Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for facilitating visualization and analysis of medical data

• US 8,917,272 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2009
• Issued: 12/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Harris Dawn Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mckesson Financial Holdings Limited (McKesson Corp.)
• Inventors: Regan, Robyn, Walton, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): WANG, JIN CHENG
• Application Number:
  US12/570,522
• Publication Number:
  US 20110074788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,910 Days
• Field of Search: 345440-442, 345/629, 607 17- 18, 607/60, 600509-512, 600/523, 600/538, 600/365, 600/501
• US Class Current: 345/440
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/00 2D [Two Dimensional] image generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/203 Drawing of straight lines or curves
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/40 Filling a planar surface by adding surface attributes, e.g. colour or texture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for facilitating visualization and analysis of medical data. A method may include accessing a first set of data points. The method may further include plotting a plurality of data points from the first set of data points on a first graph. The method may additionally include causing the first graph to be displayed. The method may also include accessing a second set of data points. The method may further include plotting a plurality of data points from the second set of data points on a second graph. The method may also include causing the second graph to be displayed overlaying the first graph. At least a portion of the second graph may be semi-transparent such that at least a portion of the first graph is viewable concurrently with the second graph. Corresponding apparatuses and computer program products are also provided.

Claims

1. A method for visually presenting medical data to facilitate analysis of the medical data, the method comprising:

accessing a first set of data points defining medical data values associated with a patient;

plotting, by a hardware processor, a plurality of data points from the first set of data points on a first graph layer comprising a first coordinate axis and a second coordinate axis, wherein the second coordinate axis has a first scale and each of the plotted plurality of data points from the first set of data points is plotted with respect to the second coordinate axis based at least in part upon the value of the medical data value defined by the data point;

causing the first graph layer to be displayed;

accessing a second set of data points defining medical data values associated with the patient;

plotting, by the hardware processor, a plurality of data points from the second set of data points on a second graph layer, the second graph layer sharing the first coordinate axis with the first graph layer and further comprising a third coordinate axis, wherein the third coordinate axis has a second scale and each of the plotted plurality of data points from the second set of data points is plotted with respect to the third coordinate axis based at least in part upon the value of the medical data value defined by the data point;

causing, by the hardware processor, the second graph layer to be displayed overlaying the first graph layer, wherein at least a portion of the second graph layer is semi-transparent such that at least a portion of the first graph layer underlying the second graph layer is viewable concurrently with the second graph layer;

receiving an indication to move the first set of data points to the second graph layer;

in response to the indication, moving the first set of data points to the second graph layer at least in part by adjusting a transparency of the first set of data points to match a transparency of the second graph layer,

wherein the second graph layer is defined by a geometric shape, the geometric shape having a perimeter defining an interior portion of the geometric shape, wherein the plurality of points from the second set of data are plotted within the interior portion, and wherein the interior portion is semi-transparent to enable at least a portion of the first graph layer to be viewable concurrently with the second graph layer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

each data point of the first set of data points is associated with a time at which the medical data value defined by the data point was captured;

each data point of the second set of data points is associated with a time at which the medical data value defined by the data point was captured;

the first coordinate axis defines a period of time;

plotting the plurality of data points from the first set of data points comprises plotting each of the plotted plurality of data points from the first set of data points with respect to the first coordinate axis based at least in part upon the time at which the medical data value defined by the data point was captured; and

plotting the plurality of data points from the second set of data points comprises plotting each of the plotted plurality of data points from the second set of data points with respect to the first coordinate axis based at least in part upon the time at which the medical data value defined by the data point was captured such that the plotted plurality of data points from the second set of data points are time correlated with the plotted plurality of data points from the first set of data points.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

adjusting one or more of the period of time defined by the first axis or a scale of the first axis to change a field of view displayed by the displayed first and second graph layers.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the first set of data points or the second set of data points defines medical data values related to a condition of the patient and the other set of data points defines medical data values related to treatment administered to the patient.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a selection of a plotted data point; and

causing the medical data value defined by the selected plotted data point to be displayed.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a selection of the first set of data points; and

determining a selection of the second set of data points;

wherein;

accessing the first set of data points comprises accessing the first set of data points in response to determining the selection of the first set of data points; and

accessing the second set of data points comprises accessing the second set of data points in response to determining the selection of the second set of data points.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

reordering display of the first graph layer and the second graph layer such that the first graph layer is displayed overlaying the second graph layer, wherein in the reordered display, the first graph layer is semi-transparent such that at least a portion of the second graph layer underlying the first graph layer is viewable concurrently with the first graph layer.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of data points from a third set of data points are plotted on the first graph layer, the method further comprising, responsive to a user request:

moving the plotted plurality of data points from the third set of data points from the first graph layer to a third graph layer, the plotted plurality of data points from the first data set remaining plotted on the first graph layer, the third graph layer sharing the first coordinate axis with the first graph layer and further comprising a fourth coordinate axis, wherein the fourth coordinate axis has a third scale and each of the plotted plurality of data points from the third set of data points is plotted with respect to the fourth coordinate axis; and

causing the third graph layer to be displayed overlaying the first graph layer, wherein at least a portion of the third graph layer is semi-transparent such that at least a portion of the first graph layer underlying the third graph layer is viewable concurrently with the third graph layer.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the first set of data points or the second set of data points defines medical data values related to a condition of the patient and the other set of data points defines medical data values defining a quantity of a medication administered to the patient.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein one of the first set of data points or the second set of data points defines medical data values related to a condition of the patient and the other set of data points defines medical data values defining treatment setting values for a treatment administered to the patient.

11. An apparatus for visually presenting medical data to facilitate analysis of the medical data, the apparatus comprising a processor configured to cause the apparatus to:

access a first set of data points defining medical data values associated with a patient;

plot a plurality of data points from the first set of data points on a first graph layer comprising a first coordinate axis and a second coordinate axis, wherein the second coordinate axis has a first scale and each of the plotted plurality of data points from the first set of data points is plotted with respect to the second coordinate axis based at least in part upon the value of the medical data value defined by the data point;

cause the first graph layer to be displayed;

access a second set of data points defining medical data values associated with the patient;

plot a plurality of data points from the second set of data points on a second graph layer, the second graph layer sharing the first coordinate axis with the first graph layer and further comprising a third coordinate axis, wherein the third coordinate axis has a second scale and each of the plotted plurality of data points from the second set of data points is plotted with respect to the third coordinate axis based at least in part upon the value of the medical data value defined by the data point;

cause the second graph layer to be displayed overlaying the first graph layer, wherein at least a portion of the second graph layer is semi-transparent such that at least a portion of the first graph layer underlying the second graph layer is viewable concurrently with the second graph layer;

receive an indication to move the first set of data points to the second graph layer; and

in response to the indication, move the first set of data points to the second graph layer at least in part by adjusting a transparency of the first set of data points to match a transparency of the second graph layer,

wherein the second graph layer is defined by a geometric shape, the geometric shape having a perimeter defining an interior portion of the geometric shape, wherein the plurality of points from the second set of data are plotted within the interior portion, and wherein the interior portion is semi-transparent to enable at least a portion of the first graph layer to be viewable concurrently with the second graph layer.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

each data point of the first set of data points is associated with a time at which the medical data value defined by the data point was captured;

each data point of the second set of data points is associated with a time at which the medical data value defined by the data point was captured;

the first coordinate axis defines a period of time;

the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to plot the plurality of data points from the first set of data points by plotting each of the plotted plurality of data points from the first set of data points with respect to the first coordinate axis based at least in part upon the time at which the medical data value defined by the data point was captured; and

the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to plot the plurality of data points from the second set of data points by plotting each of the plotted plurality of data points from the second set of data points with respect to the first coordinate axis based at least in part upon the time at which the medical data value defined by the data point was captured such that the plotted plurality of data points from the second set of data points are time correlated with the plotted plurality of data points from the first set of data points.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to cause the apparatus to:

adjust one or more of the period of time defined by the first axis or a scale of the first axis to change a field of view displayed by the displayed first and second graph layers.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein one of the first set of data points or the second set of data points defines medical data values related to a condition of the patient and the other set of data points defines medical data values related to treatment administered to the patient.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the medical data values related to a condition of the patient define one or more of input values, output values, patient reported values, central venous pressure values, internal pressure measurement values, lab values, blood pressure values, oxygen saturation percentage values, body temperature values, pulse rate values, heart rate values, or respiratory rate values of the patient.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the medical data values related to treatment administered to the patient define one or more of input values, ventilator settings, quantity of a medication administered to the patient, or medication drip settings.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to cause the apparatus to:

determine a selection of a plotted data point; and

cause the medical data value defined by the selected plotted data point to be displayed.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising at least one memory storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the apparatus to:

access a first set of data points defining medical data values associated with a patient;

plot a plurality of data points from the first set of data points on a first graph layer comprising a first coordinate axis and a second coordinate axis, wherein the second coordinate axis has a first scale and each of the plotted plurality of data points from the first set of data points is plotted with respect to the second coordinate axis based at least in part upon the value of the medical data value defined by the data point;

cause the first graph layer to be displayed;

access a second set of data points defining medical data values associated with the patient;

plot a plurality of data points from the second set of data points on a second graph layer, the second graph layer sharing the first coordinate axis with the first graph and further comprising a third coordinate axis, wherein the third coordinate axis has a second scale and each of the plotted plurality of data points from the second set of data points is plotted with respect to the third coordinate axis based at least in part upon the value of the medical data value defined by the data point; and

cause the second graph layer to be displayed overlaying the first graph layer, wherein at least a portion of the second graph layer is semi-transparent such that at least a portion of the first graph layer underlying the second graph layer is viewable concurrently with the second graph layer.

19. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program instructions stored therein, the computer-readable program instructions comprising:

program instructions configured to access a first set of data points defining medical data values associated with a patient;

program instructions configured to plot a plurality of data points from the first set of data points on a first graph layer comprising a first coordinate axis and a second coordinate axis, wherein the second coordinate axis has a first scale and each of the plotted plurality of data points from the first set of data points is plotted with respect to the second coordinate axis based at least in part upon the value of the medical data value defined by the data point;

program instructions configured to cause the first graph layer to be displayed;

program instructions configured to access a second set of data points defining medical data values associated with the patient;

program instructions configured to plot a plurality of data points from the second set of data points on a second graph layer, the second graph layer sharing the first coordinate axis with the first graph layer and further comprising a third coordinate axis, wherein the third coordinate axis has a second scale and each of the plotted plurality of data points from the second set of data points is plotted with respect to the third coordinate axis based at least in part upon the value of the medical data value defined by the data point;

program instructions configured to cause the second graph layer to be displayed overlaying the first graph layer, wherein at least a portion of the second graph layer is semi-transparent such that at least a portion of the first graph layer underlying the second graph layer is viewable concurrently with the second graph layer;

program instructions configured to receive an indication to move the first set of data points to the second graph layer; and

program instructions configured to, in response to the indication, move the first set of data points to the second graph layer at least in part by adjusting a transparency of the first set of data points to match a transparency of the second graph layer,

wherein the second graph layer is defined by a geometric shape, the geometric shape having a perimeter defining an interior portion of the geometric shape, wherein the plurality of points from the second set of data are plotted within the interior portion, and wherein the interior portion is semi-transparent to enable at least a portion of the first graph layer to be viewable concurrently with the second graph layer.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein:

each data point of the first set of data points is associated with a time at which the medical data value defined by the data point was captured;

each data point of the second set of data points is associated with a time at which the medical data value defined by the data point was captured;

the first coordinate axis defines a period of time;

the program instruction configured for plotting the plurality of data points from the first set of data points comprises instructions configured for plotting each of the plotted plurality of data points from the first set of data points with respect to the first coordinate axis based at least in part upon the time at which the medical data value defined by the data point was captured; and

the program instruction configured for plotting the plurality of data points from the second set of data points comprises instructions configured for plotting each of the plotted plurality of data points from the second set of data points with respect to the first coordinate axis based at least in part upon the time at which the medical data value defined by the data point was captured such that the plotted plurality of data points from the second set of data points are time correlated with the plotted plurality of data points from the first set of data points.

21. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein one of the first set of data points or the second set of data points defines medical data values related to a condition of the patient and the other set of data points defines medical data values related to treatment administered to the patient.