System for and method of evaluating medical images in a networked computer environment
Inventors
Jackson, Brian H. • Stavish, Coleman C.
Assignees
Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-10496742-B2
Publication Date
2019-12-03
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present disclosure generally relates to evaluating medical images. Some embodiments access stored medical images, provide a form template construction application to a coordinating user, and provide review applications to reviewing users. The form template construction application provides a tool for creating on a form template at least one user control for designating a region on a medical image and a tool for creating on a form template at least one user input for receiving diagnosis data about a medical image. The form template construction application distributes review forms based on the form template to the reviewing users. The reviewing users provide review data for each image, such an identification of a region and a corresponding diagnosis. A central server collects the review data from the reviewing users and stores it for use by the coordinating user.
Core Innovation
The invention describes a computer-implemented method of evaluating medical images using an electronically stored plurality of medical images and a server computer over a computer network. A coordinating user is provided with a form template construction application that creates an electronic form template, including at least one user control for designating a region on a medical image and at least one user input for receiving diagnosis data about a medical image.
The server computer receives electronically form template construction inputs representing the region-designation user controls and the diagnosis-data user inputs, and creates an electronic form template based on the inputs. The server then receives a list of reviewing users, sends an invitation to review to each reviewing user whose identity is on the list, and receives an affirmative response to the invitation.
After an affirmative response, the server provides a review application to the reviewing user computer and provides, to an executing instance of the review application, the form template and the plurality of medical images. The server receives electronically review data through the review application, where the review data represents at least one specified region on a medical image and at least one diagnosis datum for a medical image, and the review data is electronically stored in persistent memory.
The disclosure further relates to whole-slide medical images distributed for review and to receiving and persisting structured region-level review data as derived review forms derived from the form template. In optional disclosed refinements, review data representing region-labeled diagnosis and annotation inputs can be used as ground truth for training a machine-learning component, including optional stain normalization prior to training.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims are method claim 1 and system claim 11. They center on a coordinated, template-driven evaluation workflow with region designation and structured diagnosis-data collection, followed by persistent storage, with dependent refinements including machine-learning training and optional stain normalization.
Electronic form template construction with region user controls and diagnosis-data inputs
A form template construction application is provided to a coordinating user over a computer network, and the application includes a tool for creating on a form template at least one user control for designating a region on a medical image and a tool for creating at least one user input for receiving diagnosis data about a medical image.
Server-created electronic form template and reviewing-user invitation workflow
The server receives form template construction inputs, creates an electronic form template based on the inputs, receives a list of reviewing users, sends invitations to review to users whose identities are on the list, and receives affirmative responses to the invitations.
Review application providing template and images and collecting region-based review data into derived review forms
The server provides a review application to the reviewing user computer, provides the form template and the plurality of medical images to an executing instance of the review application, and receives review data representing at least one specified region on a medical image and at least one diagnosis datum for a medical image, including inputs to review forms derived from the form template.
Persistent storage of electronically received review data
The review data is electronically stored in persistent memory.
Across independent claim 1 and independent claim 11, the claims cover a coordinating-user form template construction application, server-side receipt of template construction inputs and creation of an electronic form template, invitation and affirmative-response processing for reviewing users, a review application that provides the form template and medical images and collects structured review data, and persistent storage of the review data.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
Interested in licensing this patent?