Time-lapsing data methods and systems

• US 7,657,125 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2004
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ventrk LLC
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Allen, Paul G., Levien, Royce A., Jung, Edward K. Y., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, John D. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, KANJIBHAI B
• Application Number:
  US10/972,319
• Publication Number:
  US 20060088227A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,929 Days
• Field of Search: 382128-134, 382/154, 382/305, 382/312, 600/410, 600/439, 345/32, 705/2
• US Class Current: 382/305
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0013 Medical image data A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0079 using mirrors, i.e. for self-examination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/107 Measuring physical dimensions, e.g. size of the entire body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1072 measuring distances on the body, e.g. measuring length, height or thickness A61B5/1076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/445 Evaluating skin irritation or skin trauma, e.g. rash, eczema, wound, bed sore
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/41 Structure of client; Structure of client peripherals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4325 by playing back content from the storage medium reproduction of recorded television signals H04N5/76; reproduction of recorded television signals H04N9/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/44008 involving operations for analysing video streams, e.g. detecting features or characteristics in the video stream arrangements characterised by components specially adapted for monitoring, identification or recognition of video in broadcast systems H04H60/59
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8153 comprising still images, e.g. texture, background image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/84 Generation or processing of descriptive data, e.g. content descriptors systems specially adapted for using meta-information in broadcast systems H04H60/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

Time-lapsing mirror methods and related systems.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

accepting input related to at least one remotely-captured patient image wherein said accepting input related to at least one remotely-captured patient image is performed via at least one of a machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter; and

presenting to a medical expert one or more historical images related to at least a part of the at least one remotely-captured patient image in a time-lapse context, wherein said presenting to a medical expert one or more historical images related to at least a part of the at least one remotely-captured patient image in a time-lapse context is performed via at least one of a machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter and wherein said presenting to a medical expert one or more historical images related to at least a part of the at least one remotely-captured patient image in a time-lapse context further comprises;

identifying one or more anatomical landmarks demarcating the at least a part of the at least one remotely-captured patient image in a time-lapse context;

obtaining one or more remotely-captured images having the one or more anatomical landmarks; and

presenting the one or more remotely-captured images having the one or more anatomical landmarks.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said accepting input related to at least one remotely-captured patient image further comprises:

accepting input of at least a part of a mirror image.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said accepting input related to at least one remotely-captured patient image further comprises:

accepting input of at least a part of an image representation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said accepting input related to at least one remotely-captured patient image further comprises:

accepting input from data storage.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said accepting input from data storage further comprises:

accepting data over at least one of a wired connection channel or a wireless communication channel.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said accepting input from data storage further comprises:

retrieving data from the data storage in response to an input indicative of at least a part of a presented image.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said presenting to a medical expert one or more historical images related to at least a part of the at least one remotely-captured patient image in a time-lapse context further comprises:

presenting at least one of a specified region of the image or a recognized anchor point associated with the image.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said presenting to a medical expert one or more historical images related to at least a part of the at least one remotely-captured patient image in a time-lapse context further comprises:

locating one or more images having the at least a part of the at least one remotely-captured patient image in a time-lapse context.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said presenting the one or more remotely-captured images having the one or more anatomical landmarks further comprises:

registering at least a portion of the one or more remotely-captured images having the one or more anatomical landmarks with another image.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said presenting the one or more remotely-captured images having the one or more anatomical landmarks further comprises:

sequencing at least a portion of the one or more remotely-captured images having the one or more anatomical landmarks.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said presenting to a medical expert one or more historical images related to at least a part of the at least one remotely-captured patient image in a time-lapse context further comprises:

tracking a specified feature having a state; and

presenting the one or more stored images when a change in the state exceeds a selected tolerance value.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said tracking a specified feature having a state further comprises:

tracking at least one of hair length or jowl size.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said tracking a specified feature having a state further comprises:

tracking at least one of a skin lesion or a body region.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said presenting the one or more stored images when a change in the state exceeds a selected tolerance value further comprises:

presenting an image having the state in conjunction with an image whose state exceeds the selected tolerance value.

15. A system comprising:

means for accepting input related to at least one remotely-captured patient image; and

means for presenting to a medical expert one or more historical images related to at least a part of the at least one remotely-captured patient image in a time-lapse context, wherein said means for presenting to a medical expert one or more historical images related to at least a part of the at least one remotely-captured patient image in a time-lapse context further comprises;

means for identifying one or more anatomical landmarks demarcating the at least a part of the at least one remotely-captured patient image in a time-lapse context;

means for obtaining one or more remotely-captured images having the one or more anatomical landmarks; and

means for presenting the one or more remotely-captured images having the one or more anatomical landmarks.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said means for accepting input related to at least one remotely-captured patient image further comprises:

means for accepting input of at least a part of a mirror image.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said means for accepting input related to at least one remotely-captured patient image further comprises:

means for accepting input of at least a part of an image representation.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein said means for accepting input related to at least one remotely-captured patient image further comprises:

means for accepting input from data storage.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said means for accepting input from data storage further comprises:

means for accepting data over at least one of a wired connection channel or a wireless communication channel.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein said means for accepting input from data storage further comprises:

means for retrieving data from the data storage in response to an input indicative of at least a part of a presented image.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein said means for presenting to a medical expert one or more historical images related to at least a part of the at least one remotely-captured patient image in a time-lapse context further comprises:

means for presenting at least one of a specified region of the image or a recognized anchor point associated with the image.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein said means for presenting to a medical expert one or more historical images related to at least a part of the at least one remotely-captured patient image in a time-lapse context further comprises:

means for locating one or more images having the at least a part of the at least one remotely-captured patient image in a time-lapse context.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein said means for presenting the one or more remotely-captured images having the one or more anatomical landmarks further comprises:

means for registering at least a portion of the one or more remotely-captured images having the one or more anatomical landmarks with another image.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein said means for presenting the one or more remotely-captured images having the one or more anatomical landmarks further comprises:

means for sequencing at least a portion of the one or more remotely-captured images having the one or more anatomical landmarks.

25. The system of claim 15, wherein said means for presenting to a medical expert one or more historical images related to at least a part of the at least one remotely-captured patient image in a time-lapse context further comprises:

means for tracking a specified feature having a state; and

means for presenting the one or more stored images when a change in the state exceeds a selected tolerance value.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein said means for tracking a specified feature having a state further comprises:

means for tracking at least one of hair length or jowl size.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein said means for tracking a specified feature having a state further comprises:

means for tracking at least one of a skin lesion or a body region.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein said means for presenting the one or more stored images when a change in the state exceeds a selected tolerance value further comprises:

means for presenting an image having the state in conjunction with an image whose state exceeds the selected tolerance value.

29. A computer program product comprising:

an article of manufacture including a signal-bearing medium bearing;

one or more instructions for accepting input related to at least one remotely-captured patient image; and

one or more instructions for presenting to a medical expert one or more historical images related to at least a part of the at least one remotely-captured patient image in a time-lapse context, wherein said one or more instructions for presenting to a medical expert one or more historical images related to at least a part of the at least one remotely-captured patient image in a time-lapse context further comprises;

one or more instructions for identifying one or more anatomical landmarks demarcating the at least a part of the at least one remotely-captured patient image in a time-lapse context;

one or more instructions for obtaining one or more remotely-captured images having the one or more anatomical landmarks; and

one or more instructions for presenting the one or more remotely-captured images having the one or more anatomical landmarks.

30. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein said article of manufacture including a signal-bearing medium comprises:

a computer-readable medium.

31. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein said article of manufacture including a signal-bearing medium comprises:

a recordable medium.

32. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein said article of manufacture including a signal-bearing medium comprises:

a transmission medium.

33. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein said one or more instructions for accepting input related to at least one remotely-captured patient image further comprises:

one or more instructions for accepting input of at least a part of a mirror image.

34. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein said one or more instructions for accepting input related to at least one remotely-captured patient image further comprises:

one or more instructions for accepting input of at least a part of an image representation.

35. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein said one or more instructions for accepting input related to at least one remotely-captured patient image further comprises:

one or more instructions for accepting input from data storage.

36. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein said one or more instructions for accepting input from data storage further comprises:

one or more instructions for accepting data over at least one of a wired connection channel or a wireless communication channel.

37. The computer program product of claim 35, wherein said one or more instructions for accepting input from data storage further comprises:

one or more instructions for retrieving data from the data storage in response to an input indicative of at least a part of a presented image.

38. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein said one more instructions for presenting to a medical expert one or more historical images related to at least a part of the at least one remotely-captured patient image in a time-lapse context further comprises:

one or more instructions for presenting at least one of a specified region of the image or a recognized anchor point associated with the image.

39. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein said one or more instructions for presenting to a medical expert one or more historical images related to at least a part of the at least one remotely-captured patient image in a time-lapse context further comprises:

one or more instructions for locating one or more images having the at least a part of the at least one remotely-captured patient image in a time-lapse context.

40. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein said one more instructions for presenting the one or more remotely-captured images having the one or more anatomical landmarks further comprises:

one or more instructions for registering at least a portion of the one or more remotely-captured images having the one or more anatomical landmarks with another image.

41. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein said one more instructions for presenting the one or more remotely-captured images having the one or more anatomical landmarks further comprises:

one or more instructions for sequencing at least a portion of the one or more remotely-captured images having the one or more anatomical landmarks.

42. The computer program product of claim 29, wherein said one more instructions for presenting to a medical expert one or more historical images related to at least a part of the at least one remotely-captured patient image in a time-lapse context further comprises:

means for tracking a specified feature having a state; and

one or more instructions for presenting the one or more stored images when a change in the state exceeds a selected tolerance value.

43. The computer program product of claim 42, wherein said one more instructions for tracking a specified feature having a state further comprises:

one or more instructions for tracking at least one of hair length or jowl size.

44. The computer program product of claim 42, wherein said one more instructions for tracking a specified feature having a state further comprises:

one or more instructions for tracking at least one of a skin lesion or a body region.

45. The computer program product of claim 42, wherein said one more instructions for presenting the one or more stored images when a change in the state exceeds a selected tolerance value further comprises:

one or more instructions for presenting an image having the state in conjunction with an image whose state exceeds the selected tolerance value.

46. A system comprising:

circuitry for accepting input related to at least one remotely-captured patient image; and

circuitry for presenting to a medical expert one or more historical images related to at least a part of the at least one remotely-captured patient image in a time-lapse context, wherein said circuitry for presenting to a medical expert one or more historical images related to at least a part of the at least one remotely-captured patient image in a time-lapse context further comprises;

circuitry for identifying one or more anatomical landmarks demarcating the at least a part of the at least one remotely-captured patient image in a time-lapse context;

circuitry for obtaining one or more remotely-captured images having the one or more anatomical landmarks; and

circuitry for presenting the one or more remotely-captured images having the one or more anatomical landmarks.