Abstract: Method and system for determining a norm to apply to a patient being examined in which at least one physical characteristic of the patient is determined from the examination and guidelines relating thereto are obtained. Information about the patient other than from the examination and established norms for each characteristic are also obtained. An established norm to be applied to the patient is selected based on the determination of the characteristic(s), the guidelines relating to the determination thereof, and the information about the patient other than from the examination. The selection of the norm is performed by an inference engine. The norm is applied to the characteristic, e.g., a measured anatomical feature, to obtain a normal value therefor. The measured anatomical feature is compared to the normal value to determine whether it is indicative of a normal or abnormal condition.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes a data entry device that reads storage media that is assigned to each patient on which the system is to be used or the operator of the system to obtain ultrasound images. The storage media, which may be a bar code, smartcard, personal digital assistant, for example, contains patient identifying information. The patient or procedure identifying information may be used to access a digital requisition that is referenced by the patient identifying information. The digital requisition may be stored in a disk drive included in the ultrasound imaging system or in a clinical information system accessed through a communication link included in the ultrasound imaging system. The digital requisition may include information pertaining to an ultrasound examination procedure that is to be performed on the patient, which can be used to automatically set up the ultrasound imaging system.

Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system includes a data entry device that reads storage media that is assigned to each patient on which the system is to be used or the operator of the system to obtain ultrasound images. The storage media, which may be a bar code, smartcard, personal digital assistant, for example, contains patient identifying information. The patient or procedure identifying information may be used to access a digital requisition that is referenced by the patient identifying information. The digital requisition may be stored in a disk drive included in the ultrasound imaging system or in a clinical information system accessed through a communication link included in the ultrasound imaging system. The digital requisition may include information pertaining to an ultrasound examination procedure that is to be performed on the patient, which can be used to automatically set up the ultrasound imaging system.