Abstract: A system and method for automatic quantitative assessment of myocardial image quality includes a liver-heart artifact quantification unit for providing a sequence of images, detecting the heart position in each image, segmenting non-heart activity relative to the detected heart positions, measuring the liver-heart effect in each image based on the segmentations, fusing the measurements obtained in each image, and determining a quality number for the plurality of images responsive to the fused measurements; and also includes a heart detection unit for receiving the image sequence, generating a region of interest comprising the heart by 1-D pseudo-motion analysis of the image sequence, localizing the heart center by a training-based algorithm, fitting a curve to the localized heart centers of each image in the sequence, refining the heart center positions of localized heart centers falling outside of a tolerance distance from the fitted curve, and determining a bounding circle comprising the heart in accordance

Abstract: A method for generating time independent images of moving objects with the image information being related to properties of the moving objects represented by sequences of digital images. The images are transformed into a series of space-time representations of the image data. A function is derived from the space-time representation images that approximates the object motion and is used to create time independent images of the moving objects.

Abstract: A system and method of performing a medical diagnosis in real time that can diagnose a health condition of a mobile terminal user in real time is disclosed. Various sensors provided in the mobile terminal sense a body condition, and a server diagnoses the health condition of the user from the sensed condition information, and informs the user of the corresponding health keeping plan and medical treatment as well. Thus, the user can conveniently check his/her health condition any time and anywhere.

Abstract: Patients are evaluated in terms of various physiological parameters such as hemodynamic parameters. Covariate information indicative of the patient's individual characteristics may also be determined. A state variable indicative of the patient's characteristics is determined. This state variable is used to compare the patient to other patients in the database. The other patients in the database are evaluated in terms of similar parameters and their probability of survival as well as different treatments and the probability of survival based on those different treatments. The patient may be simply evaluated based on the database or a proper course of treatments may be determined based on the database.

Abstract: A health checkup supporting method, apparatus and computer readable recording medium for predicting a checkup receiver's risk of suffering from a disease. The method and apparatus include inputting checkup receiver information indicating information showing the possibility of affecting the incidence of a disease obtained with respect to a checkup receiver who has received a health checkup, and finding a value of a risk of the checkup receiver's suffering from the disease based on the inputted checkup receiver information and risk parameters obtained from a ratio of the past checkup receivers' suffering from the disease. The checkup receiver information includes results of at least one of a clinical examination and results of a genetic examination conducted with respect to the checkup receiver.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and devices for maintaining the integrity of blood products throughout preparation, processing and application to a patient or desired site. Coding methods are incorporated onto or into processing and delivery containers which coding methods contain information identifying the donor and/or recipient. Additionally or alternatively the coding methods may contain information pertaining to a specific preparation or application process to be carried out. Blood product processors and blood product applicators include decoding methods to ensure the blood product is administered to the appropriate recipient and further that it has been prepared and applied according to desired processes.

Abstract: The present invention is associated with a system and method of analyzing the health of a population. The population includes a plurality of members. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of establishing a plurality of health related characteristics associated with the population, the characteristics including a plurality of primordial characteristics, establishing a relationship between the health related characteristics and at least one health condition, and analyzing at least a portion of the population in response to the relationship.

Abstract: A dialysis station including several patient places each of which is provided with a dialyzer and a video terminal. In an internal data network, the video terminals are interlinked with each other and with a server including a data base. At a physician place, the treatment course can be followed for each patient place. If necessary, the physician may intervene and prescribe a new or changed medication appearing on the video terminal of the patient place. After having administered the medicine, the nurse acknowledges the administration of the medicine. The dialogue taking place between physician and nurse is documented in the scope of the treatment course.

Abstract: A system and method for providing closed loop infusion formulation delivery which accurately calculates a delivery amount based on a sensed biological state by adjusting an algorithm's programmable control parameters. The algorithm calculates a delivery amount having proportional, derivative, and basal rate components. The control parameters may be adjusted in real time to compensate for changes in a sensed biological state that may result from daily events. Safety limits on the delivery amount may be included in the algorithm. The algorithm may be executed by a computing element within a process controller for controlling closed loop infusion formulation delivery. The biological state is sensed by a sensing device which provides a signal to the controller. The controller calculates an infusion formulation delivery amount based on the signal and sends commands to an infusion formulation delivery device which delivers an amount of infusion formulation determined by the commands.

Abstract: A system and method for providing diagnosis and monitoring of congestive heart failure for use in automated patient care is described. At least one recorded physiological measure is compared to at least one other recorded physiological measure on a substantially regular basis to quantify a change in patient pathophysiological status for equivalent patient information. An absence, an onset, a progression, a regression, and a status quo of congestive heart failure is evaluated dependent upon the change in patient pathophysiological status.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for preventing delivery of a nontherapeutic dose of medication to a patient and/or preventing medications from being administered to the patient that causes documented allergic or drug sensitivity reactions to the patient. The networked medication delivery system [20] includes an infusion device [22] programmable by the user with instructions for administering the medication, and a computing device [26] for determining whether the programmed data would yield a clinically acceptable dose or the medication is in the list of documented medication that would cause an allergic or drug sensitivity reaction to the patient.

Abstract: A system and method for assessing a functional or medical ability of an actor in a environment. The method includes providing a plurality of data sources in the environment. One or more of the data sources are designated as providing information relating to a functional or medical ability. Data from the designated data sources is retrieved and forms the basis of a functional or medical ability evaluation. In one embodiment, a plurality of baseline function categories are established, with information from one or more of the data sources being assigned to at least one of the baseline function categories.

Abstract: A system and method for assigning feature sensitivity values to a set of potential measurements to be taken during a medical procedure of a patient in order to provide a medical diagnosis is disclosed. Data is received from a sensor that represents a particular medical measurement. The received data and context data are analyzed with respect to one or more sets of training models. Feature sensitivity values are derived for the particular medical measurement and other potential measurements to be taken based the analysis, and the feature sensitivity values are outputted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of and apparatus for producing and digitizing a number of images to create a digital library of images, providing an image from outside the digital library, digitizing it and comparing it to the digital images in the digital library, and providing a text descriptive of the image from outside the digital library.

Abstract: A medical system that allows a medical device to be controlled by one of two input devices. The input devices may be consoles that contain handles and a screen. The medical devices may include robotic arms and instruments used to perform a medical procedure. The system may include an arbitrator that determines which console has priority to control one or more of the robotic arms/instruments.

Abstract: Device for finding unknown, multifactorial triggers of paroxysmally occurring illnesses, which is coupled to an electronic patient file and/or, if appropriate, spatially distributed databases, a comparison and evaluation device carrying out, after a paroxysm, a correlation analysis in order to search for typical patterns in the temporal occurrence of the stored data elements.

Abstract: A method and system for the detection of heart disease in a patient, having a remote testing unit for gathering analog data concerning the status of a patient's heart, converting the data to digital form, applying FFT's to the converted data, transferring the data to a computer for analysis. The analytic computer applies mathematical translation to the data received from the remote testing unit into a plurality of different graphical patterns representative of various states of the patient's heart. A data base is also employed that has graphical patterns representative of various states of a plurality of patients' hearts from normal through disease states. The analytic computer compares the graphical patterns of the patient's heart against the data base of graphical patterns recognizes at least one pattern in the data base more similar to the graphical patterns of the patient's heart.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method and apparatus for a wireless health monitoring system for interactively monitoring a disease or health condition of a patient by connecting an internet-enabled wireless web device (“WWD”) to a health monitoring device which may be a medical device or other health related device such as an exercise machine. The WWD may be connected to the health monitoring device directly by a wired connection to a generic input/output port of the WWD using an optional adaptor if necessary. Alternatively, the WWD may be wirelessly connected to the health monitoring device, such as via an infrared or radio frequency connection, including using protocols such as Bluetooth or 802.11. The wireless connection may also employ an adaptor if necessary. The user may also input data to the WWD manually, such as by a keypad, keyboard, stylus, or optionally by voice command.

Abstract: An input device for robotic surgical techniques and other applications has a handle supported by a linkage with a redundant degree of freedom, the joints being movable with at least one more degree of freedom than the handle. At least one joint of the linkage is actively driven to prevent the linkage from approaching singularities of the joint system, motion limits of the joints, and also to drive the linkage toward a freely articulatable configuration. A robotic master controller can include an arm assembly supporting a gimbal having a redundant linkage, with the arm primarily positioning the gimbal in a three dimensional controller workspace and the gimbal coupling the arm to the handle with four rotational degrees of freedom. One or more additional degrees of freedom may also be provided for actuation of the handle, to close the jaws of a surgical grasper.

Abstract: Deep computing techniques are employed to mine statistical data bases and patient specific data files contributed from multiple sources, including implantable medical devices (IMDs) and external medical devices and other sources, to formulate patient-specific monitoring, diagnostic, therapeutic and educational information and to deliver the patient-specific diagnostic, therapeutic and educational information to the patient and/or patient health care provider. The present invention advantageously provides patient-specific information for IMD bearing patients that draws upon worldwide expertise and knowledge of IMDs of the type implanted, the patient's disease etiology, the drugs prescribed to the patient, the knowledge of experts in the field, and the optimal modes of operating the IMD to monitor physiologic conditions or apply therapies as reported by experts and medical device manufacturers.

Abstract: At least one metric for a mammographic image is computed by a workstation, and provided on a workstation display along with the mammographic image. A clinician can select one or more different metrics to be computed for an image, as well as where they are to be shown and the manner in which they are to be shown on the display. Speech (may also be an audible sound which is not speech) may also be used in the workstation to audibly provide metrics information to the clinician.

Abstract: A system and method for the dielectric scanning of a human subject to detect anomalies relative to expected normal physiology as an indication, among other things, of the possible presence of a weapon, contraband, or of a confirmed difference in personal identity. Persons expeditiously can enter a double-open-sided, ninety-degree counter-rotative scanning zone in the system, alternating from two orthogonally positional entry lines. Scanning occurs in two orthogonal phases of non-relative-motion interrogative microwave illumination to detect sequential, opposite-side-quadrant, dielectric physiologic anatomical signatures which are assessed by computer comparing them to pre-established physiologic-signature tables. Persons entering the scanning zone, leave along a quadrature-related exit path.

Abstract: A sample of normal tissue specimens obtained from a subset of a population of subjects with shared characteristics is profiled in order to generate a plurality of structural indices that correspond to statistically significant representations of characteristics of tissue associated with the population. The structural indices include cell density, matrix density, blood vessel density and layer thickness. Alternatively, the sample of normal tissue specimens obtained from the subset of the population of subjects with shared characteristics can also be profiled in order to generate a plurality of cell function and/or mechanical indices that correspond to statistically significant representations of characteristics of tissue associated with the population. Structural, mechanical and/or cell function indices for a plurality of tissue populations are determined, and then stored in a database. The database information is then used to classify tissue specimens (e.g.

Abstract: A computer readable storage medium containing code for automated collection and analysis of patient information retrieved from a medical device adapted to be implanted in a patient for remote patient care is described. A set of collected measures is periodically received from the medical device over a communications link, which is interfaced to a network server. The collected measures set includes individual measures which each relate to patient information recorded by the medical device. The collected measures set is stored into a patient care record for the individual patient within a database server organized to store one or more patient care records. Each patient care record includes a plurality of the collected measures sets. One or more of the collected measures sets for the individual patient is analyzed relative to one or more other collected measures sets stored in the database server to determine a patient status indicator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a wireless health monitoring system for interactively monitoring a disease or health condition of a patient by connecting an internet-enabled wireless web device (“WWD”) to a health monitoring device which may be a medical device or other health related device. The WWD may be connected to the health monitoring device directly by a wired connection to a generic input/output port of the WWD or wirelessly connected to the health monitoring device, such as via an infrared or radio frequency connection. The health related data is transmitted from the WWD to a server using standard internet protocols. The server calculates a response using a software program while providing for review bt a physician or health specialist. The user may interact with the server, for example, the server transmits a response to the WWD and the user may answer the response or provide other information.

Abstract: A machine-readable storage medium containing a program element for execution by a computing device for performing spike and artifact detection in EG data. The program element comprises a spike detection module for processing EG data to detect spikes. Each spike is a candidate having a likelihood of being related to a physiological event of interest. The program element further comprises an artifact detection module. The artifact detection module is operative to compute respective models of events manifested by the respective spikes detected by the spike detection module, to use the computed models to determine which spikes among the spikes detected by the spike detection module have a high likelihood of being artifacts, to filter the spikes detected by the spike detection module on the basis of the computed models to produce filtered data and to output the filtered data.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for generating individualized medical profiles based on information provided by a patient, and on data extracted from medical literature. In a first stage, medical literature is selected for inclusion in a database by using specified inclusion criteria. Information on input parameters to studies contained in the literature, output parameters of the studies, and algorithms contained in the studies is extracted from the literature, and stored in a database. In a second stage, patients provide information, which is matched against the input parameters of the studies in the database, and algorithms from the matched studies are applied to the information provided by the patient to produce values for the output parameters. Combination analysis is used to combine the values of output parameters into “super-category” values, that are used to generate an individualized medical profile.

Abstract: A real-time glucose estimator uses a linearized Kalman filter to determine a best estimate of glucose level in real time. The real-time glucose estimator receives at least one measurement corresponding to glucose level. The measurement can be obtained with one or more sensors and is provided to the linearized Kalman filter in real time. The linearized Kalman filter has dynamic models and executes a recursive routine to determine the best estimate of glucose level based upon the measurement. Additional information can be provided to the linearized Kalman filter for initialization, configuration, and the like. Outputs of the linearized Kalman filter can be provided to a patient health monitor for display or for statistical testing to determine status of the real-time glucose estimator. The real-time glucose estimator can be implemented using a software algorithm.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for calculating estimated risk of serious gastrointestinal (GI) hospitalization of a patient taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs includes the steps of obtaining patient values of a plurality of predictive factors, calculating an estimated risk from the patient values, and displaying the estimated risk, preferably on a monitor. The predictive factors may be age, global health status, proportion of time taking prednisone, occurrence of a previous GI side effect, and occurrence of a previous GI hospitalization. Preferably, the estimated risk is calculated from a Cox proportional hazard model, derived from a database of arthritis patients, using either continuous or categorical variables. The continuous model applies a standard Cox model to the predictive factors. The categorical model divides each predictive factor into categories, and assigns a point value to each predictive factor.

Abstract: A medical information system processes information from multiple sources suitable for access by healthcare personnel for use in clinical (e.g., critical) care delivery. The system includes a communication interface for receiving information from patient monitoring devices and for bidirectionally communicating with a hospital information database containing patient records. The system also includes a data processor using the communication interface for acquiring patient record information from the hospital information database and for acquiring information from patient monitoring devices. The data processor updates the acquired patient record information based on the acquired information from the patient monitoring devices and communicates updated patient record information to the hospital information database, A display processor initiates display of the updated patient record information to a user.

Abstract: In a health checkup supporting method for predicting a health checkup receiver's risk of suffering from a disease, steps are provided to input checkup receiver information indicating the possibilities of a disease being contracted by a checkup receiver and to obtain a risk value indicating a degree of the checkup receiver's possible incidence of the disease based on inputted checkup receiver information and a risk parameter obtained from the ratio of past disease patients.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for measuring the performance age, rate of aging, and/or useful life span of at least one bodily system of a subject. The method begins with observed values taken from a sample population and expressed as a function of age. A regression curve is determined from this function. The regression curve is solved for a performance age of the at least one bodily system for the subject by using an observed result of the subject's system. A rate of aging of the subject's system is determined from the performance age. A useful life span for the subject's system is determined from the rate of aging. The method may be incorporated into a computer system to automatically determine performance age, rate of aging, and useful life span for one or more bodily systems of one or more subjects.

Abstract: Dynamic management of the health care, nutrition and well-being of pet animal, such as a dogs and cats. Data relating to the species of the animal, a selected group of the species, and the animal, including diagnostic laboratory test data of the animal are related by a computer. A management regimen for the animal is based on this. Updating the data picks up drifts in different populations of the animals, groups and species over time to enhance the management.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the workload of titrating drug to effect while leaving clinician users in control of a related procedure is described. A drug delivery device is controlled to achieve a target drug concentration at a selected site in the patient or a predetermined infusion rate waveform. The time profile of the target drug concentration or a predetermined infusion rate waveform is controlled by a drug state model that uses clinical heuristics to implement safe, pre-defined changes in the target drug concentration or infusion rate and user-commanded changes in target drug concentration or infusion rate. The invention allows time to assess the response of the patient to changes in drug level by making small incremental and conservative changes in drug level over time.

Abstract: A Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS) having multi-level image data processing is provided. The system includes imaging a patient with an imaging modality to generate raw digital image data and then sending the raw image data to an acquisition workstation. The acquisition workstation then performs a first level of image data processing to form partially processed raw image data with regard to a predetermined subset of the set of control parameters to form a partially processed image. The subset of control parameters may comprise frequency control parameters or contrast control parameters, for example. The partially processed image may then be sent to an external connection, stored in a database in the PACS, or sent to a display workstation for a second level of image data processing to complete the image processing and display the image.

Abstract: Multiple health profiles from multiple personal health monitoring systems are compiled. The multiple personal health monitoring systems each monitor a current health profile including physical parameters and environmental parameters indicative of the current health of one of multiple users. The physical parameters and environmental parameters of each of the multiple health profiles are compared to determine health affecting factors for the multiple users, such that health affecting factors of public health are audited.

Abstract: A system and method for foreseeing the occurrence of Bell's palsy comprises statistical techniques of analyzing and establishing the relationships based on the definition, characteristics and properties of Bell's palsy and humans susceptible to Bell's palsy, conditions, findings, symptoms, signs, events and circumstances associate with, occurring and leading to Bell's palsy. The system comprises humans to detect the definition, characteristics and properties of Bell's palsy and medical history and profile of humans susceptible to Bell's palsy and the conditions, findings, symptoms, signs, events and circumstances associate with, occurring prior and leading to the onset of Bell's palsy. Statistical techniques are used to analyze and predict the above relationships and correlations. Statistical techniques are use to analyze and predict the results and outcomes of treatments.

Abstract: In order to reduce bias associated with conventional ECG analysis, the present invention provides a method and apparatus to improve diagnosis of acute cardiac syndromes (ACS), such as acute myocardial infarction and acute cardiac ischemia (unstable angina), in specified groups of patients using ECG signals and automatic detection analysis. Specific criteria are developed and utilized based on a prespecified group selection for the particular patient. After identifying group membership for the particular patient, ECG data are acquired from a patient experiencing ACS symptoms. Known criteria typically used for assessing ACS are then modified for the particular group membership. Such criteria significantly reduce the bias found in a baseline group for which the known criteria were established.

Abstract: A remote diagnosis system including a patient-side device including a physical-information obtaining device which obtains a piece of current physical information from a patient, a plurality of doctor-side devices which are provided in a plurality of medical institutions, respectively, that are remote from the patient-side device and each of which can receive the piece of current physical information of the patient from the patient-side device, a preliminary-diagnosis device for making, based on the piece of current physical information obtained by the physical-information obtaining device, a preliminary diagnosis about whether the patient needs a proper diagnosis to be made by a doctor, and a physical-information transmitting device for transmitting, when the preliminary-diagnosis device makes a preliminary diagnosis that the patient needs a proper diagnosis to be made by a doctor, the piece of current physical information to at least one selected doctor-side device out of the plurality of doctor-side devices

Abstract: A portable ultrasound diagnostic device dynamically collecting diagnostic data from a patient and, once the portable ultrasound diagnostic device determines that collecting the diagnostic data is complete, the portable ultrasound diagnostic device transmits the diagnostic data using a communication channel to a person at another location to analyze the diagnostic data.

Abstract: A system and method for detection of colorimetric abnormalities within a body lumen includes an image receiver for receiving images from within the body lumen. Also included are a transmitter for transmitting the images to a receiver, and a processor for generating a probability indication of presence of colorimetric abnormalities on comparison of color content of the images and at (east one reference value.

Abstract: The evaluation of the performance of cytotechnologists and cytopathologists is obtained through statistical analyses of a computer system database including data representative of diagnosis by the cytotechnologists and cytopathologists. The statistical analyses provide objective measures of performance that aid in improving the quality of evaluation in the cytology laboratory. The locator skills, interpretive skills, volume statistics and productivity of the cytotechnologists is evaluated based on false-negative fraction information, divergent percentage calculations, average scores and kappa values, z scores and pro-rata workload measurements. The accuracy and performance of the cytopathologists is evaluated through the use of receiver operating characteristic curves and positive predictive values.

Abstract: A system and a method for maintaining an association between a patient, a health provider and an insurance provider. A working model of a patient is perpetually updated to provide a basis for the insurance provider to authorize treatment plans, verify treatment quality and compliance with the guidelines of the association.

Abstract: Potential chronic pain patients are identified in a population such as an employer or medical care payer database using a method or computer software product to improve accuracy in identifying potential chronic pain patients, decrease the time required to identify potential chronic pain patient increasing opportunities for early intervention, identify selected potential chronic pain patients based upon preference of stakeholders, and many other benefits. Desired patient indicia including direct medical indicia, indirect medical indicia, and non-medical indicia are selected to serve as independent variables. At least one chronic pain indication is selected to serve as a dependent variable. A chronic pain model is created using the patient indicia and the chronic pain indication. The chronic pain model is applied to the population and potential chronic pain patients are identified by selecting individuals from the population that conform to the chronic pain model.

Abstract: An automated collection and analysis patient care system and method for ordering and prioritizing multiple health disorders to identify an index disorder is described. A plurality of monitoring sets are retrieved from a database. Each of the monitoring sets include stored measures relating to patient information recorded and derived on a substantially continuous basis. A patient status change is determined by comparing at least one stored measure from each of the monitoring sets to at least one other stored measure with both stored measures relating to the same type of patient information. Each patient status change is ordered in temporal sequence from least recent to most recent. A plurality of health disorder candidates categorized by quantifiable physiological measures of pathophysiologies indicative of each respective health disorder are evaluated and the health disorder candidate with the pathophysiology most closely matching those patient status changes which occurred least recently is identified.

Abstract: An automated method and/or system for identifying suspected lesions in a brain is provided. A processor (a) provides a magnetic resonance image (MRI) of a patient's head, including a plurality of slices of the patient's head, which MRI comprises a multispectral data set that can be displayed as an image of varying pixel intensities. The processor (b) identifies a brain area within each slice to provide a plurality of masked images of intracranial tissue. The processor (c) applies a segmentation technique to at least one of the masked images to classify the varying pixel intensities into separate groupings, which potentially correspond to different tissue types. The processor (d) refines the initial segmentation into the separate groupings of at least the first masked image obtained from step (c) using one or more knowledge rules that combine pixel intensities with spatial relationships of anatomical structures to locate one or more anatomical regions of the brain.

Abstract: A medical system for monitoring a measured value of a patient characterizing blood clotting and/or for setting a medication that influences blood clotting for a patient in a home environment, has a device for acquiring measured values of the patient relating to blood clotting, a device for transmitting the measured values to a system central, a device for interrogating the measured values, and a reception device at a monitoring person. The system central has a memory for the measured values, an analysis device for the measured values by comparing the measured values to stored reference values, an alarm generator which generates an alarm signal upon a recognition of predetermined conditions, and a routing device for forwarding the alarm signal to a reception device of a person to be alerted in a process chain.

Abstract: An automated system and method for diagnosing and monitoring the outcomes of atrial fibrillation is described. A plurality of monitoring sets is retrieved from a database. Each of the monitoring sets include recorded measures relating to patient information recorded on a substantially continuous basis. A patient status change is determined in response to an atrial fibrillation diagnosis by comparing at least one recorded measure from each of the monitoring sets to at least one other recorded measure. Both recorded measures relate to the same type of patient information. Each patient status change is tested against an indicator threshold corresponding to the same type of patient information as the recorded measures which were compared. The indicator threshold corresponds to a quantifiable physiological measure of a pathophysiology resulting from atrial fibrillation.

Abstract: An in vivo, non-invasive method of tissue classification using near-IR (NIR) spectral measurements. A classification model is based on NIR spectral absorbance measurements from an exemplary population. Spectral features representing variation between tissue types are identified. Analytic techniques enhance the features of interest and correct spectral interference to improve the predictive ability of the classification model. A classification routine defines classes based on variation between tissue types, such that variation within a class is small compared to variation between classes. A decision rule assigns individual samples from the exemplary population to classes. An in-vivo, non-invasive procedure applies the classification model to individual tissue samples. A preferred embodiment of the invention distinguishes transgenic mice from non-transgenic individuals based on variation in fat composition within muscle tissue.

Abstract: Structure-based processing includes a method of diagnosing diseases that works by arranging diseases, symptoms, and questions into a set of related disease, symptom, and question structures, such as objects or lists, in such a way that the structures can be processed to generate a dialogue with a patient. A structure-based processing system organizes medical knowledge into formal structures and then executes those structures on a structure engine to automatically select the next question. Patient responses to the questions lead to more questions and ultimately to a diagnosis. An object-oriented embodiment includes software objects utilized as active, intelligent agents where each object performs its own tasks and calls upon other objects to perform their tasks at the appropriate time to arrive at a diagnosis.