Machine Learning Hepatitis C Risk Assessment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for treating Hepatitis C patients lack efficient and accurate means to identify those at high risk for disease progression, leading to potential undertreatment of high-risk patients and overtreatment of low-risk ones, resulting in increased costs and side effects.

Innovation Solution

A machine learning-based health risk assessment system that analyzes patient data using various techniques to generate a statistical model, identifying characteristics associated with adverse health outcomes in Hepatitis C patients, allowing healthcare providers to tailor treatments effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional treatment methods are used for all Hepatitis C patients, then all patients receive uniform treatment, but this leads to undertreatment of high-risk patients and overtreatment of low-risk patients

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of identifying high-risk patientsVSAvoidcomplexity of risk assessment system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional clinical judgment and manual risk assessment methods with an automated machine learning system that processes patient data through trained algorithms. This substitution enables more accurate identification of high-risk patients while reducing the complexity and subjectivity of the assessment process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The machine learning system autonomously analyzes patient data, generates risk predictions, and provides treatment recommendations without requiring extensive manual intervention from healthcare providers. The system self-trains on historical data and continuously improves its predictive accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If treatment is provided to all Hepatitis C patients, then all patients may benefit from treatment, but this increases treatment costs and exposes low-risk patients to unnecessary side effects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of risk predictionVSAvoidtreatment costs and resource utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different treatment strategies to different patient groups based on their individual risk profiles. High-risk patients receive aggressive treatment while low-risk patients receive monitoring or alternative therapies, optimizing resource allocation and reducing unnecessary treatment costs and side effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of treatment intensity based on the predicted risk level. By adjusting treatment parameters according to individual patient characteristics and risk predictions, the system achieves better cost-effectiveness while maintaining high reliability in identifying who needs treatment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If extensive patient data is collected and analyzed, then more accurate risk predictions can be made, but this increases the time and computational resources required for assessment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision of risk assessmentVSAvoidtime for data processing and analysis
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The machine learning system is pre-trained on extensive historical patient data before deployment. This preliminary training allows the system to make accurate predictions quickly when evaluating new patients, as the heavy computational work of learning patterns has already been completed in advance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses trained machine learning models that capture the essential patterns and relationships in patient data. These models serve as simplified copies of the complex data processing required, enabling fast and accurate risk assessment without repeatedly analyzing raw data from scratch.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS10153058B2Machine learning for hepatitis C
Publication Date: 2018.12.11 THE RGT UNIV OF MICHIGAN
  • US10153058B2 patent drawing
  • US10153058B2 patent drawing
  • US10153058B2 patent drawing

AI summary

To predict which Hepatitis C patients are at high-risk for disease progression or adverse health outcomes, baseline characteristics are measured for patients as well as longitudinal data, including clinical, laboratory and/or biopsy results, which may be collected periodically in follow-up visits with a healthcare professional. A machine learning engine may predict whether a patient is at high-risk for disease progression or adverse health outcomes based on the baseline characteristics and the longitudinal data for the patient.