Methods and systems for managing distributed digital medical data
First Claim
1. A method operable on a computer for managing distributed medical data, comprising the steps of:
- identifying, by an agent computer, a patient medical file containing digital medical data relating to a patient;
creating, by the agent computer, a metadata file containing attributes relating to the contents of the patient medical file and the location of the patient medical file;
transmitting, by the agent computer, the metadata file to a central computer;
the central computer determining if the metadata file matches any of a plurality of existing database entries in a database relating to patients, each of the existing database entries including attributes relating to a remotely located patient medical file including attributes relating to the contents of the remotely located patient medical file and attributes relating to the location of the remotely located patient medical file; and
if the metadata file matches an existing database entry, the central computer storing data from the metadata file in the existing database entry;
otherwise, the central computer creating a new database entry and storing data from the metadata file in the new database entry.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network for mediating the peer-to-peer transfer of digital patient medical data includes a plurality of distributed agents each associated with a health care provider and connected to a central system. Periodically the agents collect local information relating to patient medical files and/or data streams, for example diagnostic images and associated reports, and process that information into metadata files acting as pointers to the original files. The metadata files are transmitted to the central system where they are parsed and the attributes are stored on the central system in patient records with records from the same patient grouped together whenever possible. Registered users can search the central system, even in the absence of a unique identifier, to identify patient records pointing to the remote patient medical files. Upon finding a patient medical file, the invention provides a streamlined process for communicating access authorization from the patient to the hospital or facility storing the medical files. Once patient authorization is received, secure processes are provided for transferring the data in its entirety to or for viewing by the user in a peer-to-peer fashion.
96 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method operable on a computer for managing distributed medical data, comprising the steps of:
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identifying, by an agent computer, a patient medical file containing digital medical data relating to a patient; creating, by the agent computer, a metadata file containing attributes relating to the contents of the patient medical file and the location of the patient medical file; transmitting, by the agent computer, the metadata file to a central computer; the central computer determining if the metadata file matches any of a plurality of existing database entries in a database relating to patients, each of the existing database entries including attributes relating to a remotely located patient medical file including attributes relating to the contents of the remotely located patient medical file and attributes relating to the location of the remotely located patient medical file; and if the metadata file matches an existing database entry, the central computer storing data from the metadata file in the existing database entry;
otherwise, the central computer creating a new database entry and storing data from the metadata file in the new database entry. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 25, 26)
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15. A system for managing distributed medical data, comprising:
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an agent computer comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions for controlling the operation of the agent computer; and a central computer comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions for controlling the operation of the central computer; the agent computer operative to perform the steps of; identifying a patient medical file containing digital medical data relating to a patient; creating a metadata file containing attributes relating to the contents of the patient medical file and the location of the patient medical file; transmitting the metadata file to the central computer; and
the central computer operative to perform the steps of;determining if the metadata file matches any of a plurality of existing database entries in a database relating to patients, each of the existing database entries including attributes relating to a remotely located patient medical file including attributes relating to the contents of the remotely located patient medical file and attributes relating to the location of the remotely located patient medical file; and if the metadata file matches an existing database entry, storing data from the metadata file in the existing database entry;
otherwise, creating a new database entry and storing data from the metadata file in the new database entry. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28)
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29. A system for managing distributed medical data, comprising:
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means for identifying, by an agent computer, a patient medical file containing digital medical data relating to a patient; means for creating, by the agent computer, a metadata file containing attributes relating to the contents of the patient medical file and the location of the patient medical file; means for transmitting, by the agent computer, the metadata file to a central computer; means in the central computer for determining if the metadata file matches any of a plurality of existing database entries in a database relating to patients, each of the existing database entries including attributes relating to a remotely located patient medical file including attributes relating to the contents of the remotely located patient medical file and attributes relating to the location of the remotely located patient medical file; and means in the central computer for storing data from the metadata file in an existing database entry if the metadata file matches the existing database entry, and for creating a new database entry and storing data from the metadata file in the new database entry if the metadata file does not match the existing database entry. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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Specification