Second opinion network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018197639-A1
Application number	US-201815912428-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 5, 2018
Priority date	Apr 27, 2007
Publication date	Jul 12, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided to facilitate consultations between a referral source (e.g., labs, pathologists and patients) and a consultant (e.g., pathologist, radiologist, or other digital image analyst). Links between the various referral sources and consultants are established through a scanning center via a data communication network such as the Internet. The referral source sends a slide to the scanning center where the corresponding digital slide is posted for review and analysis by the consultant. Upon completion of the analysis and report, a digital slide conference is conducted through the scanning center that provides a venue for direct communication regarding the consultation. The scanning center may also facilitate payment from the referral source to the consultant.

First claim

1 .- 42 . (canceled)

43 . A system comprising:
at least one hardware processor; and at least one executable module that is configured to, when executed by the at least one hardware processor of a hosting center, at the hosting center, at a first time, receive metadata for a digital slide image from a device of a referral source over at least one network, at a second time that is subsequent to the first, receive the digital slide image from the device of the referral source over the at least one network, such that the digital slide image is received separately from the metadata and after the metadata, store the digital slide image, wherein the digital slide image comprises an image of a specimen, generate access information that permits access to the stored digital slide image, and provide access to at least a portion of the digital slide image to a device of one or more consultants over the at least one network for analysis by sending the access information to the one or more consultants.

44 . The system of claim 43 , wherein the at least one executable module is further configured to provide a profile for each of a plurality of consultants, wherein the profile for one or more of the plurality of consultants comprises one or more references to prior work performed by the corresponding consultant.

45 . The system of claim 43 , further comprising selecting the one or more consultants from among a plurality of consultants.

46 . The system of claim 43 , wherein providing access to at least a portion of the digital slide image to a device of one or more consultants comprises:
providing access to the at least a portion of the digital slide image to a first consultant; and, after expiration of a time period since providing the access to the first consultant without receiving an analysis by the first consultant, revoking the access from the first consultant, and providing access to the at least a portion of the digital slide image to a second consultant that is different than the first consultant.

47 . The system of claim 43 , wherein providing access to at least a portion of the digital slide image to a device of one or more consultants comprises providing access to the at least a portion of the digital slide image to devices of two or more consultants, and wherein the at least one executable module is further configured to engage, for analysis of the digital slide image, a first one of the two or more consultants to respond.

48 . The system of claim 43 , wherein the at least one executable module is further configured to send access information for accessing the digital slide image to at least one consultant, wherein the access information comprises a link for accessing the digital slide image at the hosting center.

49 . The system of claim 43 , wherein the at least one executable module is further configured to:
receive the analysis from the device of at least one consultant; and provide the analysis to a device of the referral source.

50 . The system of claim 43 , wherein the at least one executable module is further configured to:
provide an audio-visual conference between the referral source and at least one consultant; and, during the audio-visual conference, provide at least a portion of the digital slide image to both a display of the referral source and a display of the at least one consultant, receive an annotation associated with the at least a portion of the digital slide image from a device of the at least one consultant, and propagate the annotation to the display of the referral source.

51 . The system of claim 50 , wherein the at least one executable module is further configured to:
record the audio-visual conference; and associate the recorded audio-visual conference with a medical file for the patient.

52 . The system of claim 43 , wherein the at least one executable module is further configured to:
process the digital slide image according to one or more algorithms; and provide a result of the processing to at least one consultant.

53 . The system of claim 52 , wherein the result of the processing comprises a cell count.

54 . A method comprising using at least one hardware processor of a hosting center to:
at the hosting center, at a first time, receive metadata for a digital slide image from a device of a referral source over at least one network; at the hosting center, at a second time that is subsequent to the first time, receive the digital slide image from the device of the referral source over the at least one network, such that the digital slide image is received separately from the metadata and after the metadata; at the hosting center, store the digital slide image, wherein the digital slide image comprises an image of a specimen; at the hosting center, generate access information that permits access to the stored digital slide image; and at the hosting center, provide access to at least a portion of the digital slide image to a device of one or more consultants over the at least one network for analysis by sending the access information to the one or more consultants.

55 . The method of claim 54 , further comprising providing a profile for each of a plurality of consultants, wherein the profile for one or more of the plurality of consultants comprises one or more references to prior work performed by the corresponding consultant.

56 . The method of claim 54 , further comprising selecting the one or more consultants from among a plurality of consultants.

57 . The method of claim 54 , wherein providing access to at least a portion of the digital slide image to a device of one or more consultants comprises:
providing access to the at least a portion of the digital slide image to a first consultant; and, after expiration of a time period since providing the access to the first consultant without receiving an analysis by the first consultant, revoking the access from the first consultant, and providing access to the at least a portion of the digital slide image to a second consultant that is different than the first consultant.

58 . The method of claim 54 , wherein providing access to at least a portion of the digital slide image to a device of one or more consultants comprises providing access to the at least a portion of the digital slide image to devices of two or more consultants, and wherein the method further comprising engaging, for analysis of the digital slide image, a first one of the two or more consultants to respond.

59 . The method of claim 54 , further comprising sending access information for accessing the digital slide image to the one or more consultants, wherein the access information comprises a link for accessing the digital slide image at the hosting center.

60 . The method of claim 54 , further comprising:
receiving the analysis from the device of at least one consultant; and providing the analysis to a device of the referral source.

61 . The method of claim 54 , further comprising:
providing an audio-visual conference between the referral source and at least one consultant; and, during the audio-visual conference, providing at least a portion of the digital slide image to both a display of the referral source and a display of the at least one consultant, receiving an annotation associated with the at least a portion of the digital slide image from a device of the at least one consultant, and propagating the annotation to the display of the referral source.

62 . The method of claim 6

Assignees

• Leica Biosystems Imaging Inc

Inventors

• Soenksen Dirk G
• Zirker-Smith Kathy
• Eichhorn Ole

Classifications

• G16H80/00 Primary

  ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring · CPC title

• G16H50/50

  for simulation or modelling of medical disorders · CPC title

• G16H30/20

  for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS · CPC title