System and method for providing a searchable database of surgical information

• US 7,953,612 B1
• Filed: 07/17/2006
• Issued: 05/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ecomglobalmedical Research & Development Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ecomglobalmedical Research & Development Incorporated
• Inventors: Jeneby, Thomas T., Palmese, Nicholas, Bornstein, David H.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor; Gerald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holcomb; Mark
• Application Number:
  US11/458,069
• Time in Patent Office: 1,779 Days
• Field of Search: 705 2- 3, 128922-923, 707/722, 707/769, 715/968
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/20 relating to practices or guidelines
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/922 including image analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/923 by comparison of patient data to other data
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/968 interface for database querying and retrieval

Abstract

Systems and methods of creating, managing, and using a database comprising surgical data may involve receiving input signals from a plurality of surgical data sources, the input signals being representative of surgical data associated with a plurality of patients, storing the surgical data in the database, and sending one or more output signals to one or more authorized users in response to one or more queries, the output signals being representative of one or more portions of the surgical data. Among other uses, the systems and methods may be used to improve the performance of surgical procedures, rate surgeons, train surgeons, and establish insurance rates for surgeons and patients.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

uploading digital image data from a digital data storage medium to a computer for each of a plurality of patients,

said digital image data comprising an orthopedic image associated with an orthopedic surgical procedure performed on each of said plurality of patients by a plurality of surgeons,

said orthopedic image comprising a graphics portion and a text portion,

said text portion comprising a representation of an anatomical measurement parameter associated with said orthopedic surgical procedure and a representation of a value for said anatomical measurement parameter,

said anatomical measurement parameter being selected from a distance between two anatomical features and an angle between two anatomical features;

determining said value for said anatomical measurement parameter for each of said plurality of patients by executing an optical character recognition process on said text portion using a computer;

storing said value for said anatomical measurement parameter for each of said plurality of patients in a computer-searchable database;

receiving a query from an authorized user via a computer, said query comprising a search criterion comprising a value for said anatomical measurement parameter; and

in response to said query, sending a search result to said authorized user via a computer, said search result comprising at least one of

(a) the value of said anatomical measurement parameter for each of said plurality of patients that meets said search criterion, and

(b) a statistic of the values of said anatomical measurement parameter for all of said plurality of patients that meet said search criterion;

wherein at least one of said plurality of patients has no relationship with said authorized user and wherein said search result is configured to protect the privacy of said at least one of said plurality of patients with respect to said authorized user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said orthopedic surgical procedure comprises knee surgery and said anatomical measurement parameter is selected from extension gap, flexion gap, gap differential, varus angle, and valgus angle.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said statistic is selected from average, mean, median, and standard deviation.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said search criterion comprises a range of values for said anatomical measurement parameter.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving surgical result data at a computer for each of said plurality of patients,

said surgical result data comprising a value for a surgical result parameter associated with said orthopedic surgical procedure,

said surgical result parameter being selected from range of motion, pain level, pain medication used, movement of implant, loosening of implant, degradation of implant, instances of repeated or additional operations, and elapsed time between operations;

wherein said search result further comprises at least one of

(a) the value of said surgical result parameter for each of said plurality of patients that meets said search criterion, and

(b) a statistic of the values of said surgical result parameter for all of said plurality of patients that meet said search criterion.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said statistic of the values of said surgical result parameter is selected from average, mean, median, and standard deviation.