Imaging Protocol Recommender for Radiology Workflow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Radiology departments face inefficiencies and inconsistencies in selecting and updating medical imaging protocols due to the time-consuming process of manual documentation and lack of assistance in protocol selection, leading to potential human errors and inconsistencies among radiologists.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that electronically classify and cluster imaging procedures based on similarity, generate data indicative of deviations, and recommend protocols using extracted medical concepts from patient information, providing a score or probability-based recommendation for optimal protocol selection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual documentation and selection of imaging protocols is performed by radiologists, then expertise and training can assure standardization, but the process is time-consuming and prone to human errors and inconsistencies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestandardization of protocol selectionVSAvoidtime for protocol selection and updating

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by automatically analyzing clinical indications and patient data to generate protocol recommendations without requiring manual radiologist intervention for each protocol selection, thereby reducing time while maintaining consistency through algorithmic analysis

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms by continuously learning from historical imaging data and protocol selections, improving recommendation accuracy over time and providing radiologists with increasingly reliable suggestions that reduce manual review time while maintaining standardization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If formalized protocol updates are done through expert committees with peer review, then consistency and quality are maintained, but the process requires high cooperation and is time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequality and consistency of protocolsVSAvoidspeed of protocol updating

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of clinical data and automatically generates protocol update recommendations before formal committee review, pre-processing the work and identifying necessary changes in advance to accelerate the formal update process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system acts as an intermediary between raw clinical data and formal protocol updates, automatically analyzing data patterns and generating structured recommendations that streamline the committee review process and reduce manual coordination requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple radiology departments in a network develop their own protocols independently, then local practices and settings are accommodated, but inconsistencies arise across the network

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocal practice adaptationVSAvoidconsistency across network

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides universal protocol recommendations that can be applied across all network departments while accommodating local variations through configurable parameters, enabling a single system to serve multiple departments with different local requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments protocol recommendations into standardized core components and customizable local parameters, allowing network-wide consistency in essential protocols while permitting department-specific adaptations for local practices and settings

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9317580B2Imaging protocol update and/or recommender

Publication Date: 2016.04.19 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV

AI summary

A method includes obtaining electronically formatted information about previously performed imaging procedures, classifying the information into groups of protocols based on initially selected protocols for the previously performed imaging procedures and generating data indicative thereof, identifying deviations between the classified information and the corresponding initially selected protocols for the previously performed imaging procedures, and generating a signal indicative of the deviations. A method includes recommending at least one of a plurality of protocols for an imaging procedure based on at least one of a score, a probability, or a pre-determined rule, which is based on extracted medical concepts from patient information and extracted medical concepts from previously imaged patient information, and generating a signal indicative of the recommendation.