System and method for determining the probable existence of disease

• US 7,149,756 B1
• Filed: 10/16/2000
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medoctor, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Medoctor, Inc.
• Inventors: Schmitt, Armand J., Aguilere, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Rimell, Sam
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mahmood, Rezwanul
• Application Number:
  US10/275,315
• Time in Patent Office: 2,248 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/493, 705/2, 705/3, 707/104.1, 707/1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/70 for mining of medical data, e.g. analysing previous cases of other patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/60 relating to pathologies
• 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

A computer implemented and interactive system for obtaining a patient'"'"'s symptoms and other indications of disease, which are utilized to determine the probable existence of disease. The program generates a series of inquiries which are displayed to a patient who is asked to identify the body part which the patient believes is causing a physical or mental problem. The system'"'"'s program uses a database of diseases and related symptoms to generate questions. Based upon the patient'"'"'s answer to each question, the program determines the probability that the patient has one of the diseases contained in the database. When the patient has completed answering all of the questions, the system'"'"'s program generates a report of the probable existence diseases, including the patient'"'"'s most probable disease.

Claims

1. A method for determining the probable existence of disease comprising:

a) providing a plurality of patient Body Parts;

b) associating with each Body Part a list of diseases, and as to each disease in the list of diseases, associating a list of Symptoms which indicate said disease;

c) associating with each disease in each list of diseases a disease numerical value equal to the number of persons who have been confirmed to exhibit said each disease;

d) associating with each Symptom in each list of Symptoms, which indicate a specific disease, a symptom numerical value equal to the disease numerical value of said specific disease;

e) calculating an initial probable existence of each disease in each list of diseases by determining the quotient of the disease numerical value of each disease divided by the sum of all disease numerical values for all diseases;

f) calculating a total symptom numerical value for all identical Symptoms in all lists of Symptoms;

g) identifying a set of Symptoms, and each Symptom'"'"'s associated total symptom numerical value, which comprise all Symptoms associated to each Body Part;

h) prompting a patient to identify a target Body Part which the patient associates to his or her physical or mental condition;

i) identifying a target Symptom from the set of Symptoms associated to the target Body Part which has the highest total symptom numerical value;

j) generating a question presented to the patient which asks the patient if the target Symptom is indicated or is not indicated;

k) prompting the patient to respond to the question;

l) updating the probable existence of each disease in each list of diseases based upon the patient'"'"'s answer in accordance with the following formula;

$\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\{D<br><br><br><br>S\}=\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\left\{D\right\}<br><br>\frac{\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\{S<br><br><br><br>D\}}{\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\left\{S\right\}}$

where D is a disease and S is a Symptom;

m) identifying a qualifying disease in each list of diseases with a probability greater than a predetermined threshold value, and adding each Symptom associated to said qualifying disease to the set of Symptoms associated to the target Body Part if the Symptom to be added is not already in the set;

n) deleting the target Symptom from the set of Symptoms associated to the target Body Part;

o) repeating steps i through n above until each Symptom contained in the set of Symptoms associated to the Body Part is deleted; and

p) generating a list of diseases and the probable existence of each disease in the list, including the identity of a most probable disease having the highest probability of existence.

2. The method as in claim 1 in which the step of generating a question further includes assembling the question from a list of possible question phrases and a template code associated to each question phrase, whereby the syntax of the sentence is determined by the Body Part identified by the patient and the Symptom with the highest total symptom numerical value.

3. A method for determining the probable existence of disease comprising:

a) providing a plurality of patient Body Parts;

b) associating with each Body Part a list of diseases, and as to each disease in the list of diseases, associating a list of Symptoms which indicate said disease;

c) associating with each disease in each list of diseases a disease numerical value equal to the number of persons who have been confirmed to exhibit said each disease;

d) associating with each Symptom in each list of Symptoms, which indicate a specific disease, a numerical Symptom value equal to the disease numerical value of said specific disease;

e) calculating an initial probable existence of each disease in each list of diseases by determining the quotient of the disease numerical value of each disease divided by the sum of all disease numerical values for all diseases;

f) calculating a total symptom numerical value for all identical Symptoms in all lists of Symptoms;

g) identifying a set of Symptoms, and each Symptom'"'"'s associated total symptom numerical value, which comprise all Symptoms associated to each Body Part;

h) prompting a patient to identify a target Body Part which the patient associates to his or her physical or mental condition;

i) identifying a target Symptom from the set of Symptoms associated to the target Body Part which has the highest total symptom numerical value;

j) generating a question presented to the patient which asks the patient if the target Symptom is indicated or is not indicated;

k) prompting the patient to respond to the question;

l) updating the probable existence of each disease in each list of diseases based upon the patient'"'"'s answer in accordance with the following formula;

$\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\{D<br><br><br><br>S\}=\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\left\{D\right\}<br><br>\frac{\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\{S<br><br><br><br>D\}}{\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\left\{S\right\}}$

where D is a disease and S is a Symptom;

m) identifying a qualifying disease in each list of diseases with a probability greater than a predetermined threshold value, and adding each Symptom associated to said qualifying disease to the set of Symptoms associated to the target Body Part if the Symptom to be added is not already in the set;

n) deleting the target Symptom from the set of Symptoms associated to the target Body Part;

o) repeating steps i through n above until each Symptom contained in the set of Symptoms associated to the Body Part is deleted;

p) generating a list of diseases and the probable existence of each disease in the list, including the identity of a most probable disease having the highest probability of existence; and

q) updating the probable existence of the most probable disease by incrementing the disease numerical value of said most probable disease by one (1) if the patient'"'"'s actual disease is determined to be the most probable disease.

4. A method for determining the probable existence of disease comprising:

a) providing a plurality of patient Body Parts;

b) associating with each Body Part a list of diseases, and as to each disease in the list of diseases, associating a list of Symptoms which indicate said disease;

c) associating with each disease in each list of diseases a disease numerical value equal to the number of persons who have been confirmed to exhibit said each disease;

d) associating with each Symptom in each list of Symptoms, which indicate a specific disease, a symptom numerical value equal to the disease numerical value of said specific disease;

e) calculating an initial probable existence of each disease in each list of diseases by determining the quotient of the disease numerical value of each disease divided by the sum of all disease numerical values for all diseases;

f) calculating a total symptom numerical value for all identical Symptoms in all lists of Symptoms;

g) identifying a set of Symptoms, and each Symptom'"'"'s associated total symptom numerical value, which comprise all Symptoms associated to each Body Part;

h) prompting a patient to identify a target Body Part which the patient associates to his or her physical or mental condition;

i) identifying a target Symptom from the set of Symptoms associated to the target Body Part which has the highest total symptom numerical value;

j) generating a question presented to the patient which asks the patient if the target Symptom is indicated or is not indicated;

k) prompting the patient to respond to the question;

l) updating the probable existence of each disease in each list of diseases based upon the patient'"'"'s answer in accordance with the following formula;

$\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\{D<br><br><br><br>S\}=\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\left\{D\right\}<br><br>\frac{\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\{S<br><br><br><br>D\}}{\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\left\{S\right\}}$

where D is a disease and S is a Symptom;

m) identifying a qualifying disease in each list of diseases with a probability greater than a predetermined threshold value, and adding each Symptom associated to said qualifying disease to the set of Symptoms associated to the target Body Part if the Symptom to be added is not already in the set;

n) deleting the target Symptom from the set of Symptoms associated to the target Body Part;

o) repeating steps i through n above until each Symptom contained in the set of Symptoms associated to the Body Part is deleted;

p) generating a list of diseases and the probable existence of each disease in the list, including the identity of a sublist containing each probable disease having a probability of existence in excess of a predetermined amount; and

q) updating the probable existence of a single probable disease in the sublist by incrementing the disease numerical value of said single probable disease by one (1) if the patient'"'"'s actual disease is determined to be the single probable disease.

5. An interactive computer system comprising:

a) a programmed computer processor;

b) a database server having a memory, said database server in electronic communication with the processor;

c) a plurality of patient data input and display devices all in electronic communication with the processor;

d) prompting a patient, out of a plurality of patients, to enter his or her vitals into the memory of a database server by using one of said patient data entry devices in communication with the processor and to similarly enter the patient'"'"'s personal medical history, family medical history and exposure to environmental conditions into the database server;

e) storing a list of Body Parts in the memory of the database server;

f) storing in said memory a list of diseases associated with each Body Part, and as to each disease in the list of diseases, storing a list of Symptoms which indicate each said disease;

g) storing in said memory a disease numerical value associated with each disease in each list of diseases, said disease numerical value having a value equal to the number of persons who have been confirmed to exhibit said each disease;

h) storing in said memory a symptom numerical value associated with each Symptom in each list of Symptoms, which indicate a specific disease, said symptom numerical value having a value equal to the disease numerical value of said specific disease;

i) identifying with the processor a set of Symptoms, and each Symptom'"'"'s associated symptom numerical value, which comprise all Symptoms associated to each Body Part;

j) calculating an initial probable existence of each disease in each list of diseases by using the processor to determine the quotient of the disease numerical value of each disease divided by the sum of all disease numerical values for all diseases and storing the results in the memory of the database server;

k) calculating a total symptom numerical value for all identical Symptoms in each list of Symptoms by using the processor to determine the sum of all symptom numerical values for all identical Symptoms in each list, and storing the results in the memory of the database server;

l) displaying to the patient on one of said patient display devices a human figure having a plurality of Body Parts;

m) prompting the patient to identify, using the patient data entry device, a target Body Part, out of all Body Parts displayed, which the patient believes is associated to his or her physical or mental condition;

n) identifying with the processor a target Symptom from the set of Symptoms associated to the target Body Part which has the highest total symptom numerical value and generating a question presented to the patient on the patient display device which asks the patient if the target Symptom is or is not indicated;

o) prompting the patient to respond to the question using the patient data entry device;

p) updating the probable existence of each disease in each list of diseases based upon the patient'"'"'s answer by using the processor to determine said probable existence in accordance with the following formula;

$\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\{D<br><br><br><br>S\}=\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\left\{D\right\}<br><br>\frac{\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\{S<br><br><br><br>D\}}{\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\left\{S\right\}}$

where D is a disease and S is a Symptom;

q) identifying with the processor a qualifying disease in each list of diseases with a probability greater than a predetermined threshold value, adding each Symptom associated to said qualifying disease to the set of Symptoms associated to the target Body Part if the Symptom to be added is not already in the set, and deleting the target Symptom from the set of Symptoms associated to the target Body Part;

r) repeating steps n through q above until each Symptom contained in the set of Symptoms associated to the Body Part is deleted;

s) generating a pre-diagnosis report by using the processor to identify a list of diseases and the probable existence of each disease in the list, including the identity of a most probable disease having the highest probability of existence;

t) displaying the pre-diagnosis report to a patient'"'"'s nurse on a nurse display device whereby the nurse may review the patient'"'"'s vitals, medical history, environmental exposures and Symptoms to determine whether the information inputted by the patient is accurate and whether the patient has adequately responded to the computer generated interview questions which identify the patient'"'"'s Symptoms;

u) displaying the pre-diagnosis report to a patient'"'"'s physician on a physician display device whereby the physician may review the report to obtain medical information about the patient and the patient'"'"'s condition, including information about the probable existence of diseases related to the patient'"'"'s medical information and condition;

v) prompting the patient'"'"'s physician to confirm, by using a physician data entry device in communication with the processor, that the doctor'"'"'s own diagnosis of the patient'"'"'s actual disease is the same as the most probable disease described in the pre-diagnosis report; and

w) updating the probable existence of the most probable disease by using the processor to increment the disease numerical value of said most probable disease by one (1) if the patient'"'"'s physician confirms that the most probable disease is his or her actual disease.

6. An interactive computer system comprising:

a) a programmed computer processor;

b) a database server having a memory, said database server in electronic communication with the processor;

c) a plurality of patient data input and display devices all in electronic communication with the processor;

d) prompting a patient, out of a plurality of patients, to enter his or her vitals into the memory of a database server by using one of said patient data entry devices in communication with the processor and to similarly enter the patient'"'"'s personal medical history, family medical history and exposure to environmental conditions into the database server;

e) storing a list of Body Parts in the memory of the database server;

f) storing in said memory a list of diseases associated with each Body Part, and as to each disease in the list of diseases, storing a list of Symptoms which indicate each said disease;

g) storing in said memory a disease numerical value associated with each disease in each list of diseases, said disease numerical value having a value equal to the number of persons who have been confirmed to exhibit said each disease;

h) storing in said memory a symptom numerical value associated with each Symptom in each list of Symptoms, which indicate a specific disease, said symptom numerical value having a value equal to the disease numerical value of said specific disease;

i) identifying with the processor a set of Symptoms, and each Symptom'"'"'s associated symptom numerical value, which comprise all Symptoms associated to each Body Part;

j) calculating an initial probable existence of each disease in each list of diseases by using the processor to determine the quotient of the disease numerical value of each disease divided by the sum of all disease numerical values for all diseases and storing the results in the memory of the database server;

k) calculating a total symptom numerical value for all identical Symptoms in each list of Symptoms by using the processor to determine the sum of all symptom numerical values for all identical Symptoms in each list, and storing the results in the memory of the database server;

l) displaying to the patient on one of said patient display devices a human figure having a plurality of Body Parts;

m) prompting the patient to identify, using the patient data entry device, a target Body Part, out of all Body Parts displayed, which the patient believes is associated to his or her physical or mental condition;

n) identifying with the processor a target Symptom from the set of Symptoms associated to the target Body Part which has the highest total symptom numerical value and generating a question presented to the patient on the patient display device which asks the patient if the target Symptom is or is not indicated;

o) prompting the patient to respond to the question using the patient data entry device;

p) updating the probable existence of each disease in each list of diseases based upon the patient'"'"'s answer by using the processor to determine said probable existence in accordance with the following formula;

$\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\{D<br><br><br><br>S\}=\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\left\{D\right\}<br><br>\frac{\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\{S<br><br><br><br>D\}}{\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\left\{S\right\}}$

where D is a disease and S is a Symptom;

q) identifying with the processor a qualifying disease in each list of diseases with a probability greater than a predetermined threshold value, adding each Symptom associated to said qualifying disease to the set of Symptoms associated to the target Body Part if the Symptom to be added is not already in the set, and deleting the target Symptom from the set of Symptoms associated to the target Body Part;

r) repeating steps n through q above until each Symptom contained in the set of Symptoms associated to the Body Part is deleted;

s) generating a pre-diagnosis report for by using the processor to identify a list of diseases and the probable existence of each disease in the list, including the identity of each probable disease having a probability of existence in excess of a predetermined amount;

t) displaying the pre-diagnosis report to a patient'"'"'s nurse on a nurse display device whereby the nurse may review the patient'"'"'s vitals, medical history, environmental exposures and Symptoms to determine whether the information inputted by the patient is accurate and whether the patient has adequately responded to the computer generated interview questions which identify the patient'"'"'s Symptoms;

u) displaying the pre-diagnosis report to a patient'"'"'s physician on a physician display device whereby the physician may review the report to obtain medical information about the patient and the patient'"'"'s condition, including information about the probable existence of diseases related to the patient'"'"'s medical information and condition;

v) prompting the patient'"'"'s physician to confirm by using the physician data entry device in communicating with the processor, that the doctor'"'"'s own diagnosis of the patient'"'"'s actual disease is the same as one of the probable diseases; and

w) updating the probable existence of said one probable disease by using the processor to increment the disease numerical value of said one probable disease by one (1) if the patient'"'"'s physician confirms that the probable disease is his or her actual disease.

7. An interactive computer system comprising:

a) a programmed computer processor;

b) a database server having a memory, said database server in electronic communication with the processor;

c) a plurality of patient data input and display devices all in electronic communication with the processor;

d) prompting a patient, out of a plurality of patients, to enter his or her vitals into the memory of a database server by using one of said patient data entry devices in communication with the processor and to similarly enter the patient'"'"'s personal medical history, family medical history and exposure to environmental conditions into the database server;

e) storing a list of Body Parts in the memory of the database server;

f) storing in said memory a list of diseases associated with each Body Part, and as to each disease in the list of diseases, storing a list of Symptoms which indicate each said disease;

g) storing in said memory a disease numerical value associated with each disease in each list of diseases, said disease numerical value having a value equal to the number of persons who have been confirmed to exhibit said each disease;

h) storing in said memory a symptom numerical value associated with each Symptom in each list of Symptoms, which indicate a specific disease, said symptom numerical value having a value equal to the disease numerical value of said specific disease;

i) identifying with the processor a set of Symptoms, and each Symptom'"'"'s associated symptom numerical value, which comprises all Symptoms associated to each Body Part;

j) calculating an initial probable existence of each disease in each list of diseases by using the processor to determine the quotient of the disease numerical value of each disease divided by the sum of all disease numerical values for all diseases and storing the results in the memory of the database server;

k) calculating a total symptom numerical value for all identical Symptoms in each list of Symptoms by using the processor to determine the sum of all symptom numerical values for all identical Symptoms in each list, and storing the results in the memory of the database server;

l) displaying to the patient on one of said patient display devices a human figure having a plurality of Body Parts;

m) prompting the patient to identify, using the patient data entry device, a target Body Part, out of all Body Parts displayed, which the patient believes is associated to his or her physical or mental condition;

n) identifying with the processor a target Symptom from the set of Symptoms associated to the target Body Part which has the highest total symptom numerical value and generating a question presented to the patient on the patient display device which asks the patient if the target Symptom is or is not indicated;

o) prompting the patient to respond to the question using the patient data entry device;

p) updating the probable existence of each disease in each list of diseases based upon the patient'"'"'s answer by using the processor to determine said probable existence in accordance with the following formula;

$\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\{D<br><br><br><br>S\}=\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\left\{D\right\}<br><br>\frac{\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\{S<br><br><br><br>D\}}{\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\left\{S\right\}}$

where D is a disease and S is a Symptom;

q) identifying with the processor a qualifying disease in each list of diseases with a probability greater than a predetermined threshold value, adding each Symptom associated to said qualifying disease to the set of Symptoms associated to the target Body Part if the Symptom to be added is not already in the set, and deleting the target Symptom from the set of Symptoms associated to the target Body Part;

r) repeating steps n through q above until each Symptom contained in the set of Symptoms associated to the Body Part is deleted;

s) generating a pre-diagnosis report by using the processor to identify a list of diseases and the probable existence of each disease in the list;

t) displaying the pre-diagnosis report to a patient'"'"'s nurse on a nurse display device whereby the nurse may review the patient'"'"'s vitals, medical history, environmental exposures and Symptoms to determine whether the information inputted by the patient is accurate and whether the patient has adequately responded to the computer generated interview questions which identify the patient'"'"'s Symptoms;

u) displaying the pre-diagnosis report to a patient'"'"'s physician on a physician display device whereby the physician may review the report to obtain medical information about the patient and the patient'"'"'s condition, including information about the probable existence of diseases related to the patient'"'"'s medical information and condition;

v) prompting the physician to indicate, by using a the physician data entry device in communication with the processor, that the patent exhibits a condition revealed in laboratory tests;

w) updating the probable existence of each disease in each list of diseases based upon the physician'"'"'s indication that the condition exists in accordance with the following formula;

$\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\{D<br><br><br><br>S\}=\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\left\{D\right\}<br><br>\frac{\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\{S<br><br><br><br>D\}}{\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\left\{S\right\}}$

where D is a disease and S is a Symptom;

x) generating a revised pre-diagnosis report for the physician including a list of diseases and a revised probable existence of each disease in the list, including the identify of a most probable disease having the highest probability of existence;

y) prompting the patient'"'"'s physician to confirm, by using the physician data entry device in communication with the processor, that the doctor'"'"'s own diagnosis of the patient'"'"'s actual disease is the same as the most probable disease described in the revised pre-diagnosis report; and

z) updating the probable existence of the most probable disease by using the processor to increment the disease numerical value of said most probable disease by one (1) if the patient'"'"'s physician confirms that the most probable disease is his or her actual disease.

8. An interactive computer system comprising:

a) a programmed computer processor;

b) a database server having a memory, said database server in electronic communication with the processor;

c) a plurality of patient data input and display devices all in electronic communication with the processor;

d) prompting a patient, out of a plurality of patients, to enter his or her vitals into the memory of a database server by using one of said patient data entry devices in communication with the processor and to similarly enter the patient'"'"'s personal medical history, family medical history and exposure to environmental conditions into the database server;

e) storing a list of Body Parts in the memory of the database server;

f) storing in said memory a list of diseases associated with each Body Part, and as to each disease in the list of diseases, storing a list of Symptoms which indicate each said disease;

g) storing in said memory a disease numerical value associated with each disease in each list of diseases, said disease numerical value having a value equal to the number of persons who have been confirmed to exhibit said disease;

h) storing in said memory a symptom numerical value associated with each Symptom in each list of Symptoms, which indicate a specific disease, said symptom numerical value having a value equal to the disease numerical value of said specific disease;

i) identifying with the processor a set of Symptoms, and each Symptom'"'"'s associated symptom numerical value, which comprises all Symptoms associated to each Body Part;

j) calculating an initial probable existence of each disease in each list of diseases by using the processor to determine the quotient of the disease numerical value of each disease divided by the sum of all disease numerical values for all diseases and storing the results in the memory of the database server;

k) calculating a total symptom numerical value for all identical Symptoms in each list of Symptoms by using the processor to determine the sum of all symptom numerical values for all identical Symptoms in each list, and storing the results in the memory of the database server;

l) displaying to the patient on one of said patient display devices a human figure having a plurality of Body Parts;

m) prompting the patient to identify, using the patient data entry device, a target Body Part, out of all Body Parts displayed, which the patient believes is associated to his or her physical or mental condition;

n) identifying with the processor a target Symptom from the set of Symptoms associated to the target Body Part which has the highest total symptom numerical value and generating a question presented to the patient on the patient display device which asks the patient if the target Symptom is or is not indicated;

o) prompting the patient to respond to the question using the patient data entry device;

p) updating the probable existence of each disease in each list of diseases based upon the patient'"'"'s answer by using the processor to determine said probable existence in accordance with the following formula;

$\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\{D<br><br><br><br>S\}=\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\left\{D\right\}<br><br>\frac{\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\{S<br><br><br><br>D\}}{\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\left\{S\right\}}$

where D is a disease and S is a Symptom;

q) identifying with the processor a qualifying disease in each list of diseases with a probability greater than a predetermined threshold value, adding each Symptom associated to said qualifying disease to the set of Symptoms associated to the target Body Part if the Symptom to be added is not already in the set, and deleting the target Symptom from the set of Symptoms associated to the target Body Part;

r) repeating steps n through q above until each Symptom contained in the set of Symptoms associated to the Body Part is deleted;

s) generating a pre-diagnosis report by using the processor to identify a list of diseases and the probable existence of each disease in the list;

t) displaying the pre-diagnosis report to a patient'"'"'s nurse on a nurse display device whereby the nurse may review the patient'"'"'s vitals, medical history, environmental exposures and Symptoms to determine whether the information inputted by the patient is accurate and whether the patient has adequately responded to the computer generated interview questions which identify the patient'"'"'s Symptoms;

u) displaying the pre-diagnosis report to a patient'"'"'s physician on a physician display device whereby the physician may review the report to obtain medical information about the patient and the patient'"'"'s condition, including information about the probable existence of diseases related to the patient'"'"'s medical information and condition;

v) prompting the physician to indicate, by using a physician data entry device in communication with the processor, that the patient exhibits a condition revealed in laboratory tests;

w) updating the probable existence of each disease in each list of diseases based upon the physician'"'"'s indication that the condition exists in accordance with the following formula;

$\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\{D<br><br><br><br>S\}=\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\left\{D\right\}<br><br>\frac{\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\{S<br><br><br><br>D\}}{\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\left\{S\right\}}$

where D is a disease and S is a Symptom;

x) generating a revised pre-diagnosis report for the physician including a list of diseases and a revised probable existence of each disease in the list, including the identity of each probable disease having a probability of existence in excess of a predetermined amount;

y) prompting the physician to confirm, by using the physician data entry devise, in communication with the processor, that the doctor'"'"'s own diagnosis of the patient'"'"'s actual disease is the same as one of the probable diseases described in the revised pre-diagnosis report; and

z) updating the probable existence of said one probable disease by using the processor to increment the disease numerical value of said one probable disease by one (1) if the patient'"'"'s physician confirms that the probable disease is his or her actual disease.

9. A program storage device readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for determining the probable existence of disease, said method steps comprising:

a) providing a plurality of patient Body Parts;

b) associating with each Body Part a list of diseases, and as to each disease in the list of diseases, associating a list of Symptoms which indicate said disease;

c) associating with each disease in each list of diseases a disease numerical value equal to the number of persons who have been confirmed to exhibit said each disease;

d) associating with each Symptom in each list of Symptoms, which indicate a specific disease, a symptom numerical value equal to the numerical value of said specific disease;

e) calculating an initial probable existence of each disease in each list of diseases by determining the quotient of the disease numerical value of each disease divided by the sum of all disease numerical values for all diseases;

f) calculating a total symptom numerical value for all identical Symptoms in all lists of Symptoms;

g) identifying a set of Symptoms, and each Symptom'"'"'s associated total numerical value, which comprises all Symptoms associated to each Body Part;

h) prompting a patient to identify a target Body Part which the patient associates to his or her physical or mental condition;

i) identifying a target Symptom from the set of Symptoms associated to the target Body Part which has the highest total numerical value;

j) generating a question presented to the patient which asks the patient if the target Symptom is indicated or is not indicated;

k) prompting the patient to respond to the question;

l) updating the probable existence of each disease in each list of diseases based upon the patient'"'"'s answer in accordance with the following formula;

$\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\{D<br><br><br><br>S\}=\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\left\{D\right\}<br><br>\frac{\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\{S<br><br><br><br>D\}}{\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\left\{S\right\}}$

where D is a disease and S is a Symptom;

m) identifying a qualifying disease in each list of diseases with a probability greater than a predetermined threshold value, and adding each Symptom associated to said qualifying disease to the set of Symptoms associated to the target Body Part if the Symptom to be added is not already in the set;

n) deleting the target Symptom from the set of Symptoms associated to the target Body Part;

o) repeating steps i through n above until each Symptom contained in the set of Symptoms associated to the Body Part is deleted; and

p) generating a list of diseases and the probable existence of each disease in the list, including the identity of a most probable disease having the highest probability of existence.

10. A computer program product for use with a pre-diagnosis report generator, said computer program product comprising:

a) computer readable program code for prompting a patient to enter his or her vitals into the memory of a database server by using a patient data entry device in communication with the processor and similarly prompting the patient to enter the patient'"'"'s medical history, family medical history and exposure to environmental conditions into the database server;

b) computer readable program code for accessing a list of Body Parts stored in the memory of the database server;

c) computer readable program code for causing the list of Body Parts to be displayed to the patient on a patient display device;

d) computer readable program code for accessing in the memory of the database server a list of diseases associated with each Body Part, and as to each disease in the list of diseases, accessing a list of Symptoms, associated to each disease, which indicate said disease;

e) computer readable program code for accessing in said memory a disease numerical value associated with each disease in each list of diseases, said disease numerical value having a value equal to the number persons who have been confirmed to exhibit said disease;

f) computer readable program code for accessing in said memory a symptom numerical value associated with each Symptom in each list of Symptoms which indicate a specific disease, said symptom numerical value having a value equal to the disease numerical value of said disease;

g) computer readable program code for identifying a set of Symptoms, and each Symptom'"'"'s associated symptom numerical value, which comprise all Symptoms associated to each Body Part;

h) computer readable program code for calculating an initial probable existence of each disease in each list of diseases by determining the quotient of the disease numerical value of each disease divided by the sum of all disease numerical values for all diseases and storing the results in the memory of the database server;

i) computer readable program code for calculating a total symptom numerical value for all identical Symptoms in all lists of Symptoms and to storing the results in the memory of the database server;

j) computer readable program code for displaying to the patient on the patient display device a human figure having a plurality of Body Parts;

k) computer readable program code for prompting the patient to identify, using the patient data entry device, a target Body Part, out of all Body Parts displayed, which the patient believes is associated to his or her physical or mental condition;

l) computer readable program code for identifying a target Symptom from the set of Symptoms associated to the target Body Part which has the highest total symptom numerical value and generating a question presented to the patient on the patient display device which asks the patient if the target Symptom is or is not indicated;

m) computer readable program code for prompting the patient to respond to the question using the patient data entry device;

n) computer readable program code for updating the probable existence of each disease in each list of diseases based upon the patient'"'"'s answer in accordance with the following formula;

$\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\{D<br><br><br><br>S\}=\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\left\{D\right\}<br><br>\frac{\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\{S<br><br><br><br>D\}}{\mathrm{Pr}<br><br>\left\{S\right\}}$

where D is a disease and S is a Symptom;

o) computer readable program code for identifying a qualifying disease in each list of diseases with a probability greater than a predetermined threshold value, adding each Symptom associated to said qualifying disease to the set of Symptoms associated to the target Body Part if the Symptom to be added is not already in the set, and deleting the target Symptom from the set of Symptom associated to the target Body Part;

p) computer readable program code for repeating steps l through o above until each Symptom contained in the set of Symptoms associated to the Body Part is deleted;

q) computer readable program code for generating a pre-diagnosis report including a list of diseases and the probable existence of each disease in the list, including the identity of a most probable disease having the highest probability of existence;

r) computer readable program code for displaying the pre-diagnosis report to a patient'"'"'s nurse on a nurse display device whereby the nurse may review the patient'"'"'s vitals, medical history, environmental exposures and Symptoms to determine whether the information inputted by the patient is accurate and whether the patient has adequately responded to the computer generated interview questions which identify the patient'"'"'s Symptoms;

s) computer readable program code for displaying the pre-diagnosis report to a patient'"'"'s physician on a physician display device whereby the physician may review the report to obtain medical information about the patient and the patient'"'"'s condition, including information about the probable existence of diseases related to the patient'"'"'s medical information and condition;

t) computer readable program code for prompting the patient'"'"'s physician to confirm, by using the physician'"'"'s data entry device in communication with the processor, that the doctor'"'"'s own diagnosis of the patient'"'"'s actual disease is the same as the most probable disease described in the pre-diagnosis report; and

u) computer readable program code for updating the probable existence of the most probable disease by incrementing the numerical value of said most probable disease by one (1) if the patient'"'"'s physician confirms that the most probable disease is his or her actual disease.