values with said rules according to said criteria for each decision level, and

wherein said computer code that outputs a conclusion outputs a conclusion based on a combination of at least a comparison result for said necessary condition and a comparison result for said sufficient condition.

11. The software program of claim 10, wherein said computer code that outputs a conclusion outputs a conclusion based on a combination of at least a comparison result for said necessary condition, a comparison result for said sufficient condition, and a comparison result for said contributing condition.

12. The software program of claim 10, wherein said first set of computer code further comprises computer code that enables a user to designate for each decision level, a quantity of rules effective to influence a result for that level.

13. The software program of claim 8, wherein:

said computer code that compares said extracted values with said rules according to said criteria performs a comparison of said extracted values with said rules according to said criteria for each decision level, and

said computer code that outputs a conclusion outputs a conclusion based on a combination of comparison results for at least two levels.

14. The software program of claim 8, wherein said computer code that compares said extracted values with said rules according to said criteria performs a comparison of said extracted values with said rules according to said criteria for each decision level.

32. The software program of claim 8, wherein:

said computer code that compares said extracted values with said rules according to said criteria performs a comparison of said extracted values with said rules according to said criteria for each decision level, and

said computer code that outputs a conclusion outputs a conclusion based on a combination of comparison results for at least two levels.

33. The software program of claim 8, wherein said computer code that compares said extracted values with said rules according to said criteria performs a comparison of said extracted values with said rules according to said criteria for each decision level.

15. Software stored on a computer readable medium including computer executable instructions for use in evaluating obtained data with the computer, comprising:

a first set of instructions that enable a user to customize medical decision making criteria, said first set of instructions including instructions that enable a user to;

define a plurality of rules for use in evaluating the data;

select any portion of said plurality of rules for defining a pass condition for an analysis of the data and assign a value to at least one of said rules for defining said pass condition; and

select any portion of said plurality of rules for defining a fail condition for an analysis of the data and assign a value to at least one of said rules for defining said fail condition; and

a second set of instructions that processes data, said second set of instructions including instructions that compare the data with the selected rules and any assigned values, and provide an output yielding a pass or fail condition of the analysis.

16. The software of claim 15, further including instructions for iteratively processing a plurality of said sets of instructions.

17. The software of claim 15, further including instructions for requiring a minimum number of rules to be selected by the user for use in the analysis.

18. The software of claim 15, wherein the first set of instructions defines a level, and wherein said first set of instructions further includes:

instructions that present each said level for viewing by a user;

instructions that allow the user to select at least one of said rules to be active in said analysis; and

instructions that allow the user to enter a numerical value in association with at least one of said selected rules.

19. The software of claim 15, further including instructions for printing out a report providing a result of said analysis.

20. A device for processing data, comprising:

first means for enabling a user to customize decision making criteria, said first means including;

means for a user to define features characteristic of a predetermined type of data;

means for a user to define a plurality of decision levels;

means for a user to define for each decision level at least one rule based on at least one of said features; and

means for a user to define for each rule a criteria; and

a second means for enabling the computer to process data, said second means including;

means for receiving data of said predetermined type to be processed;

means for processing said received data so as to extract values corresponding to said features;

means for comparing said extracted values with said rules according to said criteria; and

means for outputting a conclusion based on said comparison.

21. A software program stored on a computer readable medium including computer executable instructions for processing data, comprising:

a first set of computer code that enables a user to customize decision making criteria, said first set of computer code including;

computer code that enables a user to define features characteristic of a predetermined type of data;

computer code that enables a user to define a plurality of groups of settings, each of said groups of settings including;

a plurality of decision levels;

for each decision level at least one rule based on at least one of said features; and

for each rule a criteria; and

computer code that enables a user to store said plurality of groups of settings; and

a second set of computer code that enables the computer to process data, said second set of computer code including;

computer code that enables a user to select a stored group of settings of said plurality of stored groups of settings;

computer code that receives data of said predetermined type to be processed;

computer code that processes said received data so as to extract values corresponding to said features;

computer code that, based on said selected group of settings, compares said extracted values with said rules according to said criteria; and

computer code that outputs a conclusion based on said comparison.

22. The software program of claim 21, wherein said first set of computer code further comprises, for each of said plurality of groups of settings, computer code that enables a user to designate for each decision level a quantity of rules effective to influence a result for that level.

23. The software program of claim 21, wherein said first set of computer code further comprises computer code that enables a user to designate, for each decision level, whether that level represents a condition selected from the group consisting of a technical fail condition, a necessary condition, a sufficient condition, a contributing condition and a refer condition,

wherein said computer code that compares said extracted values with said rules according to said criteria performs a comparison of said extracted values with said rules according to said criteria for each decision level, and

wherein said computer code that outputs a conclusion outputs a conclusion based on a combination of at least a comparison result for said necessary condition and a comparison result for said sufficient condition.

24. The software program of claim 21,

wherein said computer code that compares said extracted values with said rules according to said criteria performs a comparison of said extracted values with said rules according to said criteria for each decision level, and

wherein said computer code that outputs a conclusion outputs a conclusion based on a combination of comparison results for at least two levels.

25. The software program of claim 24, wherein said first set of computer code further comprises computer code that enables a user to designate for each decision level, a quantity of rules effective to influence a result for that level.

26. A software program stored on a computer readable medium including computer executable instructions for processing data, comprising:

a first set of computer code that enables a user to customize decision making criteria, said first set of computer code including;

computer code that enables a user to define first features characteristic of a first predetermined type of data;

computer code that enables a user to define a first plurality of decision levels;

computer code that enables a user to define for each of said first plurality of decision levels at least one rule based on at least one of said features;

computer code that enables a user to define second features characteristic of a second predetermined type of data;

computer code that enables a user to define a second plurality of decision levels;

computer code that enables a user to define for each of said second plurality of decision levels at least one rule based on at least one of said features; and

computer code that enables a user to define for each rule a criteria; and

a second set of computer code that enables the computer to process data, said second set of computer code including;

computer code that receives first data of said first predetermined type to be processed;

computer code that processes said received first data so as to extract first values corresponding to said first features;

computer code that compares said first extracted values with said rules according to said criteria;

computer code that outputs a first conclusion based on said comparison of said first extracted values with said rules according to said criteria;

computer code that receives second data of said second predetermined type to be processed;

computer code that processes said received second data so as to extract second values corresponding to said features;

computer code that compares said second extracted values with said rules according to said criteria; and

computer code that outputs a second conclusion based on said first conclusion and on said comparison of said second extracted values with said rules according to said criteria.

27. A software program stored on a computer readable medium including computer executable instructions for processing data, comprising:

a first set of computer code that enables a user to customize decision making criteria, said first set of computer code including;

computer code that enables a user to define features characteristic of a predetermined type of data;

computer code that enables a user to define a plurality of decision levels;

computer code that enables a user to define for each decision level at least one rule based on at least one of said features; and

computer code that enables a user to define for each rule a criteria; and

a second set of computer code that enables the computer to process data, said second set of computer code including;

computer code that receives data of said predetermined type to be processed;

computer code that processes said received data so as to extract values corresponding to said features;

computer code that compares said extracted values with said rules according to said criteria; and

computer code that outputs a conclusion based on said comparison.

28. The software program of claim 27, wherein said first set of computer code further comprises computer code that enables a user to designate for each decision level, a quantity of rules effective to influence a result for that level.

29. The software program of claim 27, wherein said first set of computer code further comprises computer code that enables a user to designate, for each decision level, whether that level represents a condition selected from the group consisting of a technical fail condition, a necessary condition, a sufficient condition, a contributing condition and an refer condition,

wherein said computer code that compares said extracted values with said rules according to said criteria performs a comparison of said extracted values with said rules according to said criteria for each decision level, and

wherein said computer code that outputs a conclusion outputs a conclusion based on a combination of at least a comparison result for said necessary condition and a comparison result for said sufficient condition.

30. The software program of claim 29, wherein said computer code that outputs a conclusion outputs a conclusion based on a combination of at least a comparison result for said necessary condition, a comparison result for said sufficient condition, and a comparison result for said contributing condition.

31. The software program of claim 29, wherein said first set of computer code further comprises computer code that enables a user to designate for each decision level, a quantity of rules effective to influence a result for that level.