Circular Data Array for Anomaly Prioritization in Healthcare

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Solution Overview

Problem

The overwhelming amount of information available to professionals, particularly in healthcare, leads to challenges in identifying and prioritizing data anomalies, resulting in potentially critical information being missed, which can have dangerous or fatal consequences.

Innovation Solution

A computer-based system that aggregates and prioritizes data by graphically displaying deviations from a norm on a circular array, allowing users to quickly identify anomalies and access additional information, recommended interventions, and historical data, facilitating the recognition of trends across multiple patient sets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If large amounts of information are made available to professionals, then the completeness of data is improved, but the ability to absorb and contextualize information deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveamount of informationVSAvoidability to absorb and contextualize
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the overwhelming amount of medical information into distinct visual categories using a circular array format. Each segment of the circle represents a different category of data (e.g., vital signs, lab results, medications), allowing professionals to divide and conquer the information overload by focusing on one category at a time rather than being confronted with a wall of unstructured text.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms traditional linear or tabular data presentation into a two-dimensional circular visual display. This dimensional change allows multiple data points to be simultaneously visible in a compact format, with radial distance from the center indicating deviation from normal values. This spatial representation enables faster comprehension compared to reading through lengthy numerical reports.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Loss of information

If traditional data presentation methods are used, then data completeness is maintained, but the time to identify anomalies increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata completenessVSAvoidtime to identify anomalies
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs color coding to visually encode the severity and type of deviations from normal values. Data points are displayed with color intensity or hue variations that immediately signal abnormality levels, allowing professionals to scan and identify critical anomalies at a glance without having to read through numerical values or compare them against reference ranges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary analysis by automatically comparing patient data against established normal ranges and flagging deviations before presentation to the professional. The circular display pre-processes the data by calculating and visualizing only the relevant deviations, eliminating the need for the professional to manually review all raw data points and perform comparisons themselves.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If detailed numerical data is provided, then measurement precision is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring anomalies increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumerical measurement precisionVSAvoiddifficulty of detecting anomalies
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a nested display structure where the circular array provides an overview of multiple parameters simultaneously, and individual segments can be expanded or clicked to reveal detailed numerical data. This nested approach allows professionals to first detect potential anomalies at the high-level visual summary, then access precise numerical measurements only for those specific data points that require detailed examination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS8489544B2System and method for prioritization and display of aggregated data
Publication Date: 2013.07.16 FORD JOHN P
  • US8489544B2 patent drawing
  • US8489544B2 patent drawing
  • US8489544B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A computer enabled system and method aggregates data describing a particular subject. The data is then divided into a predetermined group of categories which are graphically displayed according to a predetermined pattern. Distortions in the data or anomalies in the data are made visually apparent. Associated with the display is a prioritized array of interventions recommended in response to the distortions in the data or anomalies appearing in the data.