Image based medical systems and processes

Abstract

An image-based diagnostic system may include graphical user interfaces that include image icons. Users may select image icon(s) and/or other icon(s) related to an analysis of expert images, such as medical images. Analytical reports may be generated based on the selection(s). In some implementations, the image icons may be correlated to reference information and references may be retrieved based on image icon(s).

1 . A method comprising:
 generating a graphical user interface for presentation on a user device, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a plurality of image icons, and wherein each image icon comprises at least a portion of a medical photographic image of an example characteristic;   receiving a selection of one or more of the image icons;   receiving a request for reference information associated with at least one of the selected image icons; and   retrieving a first set of reference information from a database based on at least one of the selected image icons, wherein reference information in the database is indexed based at least partially on one or more relationships to one or more of the image icons in the plurality of image icons.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising presenting at least a portion of the retrieved reference information on the user device. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 determining a second set of reference information based on a secondary association, wherein the secondary association relates one or more references in the second set of reference information with at least one of the first set of reference information or one of the selected image icons; and 
 presenting at least a portion of the second set of reference information to a user. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the image icons comprises at least one of:
 a characteristic image icon comprising at least a portion of a photographic image associated with a medical characteristic; or 
 a breast density image icon comprising at least a portion of a photographic image associated with breast density. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the generated graphical user interface comprises association icons; and wherein more than one image icon is selected, and further comprising:
 receiving a selection of one or more association icons; 
 wherein the first set of information is retrieved based on the selected image icons and at least one of the selected association icons. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the graphical user interface generated is related to one or more patient test results presented to a user via a third party interface; and further comprising:
 receiving one or more anatomical locations via the generated graphical user interface, wherein the anatomic location indicates at least a portion of a patient presented in at least one of the patient test results; 
 receiving a selection of one or more of the image icons to associate with at least one of the received anatomical locations related to a diagnosis based at least partially on the presented patient test results; and 
 automatically generating a report comprising at least a portion of a diagnosis for a patient based on at least one of the selected image icons. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising:
 receiving follow up information for one or more patients; 
 comparing follow up information with one or more of the image icons previously selected for each of the patients; 
 determining errors based on a comparison of the follow up information and the image icons previously selected; and 
 identifying a third set of reference information based at least partially on the determined errors and the previously selected image icons associated with the determined errors. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising: transmitting an error notification to a user based on the determined errors, wherein the error notification comprises a listing of the identified third set of reference information. 
     
     
         9 . An article comprising machine-readable medium storing instructions for retrieving medical references, the instructions operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:
 generating a graphical user interface comprising a plurality of image icons for presentation to a user, wherein each image icon comprises at least a portion of a photographic image of an example of a medical characteristic;   receiving a selection of one or more of the image icons;   receiving a request for reference information associated with at least one of the image icons; and   retrieving a first set of reference information from a database based on at least one of the selected image icons, wherein reference information in the database is indexed based at least partially on one or more relationships to one or more of the image icons in the plurality of image icons.   
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 9  wherein the instructions are further operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising presenting at least a portion of the retrieved reference information on the user device. 
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 9  wherein at least one of the image icons comprises at least one of:
 a characteristic image icon comprising at least a portion of a photographic image associated with a medical characteristic; or 
 a breast density image icon comprising at least a portion of a photographic image associated with breast density. 
 
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 9  wherein the graphical user interface comprises a plurality of other icons related to one or more diagnoses, and wherein the instructions are further operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a selection of one or more other icons; 
 receiving a request for reference information associated with at least one of the selected other icons; and 
 retrieving a second set of reference information from a database based on at least one of the selected other icons, wherein reference information in the database is indexed based on relation to an other icon. 
 
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 9  wherein the generated graphical user interface comprises:
 breast images, and wherein the breast images include a first breast image comprising a representation of a breast and lymph nodes proximate the breast and a second breast image comprising a transverse view of the breast; and 
 other icons associated with the breast images; 
 wherein a selection of an anatomic location on at least one of the breast images and selection of one or more other icons is utilized to generate a diagnosis; and 
 
       wherein the instructions are further operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a selection of at least one other icon; and 
 receiving a request for reference information associated with at least one of the selected other icons; and 
 retrieving a second set of reference information from a database based on at least one of the selected other icons, wherein reference information in the database is indexed based on relation to an other icon. 
 
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 9  wherein the instructions are further operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:
 generating a listing of the first set of references; 
 presenting the listing of the first set of references to the user; 
 receiving a selection of a reference from the listing; and 
 retrieving the selected reference. 
 
     
     
         15 . A system comprising:
 an image indexed reference system comprising:
 a memory storing:
 reference information; and 
 one or more associations between reference information and one or more image icons in a graphical user interface comprising a plurality of image icons for presentation to a user, wherein each image icon comprises at least a portion of a medical photographic image of an example of a characteristic; and 
 
 an image indexing module adapted to:
 receive a selection of one or more of the image icons from the graphical user interface; 
 receive a request for reference information associated with at least one of the image icons; and 
 determine a first set of reference information associated with the selected image icon based on at least one of the stored associations; and 
 retrieve at least a portion of the first set of reference information from the memory. 
 
   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the memory further stores secondary associations between the reference information and the image icons; and wherein the image indexing module is further adapted to:
 transmit a notification to the user based on the secondary association and the selected image icons; and 
 retrieve at least a portion of a second set of reference information based at least partially on the secondary associations. 
 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the secondary associations comprise at least one of related characteristics, similar characteristics, or misdiagnosed related characteristics. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the image indexing module is adapted to present at least a portion of the first set of reference information from the memory. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the memory stores one or more variation images; and wherein the image indexing module is adapted to:
 receive a request for one or more variation images; and 
 retrieve one or more variation images associated with at least one of the selected image icons. 
 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15  wherein the information comprises one or more expert verified references.