Derma diagnostic and automated data analysis system

• US 8,109,875 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2007
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Theodore M. Gizewski
• Original Assignee: Theodore M. Gizewski
• Inventors: Gizewski, Theodore M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Miranda
• Assistant Examiner(s): TOTH, KAREN E
• Application Number:
  US11/649,921
• Publication Number:
  US 20080161661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,861 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/306
• US Class Current: 600/306
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0013 Medical image data A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0064 Body surface scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/08 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for evaluating the respiratory organs A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/082 Evaluation by breath analysis, e.g. determination of the chemical composition of exhaled breath A61B5/083, A61B5/091 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/442 Evaluating skin mechanical properties, e.g. elasticity, hardness, texture, wrinkle assessment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/445 Evaluating skin irritation or skin trauma, e.g. rash, eczema, wound, bed sore
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7465 Arrangements for interactive communication between patient and care services, e.g. by using a telephone network telemetry of measured physiological signal A61B5/0002
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

Disclosed is a derma diagnostic and automated data analysis system configured to acquire an array of data pertaining to a subject and their skin disorders. This data is subjected to a comprehensive analysis that culminates in diagnoses, treatments, monitoring activity and health strategy implementation. The derma diagnostic and automated data analysis system comprises a user interface and display unit, capable of acquiring a range of subject data, and communicatively coupled to a remotely located data analysis and reporting unit. The data analysis and reporting unit is capable of receiving and assessing the acquired data, using multiple analytical processes that culminate in a highly probable diagnosis and an effective treatment that is documented in a report and submitted to the subject. The diagnoses, treatments and supporting data are then permanently archived and made available for retrieval.

Claims

1. A derma diagnostic and automated data analysis system, comprising:

a) an electronic user interface having a device into which a user may enter commands;

b) an electronic data acquisition module capable of capturing imagery data;

c) an electronic display module for transmitting information to the user; and

d) a data analysis and reporting unit containing program instructions and memory that;

(1) using the display module, prompt the user with queries for personal health information of a patient, and transmit instructions to the user for positioning of the patient relative to the data acquisition module to capture an image of an area of dermatological interest on the patient'"'"'s body,

(2) analyze the images captured by the data acquisition module along with the personal health information of the patient,

(3) based on the analysis, develop a primary diagnosis for the patient of a physiological abnormality or disorder from a cause selected from the group consisting of dietary/nutritional deficiencies, blood toxicity/poisoning, contagious or infectious diseases, exposure to fungal infections, or exposure to parasitical infections, injury, drug and alcohol abuse, drug interactions/reactions, exposure to an irritant or caustic substance, or exposure to at least one of hazardous microorganisms, hazardous chemicals, poisons, environmental pollutants, infestations, or nuclear/biological/chemical contamination, and that can manifest in the form of a skin condition,

(4) select a primary treatment for the physiological abnormality or disorder other than the selection of a topical dermatological product based on the diagnosis,

(5) create a monitoring program for following up with the patient on the efficacy of the primary treatment of the physiological abnormality or disorder, and

(6) transmit the primary diagnosis, primary treatment, and monitoring program to the user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic data acquisition module includes at least one of the following:

a stationary digital image scanner, a portable digital image scanner, and a digital camera capable of capturing either photographic or video images.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic data acquisition module further acquires variances in fluorescence landscapes using a fluorescence spectroscope.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic data acquisition module further acquires digital radiometric images using an infrared (IR) imager.

5. The system of claim 1, further including a test and measurement unit that acquires sensory data from the patient using a breath analyzer, wherein the data analysis and reporting unit incorporates the sensory data when developing the diagnosis.

6. The system of claim 1, further including a test and measurement unit capable of importing external laboratory results of the patient, wherein the data analysis and reporting unit incorporates the laboratory results when developing the diagnosis.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the data analysis and reporting unit further contains program instructions that interactively prompts the user with queries for personal health information including psychological and behavioral characteristics of a patient by customizing subsequent queries based on responses from previous queries.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the data analysis and reporting unit prompts the user with queries for demographic information, including queries concerning at least one of the following:

race, ethnicity, educational level, occupation, sexual preference, marital status, children, religion, recreational activities.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the data analysis and reporting unit further contains program instructions that interactively transmit instructions to the user for positioning of the patient relative to the data acquisition module to capture images of an area of dermatological interest on the patient'"'"'s body by analyzing responses to patient queries.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the data analysis and reporting unit further contains program instructions for primary treatment effectiveness monitoring sensitized to alternative diagnoses and treatments so that certain responses to the primary treatment may be correlated to the corresponding response characteristics of an alternative diagnosis.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein if the primary treatment effectiveness monitoring detects evidence that the primary treatment is ineffective against the primary diagnosis and/or if the patient'"'"'s response to the primary treatment corresponds to one or more unique response characteristics associated with an alternative diagnosis, the primary diagnosis is reassessed and the system transmits an alternative diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring program to the user.

12. The system of claim 1, further including:

(e) a centralized data analysis and reporting unit that interacts with a network of remotely located user interface and display units including elements (a)-(c) and updates reference materials to keep them current.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein a number of the remotely located user interface and display units are portable.

14. A derma diagnostic and automated data analysis system, comprising:

(a) an electronic user interface having a device into which a user may enter commands;

(b) an electronic data acquisition module capable of capturing imagery data;

(c) an electronic display module for transmitting information to a user; and

(d) a data analysis and reporting unit containing program instructions and memory that;

(1) using the display module, transmit instructions to the user for positioning of the patient relative to the data acquisition module to capture an image of an area of dermatological interest on the patient'"'"'s body,

(2) analyze the images captured by the data acquisition module,

(3) based on the analysis, develop a primary and secondary diagnosis for the patient of a physiological abnormality or disorder from a cause selected from the group consisting of dietary/nutritional deficiencies, blood toxicity/poisoning, contagious or infectious diseases, exposure to fungal infections, or exposure to parasitical infections, injury, drug and alcohol abuse, drug interactions/reactions, exposure to an irritant or caustic substance, or exposure to at least one of hazardous microorganisms, hazardous chemicals, poisons, environmental pollutants, infestations, or nuclear/biological/chemical contamination, and that can manifest in the form of a skin condition,

(4) select a primary treatment other than the selection of a topical dermatological product based on the primary diagnosis,

(5) reconcile whether the primary treatment is compatible with the secondary diagnosis,

(6) evaluate the relative probabilities of the primary and secondary diagnosis,

(7) determine patient advice selected from either the primary treatment or instructions for further testing and evaluation if the primary treatment is incompatible with the secondary diagnosis and only marginally more probable than the secondary diagnosis, and

(8) transmit patient advice to the user.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the data analysis and reporting unit further contains program instructions for primary treatment effectiveness monitoring sensitized to the secondary diagnosis so that certain responses to the primary treatment may be correlated to the corresponding response characteristics of the secondary diagnosis.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein if the primary treatment effectiveness monitoring detects evidence that the primary treatment is ineffective against the primary diagnosis and/or if the patient'"'"'s response to the primary treatment corresponds to one or more unique response characteristics associated with the secondary diagnosis, the primary diagnosis is reassessed and the system transmits the secondary diagnosis and a corresponding treatment and monitoring program to the user.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the data analysis and reporting unit contains program instructions for updating programs to prescribe at least one secondary treatment when the primary treatment causes adverse reactions and/or is ineffective.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the data analysis and reporting unit contains program instructions for monitoring and analyzing user interface inputs to detect the occurrence of conditions in unusual numbers, patterns or trends that are caused by certain nuclear, biological and/or chemical agents.

19. The system of claim 14, further including a test and measurement unit capable of importing external laboratory results of the patient, wherein the data analysis and reporting unit incorporates the laboratory results when developing the diagnosis.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the data analysis and reporting unit further contains program instructions that interactively prompts the user with queries for personal health information including psychological and behavioral characteristics of a patient by customizing subsequent queries based on responses from previous queries.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the data analysis and reporting unit further contains program instructions that interactively transmit instructions to the user for positioning of the patient relative to the data acquisition module to capture images of an area of dermatological interest on the patient'"'"'s body by analyzing responses to patient queries.

22. The system of claim 14, further including:

(e) a centralized data analysis and reporting unit that interacts with a network of remotely located user interface and display units including elements (a)-(c) and updates reference materials to keep them current.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein a number of the remotely located user interface and display units are portable.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein the electronic data acquisition module further includes at least one of the following:

an ultraviolet emitter and detector, and

an infrared emitter and detector.

25. A derma diagnostic and automated data analysis system, comprising:

(a) an electronic user interface having a device into which a user may enter commands;

(b) an electronic data acquisition module for capturing visual imagery data;

(c) an electronic display module for transmitting information to a user; and

(d) a data analysis and reporting unit containing program instructions and memory that;

(1) using the display module, transmit instructions to the user for positioning of the patient relative to the data acquisition module to capture a visual image of an area of dermatological interest on the patient'"'"'s body,

(2) analyze the images captured by the data acquisition module;

(3) based on the analysis, develop a primary diagnosis for the patient of a physiological abnormality or disorder from a cause selected from the group consisting of dietary/nutritional deficiencies, blood toxicity/poisoning, contagious or infectious diseases, exposure to fungal infections, or exposure to parasitical infections, injury, drug and alcohol abuse, drug interactions/reactions, exposure to an irritant or caustic substance, or exposure to at least one of hazardous microorganisms, hazardous chemicals, poisons, environmental pollutants, infestations, or nuclear/biological/chemical contamination, and that can manifest in the form of a skin condition,

(4) select a primary treatment for the physiological abnormality or disorder other than the selection of a topical dermatological product based on the primary diagnosis, and

(5) transmit the primary diagnosis and treatment to the user,

(f) a centralized data analysis and reporting unit that interacts with a network of remotely located user interface and display units including elements (a)-(c) and updates reference materials to keep them current.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein a number of the remotely located user interface and display units are portable.

27. The system of claim 25, further including a test and measurement unit that acquires sensory data from the patient using a breath analyzer.

28. The system of claim 25, further including a test and measurement unit capable of importing external laboratory results of the patient, wherein the data analysis and reporting unit incorporates the laboratory results when developing the diagnosis.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein the data analysis and reporting unit further contains program instructions that interactively prompts the user with queries for personal health information including psychological and behavioral characteristics of a patient by customizing subsequent queries based on responses from previous queries.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the data analysis and reporting unit prompts the user with queries for demographic information, including queries concerning at least one of the following:

race, ethnicity, educational level, occupation, sexual preference, marital status, children, religion, recreational activities.

31. The system of claim 25, wherein the data analysis and reporting unit further contains program instructions that interactively transmit instructions to the user for positioning of the patient relative to the data acquisition module to capture visual images of an area of dermatological interest on the patient'"'"'s body by analyzing responses to patient queries.

32. The system of claim 25, wherein the data analysis and reporting unit further contains program instructions for primary treatment effectiveness monitoring sensitized to alternative diagnoses and treatments so that certain responses to the primary treatment may be correlated to the corresponding response characteristics of an alternative diagnosis.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein if the primary treatment effectiveness monitoring detects evidence that the primary treatment is ineffective against the primary diagnosis and/or if the patient'"'"'s response to the primary treatment corresponds to one or more unique response characteristics associated with an alternative diagnosis, the primary diagnosis is reassessed and the system transmits an alternative diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring program to the user.

34. The system of claim 25, wherein the electronic data acquisition module further includes one of the following:

an ultraviolet emitter and detector, and

an infrared emitter and detector.