Medical Diagnosis Expert System(s) -
Professional Editions Page(s)
(A Diagnosis Aid for
Heath Care Professionals - for Windows computers - any Windows version, even 64
bit version available)
Large database, matching symptoms/signs/labs
using expert system mathematics
5GL-Doctor is a large medical database. An inquiry
consists of symptoms and signs and lab results. This is matched against
known conditions and a short list is produced (the database is so large
this is rarely a short "short list" but there are options to focus the
resultant short list). The matching is performed using a number of
mathematical like "expert system" functions. Thus say we have the inquiry
"facial paralysis, poor horizontal gaze, tingling sensations in left side
of the body". The expert system modules use various combinations in an
attempt to find the disease pattern that best satisfies the inquiry. How
common a disorder is enters the equation. History can enter the equation.
Lab results can enter the equation (however, there is a function just for
lab results). Physicians who use it tend to comment that the software is a
memory aid usually listing a huge number of potential conditions in
response to an inquiry. For most physicians, that is precisely all that
is required and the skill of the physician can focus on the items more
relevant. |
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Click on images for larger version
Not just diseases - drugs and labs database,
in particular those aspects of value to physicians. Different functions
even finding a condition closest to a given condition. All conditions are
defined as symptoms/sign patterns in the database. The symptoms/sign list
contains about 9000 items.
If all else fails, do not forget the search
functions!
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In brief:
- USA or British English supported, select at
installation time
- large database (information from Harrisons, Merck,
e-medicine, to name a few. However, most of the wording is slightly
changed because the software is a highly intelligent program that scans
entries during a process known as the building of a Compilation Matrix,
and puts together intelligent insights into a particular condition. Thus,
it needs specific wording in some cases to pick up the intelligent
insights.)
- about 9000 symptoms/signs/labs predefined
- about 4000
disease entries (but in some entries there are 20 or more variations or
combinations)
- known aliases or other names of a condition included,
in some cases this is a large list in its own right
- different
diagnosis functions including based on history alone or labs alone
-
typical operations: find the most appropriate symptoms/signs from the
Selection List, select, and click on the doctor's icon, later select
relevant patient history from a list
- some warnings are provided
should symptoms/signs satisfy an "emergency" condition
- the database
is completely updateable and so are the "expert system" rules which means,
for example, you can introduce as many warnings as you like
- there is
a conversation compiler in the software. Two versions of the software are
available, one for physicians and nurses and allied professionals, the
other for personal use. The conversations are intended for the personal
user however such can be used to design diagnosis algorithms as well.
These are included in the professional editions as examples of how to
define conversations.
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5GL-Doctor Displays
There are a number of
functions. A drug database and a medical procedures database are also included.
One function will list all similar conditions to a given condition. Another
function will look at history alone and produce a short list. Another function
"simulates" a condition by assuming one symptom/sign is incorrect and then
manipulates possible conditions and produces a short list. While there is an
extensive tutorial, you probably will never read it because it is easy to use -
unless you want to design "conversations" which can be even used to tally
specific symptoms/signs/history in order to differentiate between various
conditions. Some entries are more "generic" and there to point you in the right
direction more so than providing a diagnosis. You can make an analysis using
exact and precise symptoms/signs or use symptom groups. With a huge
symptoms/signs list of around 9000 entries, you can usually find an exact and
precise symptom/sign be such specific such as "flesh colored lesion on finger"
or more general such as "chest tightness". You can add any new symptom/sign or
rename ours if you find a particular definition not as good as it could
be.
Sample of the large
selection list (it just goes on and on; while medical names are also used, the
software is also purchased by non-medical people hence the decision was made to
define symptoms/signs in such a way that non-medical people can find the most
appropriate and correct symptom/sign)
Click on images for larger version
Click on images for larger version
Click on images for larger version
Architecture
Written in Visual Basic.
Available for 64 bit machines as well as 32 bit. Any Windows version. Note that
Windows "clones" to date have not been able to cope with the size of this
software.
A large database is the foundation. Every medical condition is
defined using a "symptom/sign" pattern, sometimes with labs. The latter not that
important because there is a distinct lab analysis function.
Important to
understand is that it is not only medical professionals who purchase the
software - a person with a serious condition may also purchase. The latter group
was a larger market initially and for this reason the decision was made to use
as simple a description of a symptom and sign as possible (but there are aliases
that map each symptom/sign onto proper medical names too). There is an
"explanation" capability too hence any term not clear can be
"explained".
The inquiry, consisting of symptoms and signs and other
keys, is matched against the disease pattern. The matching is mainly
mathematical type using what are called ESDPs (expert system decision process).
Each ESDP considers different aspects of how well the matching satisfies. One
ESDP may consider how common a conditions is. Another how many others are
sufficiently similar hence the likely "error" in the short list. Another might
go through the top short listed entries and then scan a differential diagnosis
table and adjust the "measure values" on the short list.
There are a
number of analysis functions. Note that a few are only suitable for large
displays (say 21 inch) because the information is not going to fit onto smaller
displays (but with most laptops this does not matter nowadays as you can make
the display smaller).
The symptoms/sign selection list is simply huge
with any variation you can think of likely being on the list. Anytime you add a
disease entry, you can either also add new symptoms signs or these will be
picked up and understood during the Compilation Matrix building.
Some
ESDPs attempt to imitate the thinking of an expert in medicine. Such put
emphasis on certain keys or the sequence of presentation of symptoms and
signs.
The software is also a partial compiler. It can compile code into
conversations. This was developed for the Personal Edition but also left in the
professional editions. That code is easy to put together and explained in the
comprehensive tutorials. However, some features of the compiler are used at many
levels thus suddenly a compiler message might come up warning about a conflict,
or that the best result (from the "compiler's" point of view) is in fact not on
the top short list, etc. This option can be switched off because it can be a
nuisance if you are refining a particular inquiry and do not want to see all the
warning or information messages again. (the image library is also shared by the
personal and professional editions, which means some images are
basic).
Perhaps the biggest weakness is the fact that as many conditions
as are defined, medicine is still a large field and there are ever so many
extremely rare conditions. How many of these does the database know about? No
way to be certain - but when Medscape sends us new cases studies, such often
also contain extremely extremely rare situations and so far about 50% of these
are not on the database (that is, are added as they come to light and available
in each new version, but of course you can add these yourself very
easily).
The medical database can be replaced with any other database and
the expert system technique used against it. This could be useful for perhaps
researchers who wish to put together a specific
database.
Purchase and
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