Graphical digital medical record annotation

Bibliographic Details
Title: Graphical digital medical record annotation
Patent Number: 8,744,147
Publication Date: June 03, 2014
Appl. No: 12/485630
Application Filed: June 16, 2009
Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for graphically representing the condition of an anatomical structure that is the subject of a medical examination. The method includes displaying a background image representative of the anatomical structure, the image including a plurality of layers corresponding to different layers of the anatomical structure, selecting a layer of the background image, presenting a plurality of symbols, each corresponding to an anatomical pathological state and selected from a group associated with the selected layer, each symbol having a plurality of parameters which determine the rendering condition of a symbol on the background, selecting one of the presented symbols, selecting an X-Y position within the selected layer and displaying the symbol on the selected layer.
Inventors: Torti, Robert (Frisco, TX, US)
Claim: 1. A method for graphically representing the condition of an anatomical structure that is the subject of a medical examination, wherein the anatomical structure includes a plurality of anatomical layers, the method comprising: displaying a background image representative of the anatomical structure, the background image including a plurality of image layers such that each anatomical layer in the plurality of anatomical layers corresponds with a respective image layer in the plurality of image layers, wherein displaying the background image includes displaying the plurality of image layers such that a first image layer from the plurality of image layers is superimposed over a second image layer from the plurality of image layers; presenting a plurality of intelligent symbols, each intelligent symbol associated with at least one image layer from the plurality of image layers, each intelligent symbol having a plurality of parameters which determine a rendering condition of the respective intelligent symbol; identifying a selected symbol from the plurality of intelligent symbols; selecting an X-Y position within the background: associating the selected symbol with the X-Y position and an image layer from the plurality of image layers; and rendering the background image, wherein rendering the background image includes rendering the plurality of layers superimposed on the background image based on a physical order of the plurality of anatomical layers, and wherein rendering the plurality of layers includes rendering the selected symbol superimposed on the background image based on a rendering order of the plurality of image layers and the plurality of parameters.
Claim: 2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the background image includes a plurality of zones, each zone corresponding to a respective predefined area of the background image.
Claim: 3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the selected symbol is positioned in a zone from the plurality of zones, the zone indicative of an anatomical location.
Claim: 4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the selected symbol is positioned in a zone from the plurality of zones, the method further comprising: preventing modification of the selected symbol on a condition that the zone is adapted to prevent modification of the selected symbol; and permitting modification of the selected symbol on a condition that the zone is adapted to allow modification of the selected symbol.
Claim: 5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the background image includes a representation of an anatomical structure at an anatomical location, and wherein a zone from the plurality of zones is collocated with the representation of the anatomical structure at the anatomical location, and wherein the representation of the anatomical structure at the anatomical location and the zone are different.
Claim: 6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the X-Y position is within a zone from the plurality of zones, and wherein associating the selected symbol with the X-Y position includes changing the selected symbol based on the zone, wherein changing the selected symbol includes changing a billing code associated with the selected symbol, changing a procedure code associated with the selected symbol, changing a medical treatment associated with a pathological state represented by the selected symbol, or changing text associated with the selected symbol.
Claim: 7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: associating at least one of a standardized billing code or a procedure code with the selected symbol.
Claim: 8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: generating an examination report containing information based on the location of the selected symbol, wherein the examination report includes at least one of the plurality of parameters in a format suitable for submission to a payment provider.
Claim: 9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the background image is associated with a scale, and wherein rendering the selected symbol includes rendering the selected symbol proportionally to the background image based on the scale.
Claim: 10. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the X-Y position includes identifying the X-Y position based on user input.
Claim: 11. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the X-Y position includes identifying the X-Y position based on the plurality of parameters.
Claim: 12. The method of claim 1 , wherein each image layer from the plurality of image layers is associated with a respective set of intelligent symbols from the plurality of intelligent symbols.
Claim: 13. The method of claim 1 , wherein rendering the background image includes rendering the selected symbol superimposed over a second intelligent symbol wherein the image layer associated with the selected symbol corresponds with an anatomical layer having an anatomical order that is greater than an anatomical order of an anatomical layer corresponding to an image layer associated with the second intelligent symbol.
Claim: 14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of parameters includes a polar symmetry parameter, and wherein associating the selected symbol with the X-Y position includes identifying a location in the background image, the location differing from the X-Y position, and wherein rendering the selected symbol superimposed on the background image includes orienting the selected symbol with respect to the location.
Claim: 15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of parameters includes a horizontal symmetry parameter or a vertical symmetry parameter, and associating the selected symbol with the X-Y position includes: identifying a location in the background image, the location differing from the X-Y position; and identifying a second X-Y position within the background, the second X-Y position mirroring the X-Y position with respect to the location; and associating a second selected symbol with the second X-Y position, the second selected symbol corresponding to the selected symbol.
Claim: 16. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the X-Y position includes: identifying a first location within the background image based on user input; identifying a second location with the background image based on the plurality of parameters, wherein the first location and the second location differ; and selecting the second location as the X-Y position on a condition that the plurality of parameters includes a fixed positioning parameter.
Claim: 17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the fixed positioning parameter is a vertical fixed positioning parameter or a horizontal fixed positioning parameter and wherein the second location indicates a distance from a reference location within the background, wherein the reference location and the first location differ.
Claim: 18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of parameters includes a density parameter, and wherein rendering the selected symbol superimposed on the background image includes adjusting an appearance of the selected symbol relative to a value of the density parameter.
Claim: 19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of parameters includes a stage parameter, and wherein the selected symbol includes a plurality of stage symbols, and wherein rendering the selected symbol superimposed on the background image includes rendering one or more stage symbols and omitting one or more stage symbols based on the stage parameter.
Claim: 20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the background image is a first background image, and wherein the selected symbol includes a plurality of selected intelligent symbols and rendering the selected symbol includes rendering each selected intelligent symbol from the plurality of selected intelligent symbols, the method further comprising: displaying a second background image representative of the anatomical structure, wherein displaying the second background image includes: omitting the first background image; and rendering the second background image, wherein rendering the background image includes rendering the plurality of layers superimposed on the second background image based on a physical order of the plurality of anatomical layers, and wherein rendering the plurality of layers includes: rendering a first selected intelligent symbol from the plurality of selected intelligent symbols on a condition that the first selected intelligent symbol is associated with a persistence parameter, and omitting a second selected intelligent symbol from the plurality of selected intelligent symbols.
Current U.S. Class: 382/128
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Assistant Examiner: Heidemann, Jason
Primary Examiner: Bella, Matthew
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Young, Basile, Hanlon & MacFarlane, P.C.
Accession Number: edspgr.08744147
Database: USPTO Patent Grants
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Language:English