Patient Identification via Medical Image Series Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Medical imaging studies often suffer from patient misidentification errors, leading to serious consequences due to incorrect association of demographic information, which current verification protocols may not adequately address, especially in cases like trauma patients or unconscious individuals.

Innovation Solution

The generation of an integrated image series that includes a patient image and a medical image, using identification information to associate and verify patient identity at the point-of-care, thereby minimizing mislabeling and ensuring correct patient management decisions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If current verification protocols (checking two identifiers) are used, then patient identification can be verified in conscious patients, but the protocol fails for trauma patients, unconscious patients, and infants who cannot provide identification information

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient identification accuracyVSAvoidapplicability to all patient types

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses photograph copying and comparison - a current patient photograph is taken and compared with reference photographs from the patient's medical record to verify identity. This visual copying method works for all patient types including those who cannot provide verbal or written identification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces photograph comparison as an intermediary verification method between traditional identifier checking and patient treatment. This intermediary approach bridges the gap for patients who cannot participate in traditional verification processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If manual identifier entry is used, then patient information can be recorded, but misidentification and mislabeling errors occur due to human error at the point-of-care

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimaging study completionVSAvoidpatient identification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides immediate feedback by comparing the photograph taken at the time of imaging with reference photographs from the patient's record. This real-time feedback mechanism prevents mislabeling errors before they propagate to future studies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs automatic photograph comparison and patient verification without requiring manual intervention for the comparison process. The technology serves itself by automatically detecting and preventing identification errors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If patient photographs are taken and compared, then patient identification accuracy is improved, but additional time and processing steps are required at the point-of-care

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient identification accuracyVSAvoidverification process time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Reference photographs are obtained and stored in the patient's medical record in advance, before the imaging study. This preliminary action eliminates the need for time-consuming photograph taking and comparison during the actual imaging process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual photograph comparison with automated image processing and comparison algorithms. This substitution of mechanical/manual processes with automated systems reduces verification time while maintaining high accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9355309B2Generation of medical image series including a patient photograph

Publication Date: 2016.05.31 GEORGIA TECH RES CORP

AI summary

Systems, methods, and computer-readable storage media relate to generate an image series that includes a patient image and a medical image. The patient image and the medical image may be associated based on identification information.