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 for providing medical diagnostic images, comprising:
 retrieving, with the aid of a processor, one or more images from an image database or an imaging device, the one or more images defining a set of images;   selecting one or more images from the set of images based on diagnostic data stored within a memory;   generating a report including the one or more selected images;   providing the report to a reviewing physician;   receiving subject outcome information relating to subject responsiveness to treatment; and   updating the diagnostic data based on the subject outcome information.   
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising:
 receiving a clinical diagnosis for a subject, wherein said subject is associated with the set of images;   generating initial radiological findings for said subject based at least in part on the updated diagnostic data;   retrieving one or more images multiple times during treatment of said subject; and   determining whether the initial radiological findings were supported in response to the one or more images during treatment of said subject.   
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , further comprising updating the diagnostic data with discrepancy-related information if the initial radiological findings were not supported. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , further comprising:
 receiving one or more modifications to the report from the reviewing physician; and   updating the diagnostic data based on the one or more modifications.   
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the diagnostic data is stored in a diagnostic table, and updating diagnostic data includes updating the diagnostic table. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising:
 retrieving, with the aid of the processor, one or more additional images;   defining an additional set of images; and   selecting one or more images from the additional set of images based on the updated diagnostic data.   
     
     
         63 . A method for providing medical diagnostic images, comprising:
 retrieving, using a processor, one or more images from an image database or an imaging device, the one or more images defining a set of images representative of a predetermined region of a subject's body;   selecting one or more representative images from the set of images based on diagnostic data stored within a memory, the diagnostic data being associated with the subject;   automatically generating initial radiological findings for the subject based at least in part on analyzing the set of images;   providing one or more representative images to a display and analysis system for review by a reviewing physician, such that subject outcome information relating to subject responsiveness to treatment is tracked;   generating a clinical diagnosis in response to the subject outcome information;   comparing the clinical diagnosis for the subject with the automatically generated initial radiological findings to determine any discrepancies; and   based at least in part on the determined discrepancies, refining the process of analyzing the set of images.   
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , further comprising repeating the following steps until no discrepancy is determined or full resolution of treatment for the subject:
 receiving additional set of images representative of the predetermined region of the subject's body;   automatically generating refined radiological findings for the subject based at least in part on the refined process of analyzing the additional set of images;   tracking the subject outcome information relating to subject responsiveness to treatment;   generating a second clinical diagnosis in response to the subject outcome information; and   comparing the second clinical diagnosis for the subject with the automatically generated refined radiological findings to determine any discrepancies; and   based at least in part on the determined discrepancies, further refining the process of analyzing the set of images.   
     
     
         65 . A method for providing medical diagnostic images, comprising:
 retrieving, with the aid of a processor, one or more images from an image database or an imaging device, the one or more images defining a set of images;   retrieving, one or more boundary parameters from a memory location coupled to said processor;   determining whether each of the images falls within said boundary parameters; and   providing one or more alerts for an urgent medical condition if, based on said determining, a given image among said one or more of images falls within the boundary parameters.   
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the one or more alerts provide a request for an immediate emergency response. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein a reviewing physician is urged to review the validity of the urgent medical condition immediately. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein an additional reviewing physician is urged to review the information. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein at least one of the reviewing physician and the additional reviewing physician is a radiologist. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the additional reviewing physician is offsite. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 65 , further comprising providing additional information for assessing the medical condition from one or more databases. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 65 , further comprising providing a decision support system, wherein additional clinical findings are reviewed to determine whether said one or more alerts should have been provided or not. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the one or more images highlight image features that led to the raising of the alert. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the alert is an automatic phone call, SMS text message, pager alert, or email to a radiologist on duty and/or a referring physician. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the alert includes a copy of one or more representative images and/or a description of boundary parameters. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 65 , further comprising analyzing, with the aid of the processor, a condition of a subject based on the images, and designating a case priority based on the analysis.