Method of controlling data gathered at remote locations

• US 7,127,094 B1
• Filed: 01/02/2003
• Issued: 10/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: STRATA Skin Sciences, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Electro-Optical Sciences, Inc.
• Inventors: Elbaum, Marek, Keem, Sunguk, Kabelev, Nikolai, Jacobs, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Johns, Andrew W.
• Application Number:
  US10/336,025
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• Field of Search: 382/128, 382/132, 382/133, 382/134, 128/922, 705/2
• US Class Current: 382/128
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Data corresponding to biological tissue or lesions imaged in a remote location are communicated automatically to a central location, where the data are analyzed using data and algorithms stored securely at the central location. A result of the analysis is communicated from the central location to the remote location. Payment to an entity associated with the central location is made for each image or set of images.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

a) producing an image of biological tissue at a first remote location;

then,

b) automatically extracting data from the image to generate a first data set, wherein data in the first data set is insufficient to produce a representation of the image recognizable by an average person;

then,

c) automatically communicating the first data set to a central location;

then,

d) automatically manipulating the first data set at the central location to produce a first result, the manipulation method kept as a confidential method in the central location;

e) automatically communicating the first result to the first remote location;

then

f) deciding at the first remote location a first course of further action based on the first result; and

then

g) communicating a second result from the first remote location to the central location, where the second result is the result of the first course of further action.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising;

h) modifying the manipulation method on the basis of the second result and the first data set.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first course of further action is an excision of tissue.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

pathologically classifying the excised tissue.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein compensation is paid to a party associated with the central location.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein image producing equipment is provided by a party associated with the central location at no cost to parties at the first remote location.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein compensation is paid for each result transmitted from the central location to the first remote location.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein image producing equipment is provided by a party associated with the central location for a rental fee.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein image producing equipment is disabled by command from the central location if compensation is not paid to the party associated with the central location.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step a) of producing an image comprises:

a₁) calibrating an imaging system at the first remote location by command from the central location;

a₂) producing the image with the calibrated imaging system.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein image producing equipment is disabled by command from the central location if the calibration step reveals an out of range parameter.

12. The method of claim 1, where the image of biological tissue is an image of an in vivo lesion in biological tissue.

13. The method of claim 1, where the image of biological tissue is an image of in vitro biological tissue.

14. The method of claim 1, where the method of automatically extracting data from the image can be changed by communication between the central location and the first remote location.

15. The method of claim 14, where the method of automatically extracting data from the image can be changed by simultaneous communication between the central location and a plurality of remote locations.

16. A method, comprising:

a) producing an image of biological tissue at a first remote location, then

b) automatically extracting data from the image at the first remote location to generate a first data set, wherein the amount of information in the first data set is at least one thousand times less than the amount of information contained in the image;

then

c) communicating the first data set to a central location;

then,

d) automatically manipulating the first data set in the central location to produce a first result;

then,

e) communicating the first result to the remote location;

then

f) deciding at the first remote location a first course of further action based on the first result; and

then

g) communicating a second result from the first remote location to the central location, where the second result is the result of the first course of further action.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

f) automatically manipulating the first data set in the first remote location to produce a second result;

g) comparing the first result with the second result at the remote location; and

h) if the first result and the second result are equal, displaying at the first remote location a first recommended course of further action;

or

i) if the first result and the second result are unequal, displaying at the remote location a second recommended course of further action.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the steps a and b are carried out in a hand held imaging device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the handheld imaging device may be reprogrammed by communication from the central location.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the handheld imaging device may be calibrated by communication from the central location.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the central location automatically records each time an image is produced.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the central location periodically produces an invoice detailing the recorded images.