Methods and systems for analyzing and reporting medical images

Abstract

A method for providing medical diagnostics comprises providing access to one or more platforms capable of distributing one or more applications for implementing a method. The method comprises retrieving, with the aid of a processor, one or more images from an image database or an imaging device. The one or more images can define a set of images. Next, with the aid of a processor, whether each of the images is of medical interest to a reviewing physician is determined. One or more images can then be provided to a display and analysis system for review by a reviewing physician. The one or more images can be provided with an image that is representative of the set of images.

1 - 56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . A method, in an enhanced picture archiving communication system comprising a processor and a memory, the memory containing machine readable medium comprising machine executable code having stored thereon instructions that are executed by the processor to specifically configure the processor to implement a picture analysis prioritization visualization and reporting system for providing a graphical user interface that displays medical images and results of analysis for review by a medical personnel, the method comprising:
 retrieving, using the processor, one or more images associated with an imaging modality, the one or more images being representative of a predetermined region of a patient's body;   determining, using the processor, quantitative measurements and calculations of the retrieved one or more images based at least in part on a medical condition of the patient, the quantitative measures being associated with an abnormality in the one or more images;   analyzing, using the processor, the retrieved one or more images to identify a representative image based on (i) diagnostic data stored in the memory, (ii) the determined quantitative measurements and calculations, or both (i) and (ii);   generating, using the processor, an analysis report including the representative image and the quantitative measurements of the representative image;   retrieving, using the processor, a historical analysis report of the predetermined region of the patient's body, the historical analysis report including a historical representative image and quantitative measurements of the historical representative image;   comparing, using the processor, the quantitative measurements of the historical representative image in the analysis report with the quantitative measurements of the historical representative image in the historical analysis report to identify a change in the medical condition of the patient; and   displaying, on the graphical user interface, a preliminary report including the representative image, the quantitative measurements of the representative image, and the change in the medical condition of the patient.   
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the analyzing the retrieved one or more images includes determining whether the retrieved one or more images show any abnormalities with respect to the patient's condition. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the abnormalities include free pleural air (pneumothorax) or fluid, aortic dissection, intracranial hemorrhage, liver metastases, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the quantitative measurements are associated with a distance, a cross-sectional area, a volume, or any combination thereof relating to the medical condition of the patient. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising:
 receiving one or more modifications to the preliminary report from the medical personnel; and   updating the diagnostic data based on the one or more modifications.   
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the one or more modifications are received via the graphical user interface. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising:
 extracting time-dependent parameters from one or more relevant medical articles on the medical condition of the patient; and   updating the diagnostic data based on the extracted time-dependent parameters.   
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the time-dependent parameters are extracted from the one or more relevant medical articles by finding patient comparables for statistical information. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the diagnostic data is updated based on comparing two or more time points of the same parameter among the extracted time-dependent parameters. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the same parameter includes a volume of pneumothorax. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the same parameter is a clinical measurement associated with the medical condition of the patient. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the time-dependent parameters are derived from attributes, measurements, statistics, or examples from similar cases or relevant publications. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the time-dependent parameters are extracted periodically at set time intervals. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 63 , further comprising displaying extracted time-dependent parameters the preliminary report. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising automatically adjusting visualization parameters of at least a portion of the representative image. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the visualization parameters include contrast, brightness, or both. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the automatically adjusting visualization parameters of at least the portion of the representative image includes highlighting a body organ associated with the medical condition of the patient. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising:
 receiving a final report from the physician after the displaying the preliminary report;   comparing the final report with the preliminary report; and   adjusting or refining algorithms to more closely match the final report for the next generating of the preliminary report.   
     
     
         75 . A method, in an enhanced picture archiving communication system comprising a processor and a memory, the memory containing machine readable medium comprising machine executable code having stored thereon instructions that are executed by the processor to specifically configure the processor to implement a picture analysis prioritization visualization and reporting system for providing a graphical user interface that displays medical images and results of analysis for review by a medical personnel, the method comprising:
 retrieving, using the processor, one or more images associated with an imaging modality, the one or more images being representative of a predetermined region of a patient's body;   determining, using the processor, quantitative measurements and calculations of the retrieved one or more images based at least in part on a medical condition of the patient, the quantitative measures being associated with an abnormality in the one or more images;   analyzing, using the processor, the retrieved one or more images to identify a representative image based on (i) diagnostic data stored in the memory, (ii) the determined quantitative measurements and calculations, or both (i) and (ii);   generating an initial diagnosis and quantitative measurements of the representative image based at least in part on the identified representative image; and   displaying, on the graphical user interface, a preliminary report including the representative image, the quantitative measurements of the representative image, and the initial diagnosis of the patient.   
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 75 , further comprising:
 receiving a final report from the physician after the displaying the preliminary report;   comparing the final report with the preliminary report; and   adjusting or refining algorithms to more closely match the final report for the next generating of the preliminary report.