Data Abstraction System for Unstructured EHR Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies face inefficiencies in accessing and transmitting unstructured data from electronic health record (EHR) systems to other systems, particularly due to the need for custom integrations and the inability to automatically format data for storage in destination systems.

Innovation Solution

The techniques leverage a common specification, such as the FHIR specification, to generate uniform queries across multiple EHR systems, allowing for the ingestion of data without custom interfaces. Additionally, a data transmission system uses a data structure definition and field mapping to translate and store unstructured data from source systems into structured records in destination systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If custom integrations are implemented to access unstructured data from EHR systems, then data accessibility is improved, but device complexity and integration time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata accessibilityVSAvoidintegration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal query interface that can access unstructured data from multiple different EHR systems through a common specification (FHIR). Instead of creating custom integrations for each EHR system, the system uses a single standardized interface that works across diverse sources, eliminating the need for system-specific integration code and reducing overall integration complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer (the query interface and data abstraction system) that sits between the destination system and multiple EHR systems. This intermediary handles the complexity of interfacing with different EHR systems using standard FHIR queries, shielding the destination system from integration complexity while maintaining reliable data access

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If unstructured data is transmitted without formatting to destination systems, then transmission speed is improved, but data usability and storage compatibility decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission speedVSAvoiddata storage compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs data formatting and structure preparation in advance, before transmission to the destination system. The data abstraction system pre-processes unstructured data into standardized formats that match destination system requirements, so that when transmission occurs, the data is already ready for efficient storage without requiring additional formatting operations at the destination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms data parameters and structure during the abstraction process, converting unstructured data into structured formats with appropriate data types, formats, and organizational structures that match destination system specifications. This parameter transformation ensures both efficient transmission and immediate usability upon arrival

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If manual data abstraction is performed by subject matter experts, then data accuracy is improved, but time consumption and operational cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata accuracyVSAvoidabstraction time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of expert review and abstraction with an automated computational system. The data abstraction system uses algorithmic processes to extract, transform, and load data from EHR systems, substituting human expert labor with automated mechanisms that maintain accuracy while dramatically reducing time consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a self-service data abstraction system that automatically performs data extraction, transformation, and loading operations without requiring manual intervention. The system autonomously queries EHR systems, processes unstructured data, and loads it into destination systems, eliminating the need for subject matter experts to manually review and abstract data

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20250174321A1Techniques for transmitting unstructured data between different systems

Publication Date: 2025.05.29 FLATIRON HEALTH INC

AI summary

Described herein are techniques for ingesting data from multiple source systems that store data in conformance with a common specification. The techniques generate queries for the source systems based on the common specification and receive datasets in response to the queries. Described herein are also techniques of transmitting data from a source system into data records of a destination system in which data records have a structure different from that of source system data records. Data in the source system may be unstructured.