System and method for providing information for detected pathological findings

• US 6,839,455 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2002
• Issued: 01/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Scott Kaufman
• Original Assignee: Scott Kaufman
• Inventors: Kaufman, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): ARANA, LOUIS M
• Application Number:
  US10/273,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20040075433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 382/128, 382/129, 382/130, 382/131, 382/132, 600/407, 600/437, 324/300, 324/306, 324/307, 324/309
• US Class Current: 382/128
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/00 Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment instruments measuring radiation intensity for application in the field of nuclear medicine, e.g. in vivo counting, G01T1/161; apparatus for taking X-ray photographs G03B42/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/461 Displaying means of special interest
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/468 allowing annotation or message recording
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• 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

Abstract

A system and method of providing information concerning pathological findings evidenced by radiographical reports. A medical care provider may request a radiographical image, in particular, an MRI image of a region of the body. The region of the patient'"'"'s body is scanned and the images are read and interpreted to determine if there is a positive finding of a pathology. If a pathology is detected, the generated scanned images are reviewed for a radiographical image that best depicts the detected pathology and the image is selected for further annotation. The image is then annotated to highlight and more fully describe and delineate the pathology thus alerting the medical care provider of the pathology'"'"'s existence. In addition, the report may be further delineated with an identifying mark informing the referring physician of a positive finding of a pathology.

Claims

1. A method for communicating a radiologist'"'"'s or skilled interpreter'"'"'s findings directly on diagnostic images comprising:

viewing more than one diagnostic image of a region of an object that is generated by a diagnostic medical imaging machine and verifying via a radiologist'"'"'s or skilled interpreter'"'"'s findings if there is a detectable pathology depicted in any of the diagnostic images;

reviewing each diagnostic image having a detectable pathology;

selecting as a result of said reviewing step the diagnostic image that best depicts the detected pathology;

receiving an interpreter'"'"'s request to annotate the diagnostic image that was selected;

annotating the diagnostic image that was selected by delineating the detected pathology via inserting indicia on said image, based upon the radiologist'"'"'s or skilled interpreter'"'"'s findings whereby the indicia includes reference designations for immediately locating the pathology and wording to identify the type of pathology; and

generating an annotated diagnostic image highlighting the detected pathology via said indicia thereon.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the region of an object further comprises a region of a human body.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the diagnostic medical imaging machine further comprises a Magnetic Resonance Imaging scanner.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the detected pathology further comprises an abnormality.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the reviewing step further comprises comparing each diagnostic image with a written description of the detected pathology.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the generating step further comprises preparing a display of the annotated diagnostic image in the form of an electronic copy, a photograph or a printout.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the generating step further comprises preparing a display of the annotated diagnostic image in the form of an electronic copy.

8. A programmed computer for communicating a radiologist'"'"'s or skilled interpreter'"'"'s findings directly on diagnostic images, comprising:

a memory and a processor, the memory having at least one program module which when executed by the processor performs the method of claim 1.

9. A method for communicating a radiologist'"'"'s or skilled interpreter'"'"'s findings directly on diagnostic images comprising:

receiving a first request to initiate diagnostic imaging of a region of an object with a diagnostic medical imaging machine;

scanning the object using the diagnostic medical imaging machine in accordance with a predetermined scanning sequence for the region of the object being scanned;

generating at least one diagnostic image of the object being scanned to permit a radiologist or skilled interpreter to determine if there is a detected pathology;

receiving a second request to annotate a diagnostic image that was selected based upon said radiologist or skilled interpreter determining a detected pathology, whereby indicia is inserted on said image, the indicia including both reference designations for immediately locating the pathology, and wording to identify the type of pathology;

generating an annotated diagnostic image highlighting the detected pathology; and

preparing a display in the form of an electronic copy, a photograph or a printout of the annotated diagnostic image.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the diagnostic medical imaging machine further comprises a Magnetic Resonance Imaging scanner.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the object further comprises a region of a human body.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the detected pathology further comprises an abnormality.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined scanning sequence further comprises more than one image of the region of the object.

14. The method according to claim 9, further comprising verifying that a scanning sequence is complete based upon the predetermined scanning sequence for the region of the object being scanned.

15. The method according to claim 9, further comprising receiving patient information.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising storing patient information in a database.

17. The method according to claim 9, further comprising storing diagnostic images in a database.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising receiving a request to retrieve diagnostic images from a database.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising retrieving the diagnostic image and displaying a retrieved image.

20. A programmed computer for communicating a radiologist'"'"'s findings directly on diagnostic images, comprising:

a memory and a processor, the memory having at least one program module which when executed by the processor performs the method of claim 9.

21. A system for communicating a radiologist'"'"'s or skilled interpreter'"'"'s findings directly on diagnostic images, comprising:

a central controller configured for receiving a request to annotate a diagnostic image of a region of an object in which a pathology was detected;

said central controller being configured for annotating the diagnostic image by delineating the detected pathology with at least one marking based upon a radiologist or skilled interpreter'"'"'s findings, whereby the at least one marking includes both reference designations for immediately locating the pathology, and wording to identify the type of pathology;

said central controller being configured for generating an annotated diagnostic image highlighting the detected pathology, and preparing a display in the form of an electronic copy, photograph or printout of the annotated diagnostic image.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein the central controller is further configured for receiving a patients demographic information.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the central controller is further configured for storing the patient'"'"'s demographic information in a database.

24. The system according to claim 21, wherein the central controller is further configured for scanning a region of an object based on a predetermined scanning sequence for that region.

25. The system according to claim 21, wherein the central controller is further configured for verifying that the predetermined scanning sequence for that region is complete.

26. A system for communicating a radiologist'"'"'s or skilled interpreter'"'"'s findings directly on diagnostic images, comprising:

a central controller configured to receive transmissions of requests for performing diagnostic imaging of a region of an object by a diagnostic medical imaging machine;

said central controller being further configured to receive transmissions of requests from a radiologist or skill interpreter for annotating diagnostic images of the region of an object for which a pathology is detected, and annotating the diagnostic image of a region of an object by delineating the detected pathology with at least one marking based upon a radiologist'"'"'s or skilled interpreter'"'"'s findings;

said central controller being further configured to generate an annotated diagnostic image highlighting the detected pathology, and prepare a display in the form of an electronic copy, a photograph or a printout of the annotated diagnostic image; and

a database for storing patient information containing data, at least some of the data collectively representing a diagnostic imaging study.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

means for receiving transmissions of requests to perform diagnostic imaging of the object by the diagnostic medical imaging machine.

28. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

means for receiving transmissions of requests to annotate diagnostic images of the object for which a pathology is detected.

29. The system of claim 26, further comprising:

means for storing patient information in the database containing data, at least some of the data collectively representing the diagnostic imaging study.

30. The system of claim 29, further comprising:

means for delineating the detected pathology with at least one marking, and generating the annotated diagnostic image highlighting the detected pathology by preparing a display in the form of an electronic copy, a photograph or a printout of the annotated diagnostic image.

31. Computer executable software code stored on a computer readable medium, the code for providing communication of a radiologist'"'"'s findings directly on diagnostic images comprising:

code for receiving a request to annotate a diagnostic image of a region of an object in which a pathology is detected by a radiologist or skilled interpreter;

code for annotating the diagnostic image by delineating the detected pathology with at least one marking, based upon the radiologist'"'"'s or skilled interpreter'"'"'s findings, whereby the at least one marking includes reference designations for immediately locating the pathology, and wording to identify the type of pathology; and

code for generating an annotated diagnostic image highlighting the detected pathology and preparing a photograph of the annotated diagnostic image.

32. A computer readable medium having computer executable software code stored thereon, the code for providing communication of a radiologist'"'"'s findings directly on diagnostic images, comprising:

code to receive a request to annotate a diagnostic image of a region of an object in which a pathology is detected by a radiologist or skilled interpreter;

code for annotating the diagnostic image by delineating the detected pathology with at least one marking, based upon the radiologist'"'"'s or skilled interpreter'"'"'s findings, whereby the at least one marking includes reference designations for immediately locating the pathology and wording to identify the type of pathology;

code for storing patient information in a database;

code to compile and monitor databases; and

code for generating an annotated diagnostic image highlighting the detected pathology and preparing a display in the form of an electronic copy, a photograph or a printout of the annotated diagnostic image.

33. A computer readable medium having modules for providing communication of a radiologist'"'"'s findings directly on diagnostic images stored thereon, comprising:

a module that, when executed, processes a received transmission to annotate a diagnostic image of a region of an object in which a pathology is detected as determined by a radiologist or skilled interpreter;

a module that, when executed, annotates the diagnostic image by delineating the detected pathology with at least one marking, based upon the radiologist'"'"'s or skilled interpreter'"'"'s findings, whereby the at least one marking includes reference designations for immediately locating the pathology and wording to identify the type of pathology; and

a module that, when executed both generates an annotated diagnostic image highlighting the detected pathology and prepares a display in the form of an electronic copy, a photograph or a printout of the annotated diagnostic image.

34. A method for communicating a radiologist'"'"'s or skilled interpreter'"'"'s findings directly on diagnostic images comprising:

establishing a communication network comprising a plurality of communication terminals each being selectively operable for communication with a diagnostic medical imaging machine;

viewing, via at least one of said plurality of communication terminals, more than one diagnostic image of a region of an object that is generated by the diagnostic medical imaging machine, and verifying from a radiologist'"'"'s or skilled interpreter'"'"'s findings if there is a detectable pathology depicted in any of the diagnostic images;

reviewing, via one of said plurality of communication terminals, each diagnostic image having a detectable pathology;

selecting, via one of said plurality of communication terminals, as a result of said reviewing step, the diagnostic image that best depicts the detected pathology;

receiving a radiologist'"'"'s or skilled interpreter'"'"'s request, from one of said plurality of communication terminals, to annotate the diagnostic image that was selected;

annotating the selected diagnostic image, via one of said plurality of communication terminals, by delineating the detected pathology via inserting indicia on said image, based upon the radiologist'"'"'s or skilled interpreter'"'"'s findings, whereby the indicia includes both reference designations for immediately locating the pathology, and wording to identify the type of pathology;

generating, via one of said plurality of communication terminals, an annotated diagnostic image highlighting the detected pathology; and

preparing a display in the form of an electronic copy, a photograph or a printout of the annotated diagnostic image including said indicia.