Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method for facilitating surgery including: tracking a position of at least a portion of a surgical implement in a volume of interest; recognizing a surgical plan corresponding to at least a portion of the volume of interest; and providing feedback based on a correspondence between the position of the at least a portion of the surgical implement and the surgical plan. In an embodiment, the feedback is provided in real-time. In an embodiment, the feedback includes at least one of: haptic feedback, thermal feedback, optical feedback, and auditory feedback. In an embodiment, the surgical plan includes a previously generated radiological image. In an embodiment, the surgical plan includes at least one trajectory for the at least a portion of the surgical implement.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system for determining patient acuity including an analysis component, an acuity database, and a processing component. The analysis component is capable of generating analysis data based at least in part on a medical image. The acuity database is capable of associating the analysis data with an acuity value. The processing component is capable of generating an acuity level based at least in part on the acuity value.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method for performing surgical planning including: providing for display a data set including a representation of a volume of interest of a patient; providing an interactive tool for use in conjunction with the data set; allowing an interaction with the interactive tool and a portion of the data set; and forming a prediction for an effect on a portion of the data set based at least in part on the interaction. In an embodiment, the method further includes selecting the interactive tool from a plurality of tool types. In an embodiment, the variety of tool types includes a plurality of tool tips. In an embodiment, the providing an interactive tool for use in conjunction with the data set is performable automatically. In an embodiment, allowing an interaction with the interactive tool and a portion of the data set is performable automatically. In an embodiment, the prediction is storable for later retrieval.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a real-time healthcare business decision support system including a plurality of information sources, a processing component, and a user interface component. Each information source includes resource information for a resource in a healthcare environment. The healthcare environment includes a plurality of resources. The processing component aggregates resource information from the plurality of information sources. The processing component is capable of generating performance information based at least in part on the aggregated resource information in substantially real-time. The performance information corresponds at least in part to the performance of at least one of the plurality of resources. The user interface component is capable of displaying the performance information.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for improved tumor ablation. Certain embodiments include determining a distance between a tumor and at least one of a plurality of landmarks bounding the tumor in at least one acquired image of an area of interest for a patient, obtaining positional data for an ablation instrument, and displaying a position of the ablation instrument with respect to the tumor. Additionally, a position of the ablation instrument may be dynamically displayed on the fluoroscopic image and/or the at least one acquired image during tumor ablation. Furthermore, a location cursor on the fluoroscopic image may be linked with a location cursor on the one or more acquired images. In certain embodiments, a location of a tip of the ablation instrument may be dynamically displayed with respect to a starting location and an ending location of the tumor.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide for a system for viewing medical images including a set of image slices, a selected image, an overview image, and a user interface component. The selected image is selected from the set of image slices. The overview image includes a representation of the set of image slices. The user interface component is capable of simultaneously displaying the selected image and the overview image.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a medical workflow system including a subvocal input device, an impulse processing component, and an information management system. The subvocal input device is capable of sensing nerve impulses in a user. The impulse processing component is in communication with the subvocal input device. The impulse processing component is capable of interpreting nerve impulses as dictation data and/or a command. The information management system is in communication with the impulse processing component. The information management system is capable of processing dictation data and/or a command from the impulse processing component.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide for a system for medical diagnosis and tracking. In an embodiment, a medical diagnosis and tracking system includes one or more medical imaging devices adapted to create one or more current images. The medical diagnosis and tracking system also includes a historical images archive adapted to storing the one or more current images and/or one or more historical images. The system also includes a three-dimensional subtraction application adapted to create one or more three-dimensional subtracted images by performing three-dimensional subtraction on the one or more current images and the one or more historical images. The medical diagnosis and tracking system also includes a Picture Archiving Communication System (PACS) workstation adapted to display the one or more three-dimensional subtracted images.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for adaptive user interface configuration in a picture archiving and communication environment. Certain embodiments include a user interface configured for execution on a PACS workstation, wherein the user interface presents functionality to a user. The system also includes a registry configured to track usage information for the functionality, wherein the functionality is registered for tracking via the registry. The user interface is reconfigured based on a comparison of the usage information to a threshold. The threshold may include a certain time interval and/or a certain number of uses, for example. The user interface may be reconfigured to hide functionality used less than the threshold, for example. The user interface may be configured to maximize an amount of space available on the user interface for display of images and functionality used more than the threshold, for example.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present application provide a method for imaging in a healthcare environment including receiving in an application a first feed, the first feed including historical patient image data; receiving in the application a second feed, the second feed including substantially live patient image data; and integrating in real-time in the application the first feed and the second feed to form a display representation, the display representation displayable on a display, and the display representation simultaneously including data corresponding to the first feed and the second feed.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a graphical user interface for a conferencing and collaboration system in a healthcare environment. The interface includes a shared data display window. The shared data display window is capable of selecting and displaying data to be shared with one or more participants in a collaboration session based at least in part on contextual information. The shared data display window is also capable of sharing of the contextual information between the one or more participants.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system for improved conferencing and collaboration in a healthcare environment. The system includes an initiator workstation capable of sharing data over a network with a participant workstation and manipulating the shared data based at least in part on input from an initiator. The system also includes a participant workstation capable of manipulating the shared data based at least in part on input from a participant. The initiator and participant workstations are capable of simultaneous user manipulation of the shared data.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for improved management of multiple applications and workflows using a workflow engine based dynamic worklist in a healthcare environment. In an embodiment, the system includes at least one data store, wherein the at least one data store includes departmental and/or enterprise information. The system also includes a plurality of databases, wherein the plurality of databases includes user tasks, user rules, and user preferences. In addition, the system includes a workflow engine for calculating and filtering the information obtained from the databases and data stores. The system also includes a worklist user interface, wherein the information calculated and filtered by the workflow engine is displayed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium including a set of instructions for a computer. The instructions include an access routine, a tracking routine, and a modifying routine. The access routine is configured to communicate a default hanging protocol between a network server and a display workstation. The default hanging protocol includes at least one default display rule for displaying a plurality of images at the display workstation. The default display rule is capable of directing the display workstation to present each of the images at a location on a display device of the display workstation and/or in a sequence in which each of the images is presented at the display workstation. The tracking routine is configured to monitor a selection of an additional display rule. The modifying routine is configured to dynamically modify the default hanging protocol based on the selection.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for determine a level of significance of an image. Certain embodiments include selecting one or more parameters for use in determining a level of significance for an image, assigning a value to each of the one or more parameters, and determining the level of significance for the image based on the parameters and the values associated with each of the one or more parameters. One or more parameters may be weighted to affect determination of the level of significance. An offset may be added to the determination of the level of significance for the image. Parameters may include clinical relevance, diagnosis pattern, segmented area, number of pixels, and/or reading time for the image, for example.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for identification of most read images. Certain embodiments provide automatically determining a reading time for an image based on at least one of image viewing time and tool usage with respect to the image, and generating a viewing order for the image based on the reading time. Reading times may be determined for a plurality of images. In certain embodiments, a priority may be assigned to the image based on the reading time. Images may be arranged on a display based on the priority, for example. A series of images may be ordered according to reading time for each of a plurality of images, for example.

Abstract: The present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium including a set of instructions for a computer. The instructions include an access routine, a tracking routine, and a modifying routine. The access routine is configured to communicate a default image processing workflow between a network server and a display workstation. The default image processing workflow includes at least one default image processing step for preparing at least one image for presentation to a user. The tracking routine is configured to monitor a selection of at least one additional image processing step to be applied to the image. The modifying routine is configured to modify the default workflow to alter the default workflow and/or add the at least one additional image processing step to the default image processing workflow.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for real-time workflow management in a healthcare environment. The system includes a database, an optimizer engine, and an interface. The database includes resource information for a healthcare environment. The optimizer engine is capable of communicating with the database to extract resource information. The interface is capable of communicating with the optimizer engine and a user. The interface is capable of allocating a resource to manage a workflow based on output from the optimizer engine. In an embodiment, the optimizer engine is capable of making a recommendation based on the resource information. In an embodiment, the interface presents the recommendation to the user, and may present the recommendation based on a rule, for example. In an embodiment, the interface may include a map of resources. The user may direct workflow based in part on the interface and/or the recommendation.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for using gaze detection to improve information display in a healthcare environment. Certain embodiments of a gaze detection and control system include an information system including information related to at least one image, a display device capable of displaying images and data, and a gaze tracking system for detection a location of a user's gaze with respect to the display device. The gaze tracking system triggers a retrieval of information from the information system based at least in part on the location of the user's gaze, and the retrieved information is displayed at the display device. In an embodiment, the retrieved information is overlaid over an image at the display device. In an embodiment, the gaze tracking system includes at least one camera and/or eyewear, for example.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide improved clinical workflow using a medical imaging and information management system and method with enhanced communication capabilities. Certain embodiments of the system include an information manager including clinical content, such as images and/or information, and a communication manager receiving an event notification from the information manager. The system may further include an interface capable of accessing the information manager. Additionally, the system may include a contact device capable of communicating via the communication manager. A modality may transmit examination data to the information manager and may receive instructions for the information manager. In an embodiment, the communications manager includes a contact information list with one or more contact devices associated with a user. The communications manager may be capable of detecting a presence of a user on a network.