Universal computer assisted diagnosis

Claim 1

A method of creating a computer searchable data base for use with a computer having a display screen, input device, and processor, for ultimately diagnosing a condition or event from a large plurality of possible conditions or events or events that may exist in a particular art, said method comprising the steps of: (a) determining what key words describe the characteristic features of each of the possible conditions or events of the large plurality of possible conditions or events; (b) creating in computer searchable form a master map for each of the large plurality of possible conditions or events using the key words from step (a) that accurately describe each of the conditions or events, to provide a data base containing all the master maps; and (c) providing search access to the master maps data base in the computer so that by a user manipulating the input device to provide a narrative containing some of the key words from step (a), the computer processor will compare the key words input to the key words associated with each master map to determine what conditions or events represented by master maps have the highest degree of similarity with the narrative input, and display those conditions or events on the display screen; wherein step (a) is practiced by dividing the key words into three different classifications of words, main words that describe the most important feature of a sentence that accurately describes an aspect of a condition or event, descriptor words that further describe a main word by adding a qualification, and complements that further describe a descriptor by adding a qualification; and wherein step (b) is practiced by providing a plurality of distinctly searchable elements for each condition or event, each element including at least a main word, and where they accurately exist, a descriptor and complement associated with that main word; and wherein step (b) is further practiced by assigning to each of the elements one of at least two possible logics, a first logic that requires a main and at least a descriptor to also be present before the element is recognized by the processor when searching the data base, and a second logic that requires only the main to be present, but recognizes a descriptor and complement if present.

Claim 2

A method of creating a computer searchable data base for use with a computer having a display screen, input device, and processor, for ultimately diagnosing a condition or event from a large plurality of possible conditions or events or events that may exist in a particular art, said method comprising the steps of: (a) determining what key words describe the characteristic features of each of the possible conditions or events of the large plurality of possible conditions or events; (b) creating in computer searchable form a master map for each of the large plurality of possible conditions or events using the key words from step (a) that accurately describe each of the conditions or events, to provide a data base containing all the master maps; and (c) providing search access to the master maps data base in the computer so that by a user manipulating the input device to provide a narrative containing some of the key words from step (a), the computer processor will compare the key words input to the key words associated with each master map to determine what conditions or events represented by master maps have the highest degree of similarity with the narrative input, and display those conditions or events on the display screen; wherein step (a) is practiced by dividing the key words into three different classifications of words, main words that describe the most important feature of a sentence that accurately describes an aspect of a condition or event, descriptor words that further describe a main word by adding a qualification, and complements that further describe a descriptor by adding a qualification; and wherein step (b) is practiced by providing a plurality of distinctly searchable elements for each condition or event, each element including at least a main word, and where they accurately exist, a descriptor and complement associated with that main word; and wherein step (b) is further practiced by assigning to each of the elements one of at least two possible logics, a first logic that requires a main and at least a descriptor to also be present before the element is recognized by the processor when searching the data base, and a second logic that requires only the main to be present, but recognizes a descriptor and complement if present.

Claim 10

A method of diagnosing a condition or event from a large plurality of possible conditions or events that may exist in a particular art, each condition or event being provided in a master map which describes that condition or event using a plurality of art specific key words, said method practiced using a computer having a display screen, input device, and processor, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing search access to the master maps data base in the computer so that by a user manipulating the input device to provide a narrative containing some of the key words, the computer processor will compare the key words input to the key words associated with each master map; (b) using the input device, inputting a narrative description that can facilitate diagnosis, the narrative description using some of the key words; (c) using the input device, activating the computer processor to recognize the key words from the input narrative description, compare the key words to the key words of each of the master maps, to determine what conditions or events represented by master maps have the highest degree of similarity with the narrative input; and (d) displaying on the display screen at least the two conditions or events represented by master maps having the highest degree of similarity with the narrative input; wherein each master map has key words divided into three different classifications of words, main words that describe the most important feature of a sentence that accurately describes an aspect of the condition or event associated with that master map, descriptor words that further describe a main word by adding a qualification, and complement words that further describe a descriptor by adding a qualification, each master map having a plurality of distinctly searchable elements for each condition or event, each element including at least a main word, and where they accurately exist, a descriptor and complement associated with that main word, some of the key words being weighted but the majority of key words having a common value; and wherein step (c) is practiced by counting the weighted number of key words within searchable elements in each master map which also appear in the narrative input in step (b), the master map having the highest weighted number of key words within searchable elements being determined as having the highest degree of similarity, and the condition or event associated with that master map therefore considered to have the highest probability of being the correctly diagnosed condition or event; and wherein each master map has assigned to each of the elements one of at least two possible logics, a first logic that requires a main and at least a descriptor to also be present before the element is recognized by the processor when searching the data base, and a second logic that requires only the main to be present, but recognizes a descriptor and complement if present; and wherein step (c) is practiced by: searching with the processor for those first logic elements identified as corresponding to both main and descriptor key words in the narrative description before selection, and then counting the main, descriptor, and complement words associated with those first logic elements; and searching with the processor for those second logic elements identified as corresponding to a main key word in the narrative description and then counting the main words, and any descriptor or complement words associated therewith, of the second logic elements.

Claim 11

A method of diagnosing a condition or event from a large plurality of possible conditions or events that may exist in a particular art, each condition or event being provided in a master map which describes that condition or event using a plurality of art specific key words, said method practiced using a computer having a display screen, input device, and processor, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing search access to the master maps data base in the computer so that by a user manipulating the input device to provide a narrative containing some of the key words, the computer processor will compare the key words input to the key words associated with each master map; (b) using the input device, inputting a narrative description that can facilitate diagnosis, the narrative description using some of the key words; (c) using the input device, activating the computer processor to recognize the key words from the input narrative description, compare the key words to the key words of each of the master maps, to determine what conditions or events represented by master maps have the highest degree of similarity with the narrative input; and (d) displaying on the display screen at least the two conditions or events represented by master maps having the highest degree of similarity with the narrative input; wherein each master map has key words divided into three different classifications of words, main words that describe the most important feature of a sentence that accurately describes an aspect of the condition or event associated with that master map, descriptor words that further describe a main word by adding a qualification, and complement words that further describe a descriptor by adding a qualification, each master map having a plurality of distinctly searchable elements for each condition or event, each element including at least a main word, and where they accurately exist, a descriptor and complement associated with that main word, some of the key words being weighted but the majority of key words having a common value; and wherein step (c) is practiced by counting the weighted number of key words within searchable elements in each master map which also appear in the narrative input in step (b), the master map having the highest weighted number of key words within searchable elements being determined as having the highest degree of similarity, and the condition or event associated with that master map therefore considered to have the highest probability of being the correctly diagnosed condition or event; and wherein each master map has assigned to each of the elements one of at least two possible logics, a first logic that requires a main and at least a descriptor to also be present before the element is recognized by the processor when searching the data base, and a second logic that requires only the main to be present, but recognizes a descriptor and complement if present; and wherein step (c) is practiced by: searching with the processor for those first logic elements identified as corresponding to both main and descriptor key words in the narrative description before selection, and then counting the main, descriptor, and complement words associated with those first logic elements; and searching with the processor for those second logic elements identified as corresponding to a main key word in the narrative description and then counting the main words, and any descriptor or complement words associated therewith, of the second logic elements.

Claim 17

A method of facilitating diagnosis of medical conditions using a computer having a display screen, an input device, and processor, and connected to a data base of detailed medical information including a plurality of master maps, one for each known medical condition to be evaluated, said method, comprising the steps of: (a) using the keyboard, inputting into the computer a medical description of a patient's history and physical information, including signs and symptoms, using simple medical file language; (b) displaying chemical and test data information on the screen to prompt entry of available chemical and test data for the patient; (c) using the input device, entering all relevant chemical and test data in response to the prompt from step (b); (d) displaying a plurality of imaging option selections on the screen in yes/no format; (e) using the input device, entering known imaging data in yes/no format in response to the display in step (d); (f) using the processor, searching the data base of detailed medical information to determine the degree of resemblance between the data input and each of the master maps, and ranking possible diagnoses based upon the degree of resemblance; (g) displaying on the screen at least the two most probable diagnoses based upon the degree of resemblance determined in step (f), and in order of the degree of resemblance; and (h) displaying at least one of biopsy and imaging icons that may be selected to provide pictorial information displayed on the screen corresponding to a selected one of the diagnoses displayed on the screen; and wherein steps (g) and (h) are practiced to highlight one of the diagnoses and to display a biopsy and imaging icon associated with the highlighted diagnosis; and wherein step (h) is further practiced by displaying the biopsy and imaging icons as actual biopsy and imaging pictorial representations of the diagnosis highlighted, each icon taking up less than one third the screen before selection thereof.

Claim 18

A method of facilitating diagnosis of medical conditions using a computer having a display screen, an input device, and processor, and connected to a data base of detailed medical information including a plurality of master maps, one for each known medical condition to be evaluated, said method, comprising the steps of: (a) using the keyboard, inputting into the computer a medical description of a patient's history and physical information, including signs and symptoms, using simple medical file language; (b) displaying chemical and test data information on the screen to prompt entry of available chemical and test data for the patient; (c) using the input device, entering all relevant chemical and test data in response to the prompt from step (b); (d) displaying a plurality of imaging option selections on the screen in yes/no format; (e) using the input device, entering known imaging data in yes/no format in response to the display in step (d); (f) using the processor, searching the data base of detailed medical information to determine the degree of resemblance between the data input and each of the master maps, and ranking possible diagnoses based upon the degree of resemblance; (g) displaying on the screen at least the two most probable diagnoses based upon the degree of resemblance determined in step (f), and in order of the degree of resemblance; and (h) displaying at least one of biopsy and imaging icons that may be selected to provide pictorial information displayed on the screen corresponding to a selected one of the diagnoses displayed on the screen; and wherein steps (g) and (h) are practiced to highlight one of the diagnoses and to display a biopsy and imaging icon associated with the highlighted diagnosis; and wherein step (h) is further practiced by displaying the biopsy and imaging icons as actual biopsy and imaging pictorial representations of the diagnosis highlighted, each icon taking up less than one third the screen before selection thereof.