Medical analysis system

Abstract

The present invention relates to effective diagnosis of patients and assisting clinicians in treatment planning. In particular, invention provides a medical analysis system that enables refinement of molecular classification. The system provides a molecular profiling solution that will allow improved diagnosis, prognosis, response prediction to provide the right chemotherapy, and follow-up to monitor for cancer recurrence.

1 . A method for performing data analysis, the method comprising:
 obtaining a set of data to be analyzed;   retrieving a flow definition data object defining a first state, a second state, and a transition from the first state to the second state, wherein the transition identifies a data analysis tool;   determining that the transition is to be applied; and   invoking the data analysis tool to operate on the set of data.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second state identifies a screen type, the method further comprising, after invoking the data analysis tool:
 displaying a graphical user interface to a user according to the identified screen type, including displaying results of the data analysis tool as part of the graphical user interface.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, before determining that the transition is to be applied, displaying a graphical user interface to a user, the graphical user interface including a layout according to a screen type identified by the first state,
 wherein determining that the transition is to be applied comprises receiving an input from the user via the graphical user interface.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein invoking the data analysis tool comprises calling at least one of a program and a script that is external to software embodying the method. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , where in the transition identifies at least one command line parameter to be included when calling the at least one of a program and a script. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein obtaining a set of data to be analyzed comprises:
 receiving an identification of a patient, and   retrieving medical data associated with the patient.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transition further identifies a flag and a value for the flag, the method further comprising:
 responsive to determining that the transition is to be applied, applying the value to the flag.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the flow definition data object further defines:
 a first additional transition away from the second state having a first constraint, and   a second additional transition away from the second state having a second constraint different from the first constraint;   the method further comprising, after determining that the transition is to be applied:   determining that the first constraint matches a set of flags including the flag;   determining that the second constraint does not match the set of flags; and   displaying a graphical user interface having a layout associated with the second state, the graphical user interface including a means for receiving a user selection of the first additional transition.   
     
     
         9 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium encoded with instructions for execution by a processor, the non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising:
 instructions for obtaining a set of data to be analyzed;   instructions for retrieving a flow definition data object defining a first state, a second state, and a transition from the first state to the second state, wherein the transition identifies a data analysis tool;   instructions for determining that the transition is to be applied; and   instructions for invoking the data analysis tool to operate on the set of data.   
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the second state identifies a screen type, the non-transitory machine-readable medium further comprising instructions for, after invoking the data analysis tool:
 displaying a graphical user interface to a user according to the identified screen type, including displaying results of the data analysis tool as part of the graphical user interface.   
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 9 , further comprising instructions for, before determining that the transition is to be applied, displaying a graphical user interface to a user, the graphical user interface including a layout according to a screen type identified by the first state,
 Wherein the instructions for determining that the transition is to be applied comprise instructions for receiving an input from the user via the graphical user interface.   
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions for invoking the data analysis tool comprise instructions for calling at least one of a program and a script that is external to software embodying the method. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the transition identifies at least one command line parameter to be included when calling the at least one of a program and a script. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions for obtaining a set of data to be analyzed comprise:
 instructions for receiving an identification of a patient, and   instructions for retrieving medical data associated with the patient.   
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein the transition further identifies a flag and a value for the flag, the non-transitory machine-readable medium further comprising:
 instructions for, responsive to determining that the transition is to be applied, applying the value to the flag.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the flow definition data object further defines:
 a first additional transition away from the second state having a first constraint, and   a second additional transition away from the second state having a second constraint different from the first constraint;   the non-transitory machine-readable medium further comprising instructions for, after determining that the transition is to be applied:   determining that the first constraint matches a set of flags including the flag;   determining that the second constraint does not match the set of flags; and   displaying a graphical user interface having a layout associated with the second state, the graphical user interface including a means for receiving a user selection of the first additional transition.   
     
     
         17 . An device for performing data analysis, the device comprising:
 a memory and a processor in communication with the memory, the processor being configured to:   obtain a set of data to be analyzed;   retrieve a flow definition data object defining a first state, a second state, and a transition from the first state to the second state, wherein the transition identifies a data analysis tool;   determine that the transition is to be applied; and   invoke the data analysis tool to operate on the set of data.   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the second state identifies a screen type, the processor being further configured to, after invoking the data analysis tool:
 display a graphical user interface to a user according to the identified screen type, including displaying results of the data analysis tool as part of the graphical user interface.   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the processor is further configured to, before determining that the transition is to be applied, display a graphical user interface to a user, the graphical user interface including a layout according to a screen type identified by the first state,
 wherein in determining that the transition is to be applied, the processor is configured to receive an input from the user via the graphical user interface.   
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein in invoking the data analysis tool, the processor is configured to call at least one of a program and a script that is external to software embodying the method.