Medical Concept Identification for Imaging Protocol Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Radiology departments face challenges in selecting the most appropriate imaging protocol due to missing clinical information, leading to sub-optimal protocol selection for patients undergoing imaging procedures.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that electronically identify missing medical concepts by comparing patient information with data from previously scanned patients, using a computing system to extract and recommend additional medical concepts for enhancing protocol selection, thereby improving the accuracy of imaging protocol selection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a radiologist manually reviews the order and assigns an imaging protocol based on available clinical indications, then the protocol selection process is straightforward and quick, but missing clinical information leads to sub-optimal protocol selection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotocol selection accuracyVSAvoidmissing clinical information

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis by comparing the current patient's clinical indications against historical data from previously scanned patients before the radiologist makes a decision. This advance preparation identifies missing clinical information and suggests appropriate protocols, allowing the radiologist to make more informed decisions without extending the actual protocoling time significantly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system acts as an intermediary between the referring physician's order and the radiologist's protocol selection. It analyzes the clinical indications, compares them with historical patient data, and provides recommendations to the radiologist, thereby compensating for missing information without requiring direct additional input from the physician or patient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If additional clinical information is obtained from patient records to improve protocol selection, then protocol accuracy improves, but the complexity of the protocoling process increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotocol selection accuracyVSAvoidprotocoling process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs the complex task of analyzing clinical indications and comparing with historical data automatically without requiring manual intervention from the radiologist. The radiologist simply reviews the system's recommendations and makes the final selection, thereby reducing the perceived complexity for the human operator while still benefiting from comprehensive data analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system analyzes all available clinical information and historical data (excessive action) to generate protocol recommendations, but the radiologist only needs to review and select from the suggested options (partial action required). This approach ensures comprehensive analysis while keeping the human workload manageable by focusing only on the critical decision-making step.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If the system compares patient information with data from previously scanned patients to identify missing medical concepts, then protocol selection accuracy improves, but the processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotocol selection accuracyVSAvoidprotocoling time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs the time-consuming comparison with historical patient data and identification of missing medical concepts in advance, before the radiologist needs to make a protocol selection. This preliminary processing allows the actual protocoling decision to be made quickly based on pre-analyzed recommendations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the manual information-gathering and analysis process that would otherwise require significant radiologist time with an automated computational system. The computer efficiently compares clinical indications against historical data and identifies missing concepts, freeing the radiologist to focus on the final decision without manual research.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10600136B2Identification of medical concepts for imaging protocol selection

Publication Date: 2020.03.24 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV

AI summary

A method includes identifying medical concepts in identified patient cases that are missing from medical concepts in first electronically formatted medical information as missing medical concepts, and selecting an imaging protocol for an imaging procedure based on a combination of the medical concepts from the first electronically formatted medical information and the missing medical concepts, and generating a signal indicative of the selected imaging protocol. A method includes identifying at least one of one or more medical concepts as a relevant additional concept, and selecting an imaging protocol for the imaging procedure based on a combination of one or more clinical indications and the relevant additional concept, and generating a signal indicative of the selected imaging protocol.