Methods of processing data obtained from medical device

Abstract

Computerized information processing methods for processing data from a medical device, such as an ingestible probe. In one embodiment, the method includes processing data obtained by the probe so as to produce a plurality of image frames, and further processing the frames to identify a plurality of frames of potential interest to a reviewer, and using the identified frames to form a preview of the entire data set. In another embodiment, pre-stored data (such as e.g., template images) are also provided to the reviewer via a display device.

1 .- 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A method of processing data derived from a sensor disposed on a substantially autonomous intestinal probe, said data having been generated while said probe moved substantially autonomously through the intestinal tract of a living being, comprising:
 receiving the data at a computerized device comprising a processor and at least one computer program configured to run on the processor; and   processing at least a portion of said received data using at least said processor and said at least one computer program, said processing comprising:
 generating a plurality of frames from said at least portion of said received data; 
 generating a display on a monitor associated with the computerized device, the display comprising a plurality of said frames displayed simultaneously in different regions of a display region of the monitor; 
 receiving user input as to one or more of said frames being selected for review; and 
 presenting pre-stored data for use in comparison to at least one of said selected frames, said comparison facilitating identification of one or more physiologic conditions within said subject. 
   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said comparison is performed substantially automatically by a computer program. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said identification is performed substantially automatically by a computer program. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said identification is performed substantially automatically by a computer program. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said processing at least a portion of said received data comprises processing said at least portion of received data at a centralized location that is also configured to receive and process data associated with at least one other intestinal probe. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said plurality of said frames displayed simultaneously in different regions of a display region of the monitor comprises displaying sequences of two or more temporally contiguous frames in respective ones of said different regions. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said plurality of said frames displayed simultaneously in different regions of a display region of the monitor comprises displaying different frames in respective ones of said different regions. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein at least some of said different frames displayed in said in respective ones of said different regions are selected substantially automatically by said at least one computer program. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said generating a display comprises selecting said plurality of said frames displayed simultaneously in different regions of a display region using a selection algorithm of said at least one computer program. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said selection algorithm comprises an algorithm configured to, when executed on said processor, select a plurality of sequential frames of data. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said display further comprises a user interface having video viewing functions comprising an image enhancement function selectable by the user. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said image enhancement function is selected from the group consisting of: (i) enhanced image viewing quality; and (ii) enhanced image viewing resolution. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said at least one computer program further comprises an annotation function selectable by the user, the annotation function enabling the user to annotate at least a portion of said display during use. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein said pre-stored data comprises:
 an image associated with the intestinal tract of a human being, said intestinal tract having a disease or other medical abnormality; and   one or more bytes of textual information providing at least one of background or explanatory information associated with said image.   
     
     
         44 . A method of processing data derived from a sensor disposed on a substantially autonomous intestinal probe, said data having been generated while said probe moved substantially autonomously through the intestinal tract of a living being, the method comprising:
 receiving the data at a computerized device comprising a processor and at least one computer program configured to run on the processor; and   processing at least a portion of said received data using at least said processor and said at least one computer program, said processing comprising:
 generating a plurality of frames from said at least portion of said received data; 
 processing said plurality of frames using said at least one computer program to identify a subset of said plurality of frames; and 
 generating a display on a monitor associated with the computerized device, the display comprising at least a portion of said subset of frames displayed simultaneously in respective ones of different regions of a display region of the monitor. 
   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising:
 receiving user input as to one or more of said subset of frames being selected for review; and   presenting pre-stored data for use in comparison to at least one of said selected frames of said subset, said comparison facilitating identification of one or more physiologic conditions within said subject.   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , further comprising:
 receiving user input as to one or more of said subset of frames being selected for review;   identifying one or more of said frames that is contiguous with said one or more selected frames of said subset; and   displaying (i) said one or more selected frames, and (ii) said one or more contiguous frames, on said monitor.   
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising:
 receiving user input as to one or more of said subset of frames being selected for review;   identifying one or more of said frames that is contiguous with said one or more selected frames of said subset; and   displaying (i) said one or more selected frames, and (ii) said one or more contiguous frames, on said monitor.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein said displaying (i) said one or more selected frames, and (ii) said one or more contiguous frames, on said monitor, comprises displaying said one or more selected frames and said one or more contiguous frames as a series of frames, the series arranged in a temporal order based on travel of said probe through said intestinal tract. 
     
     
         49 . A method of processing data derived from a sensor disposed on a swallowable intestinal probe, said data having been generated while said probe moved through the intestinal tract of a living being, the method comprising:
 receiving the data at a computerized device comprising a processor and at least one computer program configured to run on the processor; and   processing at least a portion of said received data using at least said processor and said at least one computer program, said processing comprising:
 generating a plurality of frames from said at least portion of said received data; 
 using said at least one computer program to analyze said plurality of frames to identify a subset of said plurality of frames of potential interest to a user of the computerized device; and 
 generating a display on a monitor associated with the computerized device, the display comprising at least a portion of said subset of frames displayed in a sequence; 
 wherein the generating a display provides the user with a preview of the data, the preview providing the user with said plurality of frames of potential interest in a substantially automatic fashion.