Systems having a centralized database for use in the collection, management and dissemination of information relating to medical procedures

Abstract

A system for the collection, management, and dissemination of information relating at least to a medical procedure is disclosed. The system includes a user interface adapted to provide raw data information at least about one of a patient, the medical procedure, and a result of the medical procedure. A medical device communicates with the user interface, receives the raw data information from the user interface, and generates operational information during use. A central database communicates at least with the medical device and receives data from the medical device. The central database is used to create related entries based on the raw data information and the operational information and optionally transmits the related entry to the medical device or the medical device user. The related entry includes information that provides guidance based on previously tabulated, related medical procedures. A system for the iterative analysis of medical standards is also disclosed along with methods for the evaluation of medical procedures and standards.

1 - 3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . A system for collection, management and dissemination of information relating to medical procedures, the system comprising:
 (a) a plurality of interface devices, each of the interface devices having a local database and being adapted to communicate with at least one of an injector, a scanner and at least one other device, each of the interface devices being further adapted (I) to receive raw data such that the raw data includes at least one of fluid administration information from the injector, imaging study information from the scanner and patient identification information and (II) to match automatically, for each of the medical procedures, the fluid administration information and the imaging study information based on the patient identification information and to store the result thereof in the local database as a raw data entry; and   (b) a central database for operation on at least one computer and being enabled therethrough to communicate with each of the interface devices and to collect, tabulate and store therein the raw data entries received from the local databases of the interface devices;   wherein the central database is further adapted to select at least one related entry derived from the raw data entries stored thereon and to enable the at least one related entry to be disseminated to at least one of the interface devices.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the at least one related entry may take the form of at least one of the raw data entries. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the at least one related entry may take the form of a set of parameters associated with at least one of an injection procedure and an imaging procedure. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4  further comprising a user interface in communication with the at least one computer, the user interface being adapted to enable entry into the central database of at least one of an injection procedure and an imaging procedure, with the central database enabling the at least one of the injection procedure and the imaging procedure to be disseminated to at least one of the interface devices. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the raw data further includes information about at least one of the injector, the scanner, the at least one other device, actuals, a result of an injection procedure, a result of an imaging procedure, equipment used, and long term information inclusive of usage rate, patterns of use, service history and reliability history of at least one of the injector, the scanner and the at least one other device. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the information about the equipment used includes at least one of a size of syringe(s) used, a volume of syringe(s) used, a type of fluid(s) used, a manufacturing lot of fluid(s) used, a rate(s) of flow of fluid(s) used, a volume of fluid(s) used, a type of catheter(s) used, and, generally, a number of disposables used. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 4  wherein at least some of the interface devices are integrated with a medical device, 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the medical device is one of the injector, the scanner, a heart monitor and a respirator. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the central database is in communication with a raw data source, the raw data source comprising at least one of a hospital information system (HIS), a radiology information system (RIS), an intranet, the Internet, a picture archiving and communication system (PACS) and an other external information system. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein at least one of the interface devices is in communication with the raw data source. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the at least one computer is a plurality of computers, and the central database is one of (i) distributed among the plurality of computers at one site and (ii) distributed among the plurality of computers at various sites. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the at least one related entry comprises guidance based on the raw data entries and a medical standard employed therewith. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the user interface is further adapted to enable entry of information affecting operation of the at least one interface device into the at least one computer for dissemination thereby to the at least one interface device for use thereby. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the imaging study information includes x-ray information. 
     
     
         18 . A system for collection, management and dissemination of information relating to medical procedures, the system comprising:
 (a) a central database for operating on a computer and being enabled therethrough to communicate with each of a plurality of interface devices, each of the interface devices having a local database and being adapted to communicate with at least one of an injector, a scanner and at least one other device, each of the interface devices being further adapted (I) to receive raw data such that the raw data includes at least one of fluid administration information from the injector, imaging study information from the scanner and patient identification information, and (II) to relate, for each of the medical procedures, the fluid administration information and the imaging study information based on the patient identification information and to store the result thereof in the local database as a raw data entry; and   (b) the central database via the computer being adapted (I) to collect, tabulate and store therein the raw data entries received from the local databases of the interface devices and (II) to select at least one related entry derived from the raw data entries stored thereon and to enable the at least one related entry to be disseminated to at least one of the interface devices.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the at least one related entry may take the form of at least one of the raw data entries. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the at least one related entry may take the form of a set of parameters associated with at least one of an injection procedure and an imaging procedure. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the computer includes a user interface in communication therewith, the central database permitting entry via the user interface of at least one of an injection procedure and an imaging procedure, with the central database enabling the at least one of the injection procedure and the imaging procedure to be disseminated to at least one of the interface devices. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the raw data further includes information about at least one of the injector, the scanner, the at least one other device, actuals, a result of an injection procedure, a result of an imaging procedure, equipment used, and long term information inclusive of usage rate, patterns of use, service history and reliability history of at least one of the injector, the scanner and the at least one other device. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21  wherein the information about the equipment used includes at least one of a size of syringe(s) used, a volume of syringe(s) used, a type of fluid(s) used, a manufacturing lot of fluid(s) used, a rate(s) of flow of fluid(s) used, a volume of fluid(s) used, a type of catheter(s) used, and, generally, a number of disposables used. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 18  wherein at least some of the interface devices are integrated with a medical device. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24  wherein the medical device is one of the injector, the scanner, a heart monitor and a respirator. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the central database is in communication with a raw data source, the raw data source comprising at least one of a hospital information system (HIS), a radiology information system (RIS), an intranet, the Internet, a picture archiving and communication system (PACS) and an other external information system. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26  wherein at least one of the interface devices is in communication with the raw data source. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the computer is a plurality of computers, and the central database is one of (i) distributed among the plurality of computers at one site and (ii) distributed among the plurality of computers at various sites. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the at least one related entry comprises guidance based on the raw data entries and a medical standard employed therewith. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 21  wherein the user interface is further adapted to enable entry of information affecting operation of the at least one interface device into the computer for dissemination thereby to the at least one interface device for use thereby. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the imaging study information includes x-ray information. 
     
     
         32 . A computer-readable medium comprising an executable program stored thereon, the executable program configured to cause a computer to create a central database for use in collection, management and dissemination of information relating to medical procedures, the central database in operation on the computer to perform the following steps:
 (a) communicating with each of a plurality of interface devices, each of the interface devices having a local database and being adapted to communicate with at least one of an injector, a scanner and at least one other device, each of the interface devices being further adapted (I) to receive raw data such that the raw data includes at least one of fluid administration information from the injector, imaging study information from the scanner and patient identification information, and (II) to relate, for each of the medical procedures, the fluid administration information and the imaging study information based on the patient identification information and to store the result thereof in the local database as a raw data entry; and   (b) collecting, tabulating and storing on the central database the raw data entries received from the local databases of the interface devices;   (c) selecting at least one related entry derived from the raw data entries stored on the central database; and   (d) enabling the at least one related entry to be disseminated from the central database to at least one of the interface devices.   
     
     
         33 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 32  wherein the at least one related entry may take the form of at least one of the raw data entries. 
     
     
         34 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 32  wherein the at least one related entry may take the form of a set of parameters associated with at least one of an injection procedure and an imaging procedure. 
     
     
         35 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 32  wherein the computer includes a user interface in communication therewith, the central database permitting entry via the user interface of at least one of an injection procedure and an imaging procedure, with the central database enabling the at least one of the injection procedure and the imaging procedure to be disseminated to at least one of the interface devices. 
     
     
         36 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 35  wherein the user interface is adapted to enable entry of information affecting operation of the at least one interface device into the computer, the computer for permitting dissemination of the operation-affecting information to the at least one interface device for use thereby. 
     
     
         37 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 32  wherein the raw data further includes information about at least one of the injector, the scanner, the at least one other device, actuals, a result of an injection procedure, a result of an imaging procedure, equipment used, and long term information inclusive of usage rate, patterns of use, service history and reliability history of at least one f the injector, the scanner and the at least one other device. 
     
     
         38 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 37  wherein the information about the equipment used includes at least one of a size of syringe(s) used, a volume of syringe(s) used, a type of fluid(s) used, a manufacturing lot of fluid(s) used, a rate(s) of flow of fluid(s) used, a volume of fluid(s) used, a type of catheter(s) used, and, generally, a number of disposables used. 
     
     
         39 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 32  wherein the central database further communicates with a raw data source, the raw data source comprising at least one of a hospital information system (HIS), a radiology information system (RIS), an intranet, the Internet, a picture archiving and communication system (PACS) and an other external information system. 
     
     
         40 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 32  wherein the computer is a plurality of computers, and the central database is one of (i) distributed among the plurality of computers at one site and (ii) distributed among the plurality of computers at various sites. 
     
     
         41 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 32  wherein the at least one related entry comprises guidance based on the raw data entries and a medical standard employed therewith. 
     
     
         42 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 32  wherein the imaging study information includes x-ray information.