Claims
- 1. A method for variable selection, comprising:
(a) providing a first set of n candidate variables and a second set of selected important variables, wherein the second set is initially empty; (b) taking candidate variables one at a time and evaluating each by training a decision-support system on that variable combined with the current set of selected important variables; (c) selecting the best of the candidate variables, wherein the best variable is any one that gives the highest performance of the decision-support system, and if the best candidate variable improves performance compared to the performance of the selected important variables, adding it to the selected important variable set, removing it from the candidate set and continuing evaluating at step (b), wherein the best candidate variable does not improve performance, the process is completed.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein in step (a) the candidate variables are obtained from patients and include historical data and/or biochemical data.
- 3. A method of diagnosis, comprising:
selecting a set of important selected variables according to the method of claim 1; and training a decision-support system using the selected final set of important selected variables to produce a test for diagnosis.
- 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the method of diagnosis assesses the likelihood that a medical condition or disorder is present, assesses the likelihood that a particular condition will develop or occur in the future, selects a course of treatment or determines the effectiveness of a treatment.
- 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the condition is a pregnancy-related condition or endometriosis.
- 6. The method of claim 3, wherein the method of diagnosis assesses the presence, absence or severity of a medical condition or determines the likely outcome resulting of a course of treatment.
- 7. A method of improving the effectiveness of a diagnostic biochemical test, comprising:
selecting a set of important selected variables according to the method of claim 1; and training a decision-support system using the selected final set of important selected variables and the biochemical test data to produce a test that is more effective than the biochemical test alone.
- 8. A method of identifying a biochemical test that aids in diagnosis of a disorder or condition, comprising:
(a) selecting a set of important selected variables according to the method of claim 1; (b) identifying a set of biochemical test data, and training a decision-support system using the selected final set of important selected variables combined with each member of the set of biochemical test data, and assessing the performance of the resulting system; (c) repeating the training and assessing with each member of the set of biochemical test data until all have been used in a training; and (d) selecting the member of the set of biochemical data that results in a system that performs the best.
- 9. A method for variable selection, comprising:
(a) providing a first set of n candidate variables and a second set of selected important variables, wherein the second set is initially empty; (b) ranking all candidate variables, wherein the ranking is either arbitrary or ordered; (c) taking the highest m ranked variables one at a time, wherein m is from 1 up to n, and evaluating each by training a decision-support system on that variable combined with the current set of selected important variables; (d) selecting the best of the m variables, wherein the best variable is the one that gives the highest performance of the decision-support system, and if the best variable improves performance compared to the performance of the selected important variables, adding it to the selected important variable set, removing it from the candidate set and continuing evaluating at step (c), if the variable does not improve performance in comparison to the performance of the selected important variables, evaluating is continued at step (e); (e) determining if all variables on the candidate set have been evaluated, wherein if they have been evaluated, the process is complete and the set of selected important variables is a completed set, otherwise continuing by taking the next highest m ranked variables one at a time, and evaluating each by training a decision-support-system on that variable combined with the current set of important selected variables and performing step (d).
- 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the candidate variables include biochemical test data.
- 11. The method of claim 9, wherein ranking is based on an analysis comprising a sensitivity analysis or other decision-support system-based analysis.
- 12. The method of claim 9, wherein ranking is based on process comprising a statistical analysis.
- 13. The method of claim 9, wherein ranking is based on a process comprising chi square, regression analysis or discriminant analysis.
- 14. The method of claim 9, wherein ranking is determined by a process that uses evaluation by an expert, a rule based system, a sensitivity analysis or combinations thereof.
- 15. The method of claim 10, wherein the sensitivity analysis, comprises:
(i) determining an average observation value for each of the variables in the observation data set; (ii) selecting a training example, and running the example through a decision-support system to produce an output value, designated and stored as the normal output; (iii) selecting a first variable in the selected training example, replacing the observation value with the average observation value of the first variable, running the modified example in the decision-support system in the forward mode and recording the output as the modified output; (iv) squaring the difference between the normal output and the modified output and accumulating it as a total, wherein the total for each variable designated the selected variable total for each variable; (v) repeating steps (iii) and (iv) for each variable in the example; (vi) repeating steps (ii)-(v) for each example in the data set, wherein each total for the selected variable represents the relative contribution of each variable to the determination of the decision-support system output.
- 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the decision-support system includes a consensus of neural networks.
- 17. The method of claim 9, wherein the decision-support system includes a consensus of neural networks.
- 18. The method of claim 1 that is a computer-assisted method, wherein the set of n candidate variables and set of selected important variables are each stored in a computer.
- 19. The method of claim 9 that is a computer-assisted method, wherein the set of n candidate variables and set of selected important variables are each stored in a computer.
- 20. The method of claim 9, further comprising training a final decision-support system based on the completed set of selected important variables to produce a decision-support system based test for the condition.
- 21. The method of claim 3, further comprising training a final decision-support system based on the completed set of selected important variables to produce a decision-support system based test for the condition.
- 22. The method of claim 3, wherein the condition is a gynecological condition.
- 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the condition is selected from among infertility, a pregnancy related event, and pre-eclampsia.
- 24. In a computer system, a method for developing a decision-support system-based test to aid in diagnosing a medical condition, disease or disorder in a patient, comprising:
(a) collecting observations from a group of test patients in whom the medical condition is known; (b) categorizing the observations into a set of candidate variables having observation values and storing the observation values as a observation data set in a computer; (c) selecting a subset of selected important variables from the set of candidate variables by classifying the observation data set using a first decision-support system programmed into the computer system, whereby the subset of selected important variables includes the candidate variables substantially indicative of the medical condition; and (d) training a second decision-support system using the observation data corresponding to a subset of selected important variables, whereby the second decision-support system-based system constitutes a decision-support based diagnostic test for the condition, disease or disorder.
- 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the first decision-support system includes at least one neural network.
- 26. The method of claim 24, wherein the second decision-support system includes least one neural network.
- 27. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of selecting a subset of selected important variables includes:
(i) providing a first set of n candidate variables and a second set of selected important variable, wherein the second set is initially empty; (ii) taking candidate variables one at a time and evaluating each by training a decision-support system on that variable combined with the current set of selected important variables; (iii) selecting the best of the candidate variables, wherein the best variable is any one that gives the highest performance of the decision-support system, and if the best candidate variable improves performance compared to the performance of the selected important variables, adding it to the selected important variable set, removing it from the candidate set and continuing evaluating at step (ii), wherein the best candidate variable does not improve performance, the process is completed.
- 28. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of selecting a subset of selected important variables includes:
(i) providing a first set of n candidate variables and a second set of selected important variables, wherein the second set is initially empty; (ii) ranking all candidate variables, wherein the ranking is either arbitrary or ordered; (iii) taking the highest m ranked variables one at a time, wherein m is from 1 up to n, and evaluating each by training a decision-support system on that variable combined with the current set of selected important variables; (iv) selecting the best of the m variables, wherein the best variable is the one that gives the highest performance of the decision-support system, and if the best variable improves performance compared to the performance of the selected important variables, adding it to the selected important variable set, removing it from the candidate set and continuing evaluating at step (iii), if the variable does not improve performance in comparison to the performance of the selected important variables, evaluating is continued at step (v); (v) determining if all variables on the candidate set have been evaluated, wherein if they have been evaluated, the process is complete and the set of selected important variables is a completed set, otherwise continuing by taking the next highest m ranked variables one at a time, and evaluating each by training a decision-support-system on that variable combined with the current set of important selected variables and performing step (iv).
- 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the candidate variables include biochemical test data.
- 30. The method of claim 28, wherein ranking is based on an analysis comprising a sensitivity analysis or other decision-support system-based analysis.
- 31. The method of claim 28, wherein ranking is based on process comprising a statistical analysis.
- 32. The method of claim 28, wherein ranking is based on a process comprising chi square, regression analysis or discriminant analysis.
- 33. The method of claim 28, wherein ranking is determined by a process that uses evaluation by an expert, a rule based system, a sensitivity analysis or combinations thereof.
- 34. The method of claim 30, wherein the sensitivity analysis, comprises:
(i) determining an average observation value for each of the variables in the observation data set; (ii) selecting a training example, and running the example through a decision-support system to produce an output value, designated and stored as the normal output; (iii) selecting a first variable in the selected training example, replacing the observation value with the average observation value of the first variable, running the modified example in the decision-support system in the forward mode and recording the output as the modified output; (iv) squaring the difference between the normal output and the modified output and accumulating it as a total, wherein the total for each variable designated the selected variable total for each variable; (v) repeating steps (iii) and (iv) for each variable in the example; (vi) repeating steps (ii)-(v) for each example in the data set, wherein each total for the selected variable represents the relative contribution of each variable to the determination of the decision-support system output.
- 35. The method of claim 33, wherein the sensitivity analysis comprises:
(i) determining an average observation value for each of the variables in the observation data set; (ii) selecting a training example, and running the example through a decision-support system to produce an output value, designated and stored as the normal output; (iii) selecting a first variable in the selected training example, replacing the observation value with the average observation value of the first variable, running the modified example in the decision-support system in the forward mode and recording the output as the modified output; (iv) squaring the difference between the normal output and the modified output and accumulating it as a total, wherein the total for each variable designated the selected variable total for each variable; (v) repeating steps (iii) and (iv) for each variable in the example; (vi) repeating steps (ii)-(v) for each example in the data set, wherein each total for the selected variable represents the relative contribution of each variable to the determination of the decision-support system output.
- 36. The method of claim 35, further comprising:
(vii) ranking the variables according to their relative contribution to the determination of the decision-support system output.
- 37. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of training a second decision-support system includes a validating step wherein a previously-unused set of observation data is run through the second decision-support system after training to provide a performance estimate for indication of the medical condition, wherein the previously-unused set of observation data are collected from patients in whom the medical condition is known.
- 38. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of training a second decision-support system includes partitioning the observation data set into a plurality of partitions comprising at least one testing data partition and a plurality of training data partitions, wherein the second decision-support system is run using the plurality of training data partitions and the testing data partition is used to provide a final performance estimate for the second decision-support system after the training data partitions have been run.
- 39. The method of claim 38, wherein the second decision-support system comprises a plurality of neural networks, each neural network of the plurality having a unique set of starting weights and having a performance rating value.
- 40. The method of claim 39, wherein the final performance estimate is generated by averaging the performance rating values for the plurality of neural networks.
- 41. The method of claim 24, wherein the observation values are obtained from patient historical data results and/or biochemical test results.
- 42. The method of claim 24, wherein the condition is a pregnancy-related condition or endometriosis.
- 43. The method of claim 24, further comprising:
(e) collecting additional observations from patients and categorizing them into a set of candidate variables, which are then added to first set of candidate variables; and then (f) repeating steps (c) and (d).
- 44. The method of claim 3, wherein the candidate variables include biochemical test data.
- 45. The method of claim 24, further comprising, after collecting observations from a group of test patients and before training the second decision-support based system,
collecting test results of a biochemical test from at least a portion of the test patients in whom the condition is known or suspected and categorizing them into a set of candidate variables, which are then added to first set of candidate variables; and then repeating steps (c) and (d).
- 46. The method of claim 45, wherein the test assesses the presence, absence, severity or course of treatment of a disease, disorder or other medical condition or aids in determining the outcome resulting from a selected treatment.
- 47. The method of claim 24, wherein the test assesses the presence, absence, severity or course of treatment of a disease, disorder or other medical condition or aids in determining the outcome resulting from a selected treatment.
- 48. The method of claim 45, wherein the decision-support system includes a neural network and the final set constitutes a consensus of neural networks.
- 49. The method of claim 45, wherein the first subset of relevant variables is identified using sensitivity analysis performed on the decision-support based system or consensus thereof.
- 50. The method of claim 45, wherein the first decision-support system includes at least one neural network.
- 51. The method of claim 45, wherein the second decision-support system includes at least one neural network.
- 52. The method of claim 45, wherein the step of selecting a subset of selected important variables includes:
(i) providing a first set of n candidate variables and a second set of selected important variables, wherein the second set is initially empty; (ii) taking candidate variables one at a time and evaluating each by training a decision-support system on that variable combined with the current set of selected important variables; (iii) selecting the best of the candidate variables, wherein the best variable is any one that gives the highest performance of the decision-support system, and if the best candidate variable improves performance compared to the performance of the selected important variables, adding it to the selected important variable set, removing it from the candidate set and continuing evaluating at step (ii), wherein the best candidate variable does not improve performance, the process is completed.
- 53. The method of claim 45, wherein the step of selecting a subset of selected important variables includes:
(i) providing a first set of n candidate variables and a second set of selected important variables, wherein the second set is initially empty; (ii) ranking all candidate variables, wherein the ranking is either arbitrary or ordered; (iii) taking the highest m ranked variables one at a time, wherein m is from 1 up to n, and evaluating each by training a decision-support system on that variable combined with the current set of selected important variables; (iv) selecting the best of the m variables, wherein the best variable is the one that gives the highest performance of the decision-support system, and if the best variable improves performance compared to the performance of the selected important variables, adding it to the selected important variable set, removing it from the candidate set and continuing evaluating at step (iii), if the variable does not improve performance in comparison to the performance of the selected important variables, evaluating is continued at step (v); (v) determining if all variables on the candidate set have been evaluated, wherein if they have been evaluated, the process is complete and the set of selected important variables is a completed set, otherwise continuing by taking the next highest m ranked variables one at a time, and evaluating each by training a decision-support-system on that variable combined with the current set of important selected variables and performing step (iv).
- 54. The method of claim 53, wherein the candidate variables include biochemical test data.
- 55. The method of claim 53, wherein ranking is based on an analysis comprising a sensitivity analysis or other decision-support system-based analysis.
- 56. The method of claim 53, wherein ranking is based on process comprising a statistical analysis.
- 57. The method of claim 53, wherein ranking is based on a process comprising chi square, regression analysis or discriminant analysis.
- 58. The method of claim 54, wherein ranking is determined by a process that uses evaluation by an expert, a rule based system, a sensitivity analysis or combinations thereof.
- 59. The method of claim 55, wherein the sensitivity analysis, comprises:
(i) determining an average observation value for each of the variables in the observation data set; (ii) selecting a training example, and running the example through a decision-support system to produce an output value, designated and stored as the normal output; (iii) selecting a first variable in the selected training example, replacing the observation value with the average observation value of the first variable, running the modified example in the decision-support system in the forward mode and recording the output as the modified output; (iv) squaring the difference between the normal output and the modified output and accumulating it as a total, wherein the total for each variable designated the selected variable total for each variable; (v) repeating steps (iii) and (iv) for each variable in the example; (vi) repeating steps (ii)-(v) for each example in the data set, wherein each total for the selected variable represents the relative contribution of each variable to the determination of the decision-support system output.
- 60. The method of claim 58, wherein the sensitivity analysis comprises:
(i) determining an average observation value for each of the variables in the observation data set; (ii) selecting a training example, and running the example through a decision-support system to produce an output value, designated and stored as the normal output; (iii) selecting a first variable in the selected training example, replacing the observation value with the average observation value of the first variable, running the modified example in the decision-support system in the forward mode and recording the output as the modified output; (iv) squaring the difference between the normal output and the modified output and accumulating it as a total, wherein the total for each variable designated the selected variable total for each variable; (v) repeating steps (iii) and (iv) for each variable in the example; (vi) repeating steps (ii)-(v) for each example in the data set, wherein each total for the selected variable represents the relative contribution of each variable to the determination of the decision-support system output.
- 61. The method of claim 60, further comprising:
(vii) ranking the variables according to their relative contribution to the determination of the decision-support system output.
- 62. The method of claim 45, wherein the step of training a second decision-support system includes a validating step wherein a previously-unused set of observation data is run through the second decision-support system after training to provide a performance estimate for indication of the medical condition, wherein the previously-unused set of observation data are collected from patients in whom the medical condition is known.
- 63. The method of claim 45, wherein the step of training a second decision-support system includes partitioning the observation data set into a plurality of partitions comprising at least one testing data partition and a plurality of training data partitions, wherein the second decision-support system is run using the plurality of training data partitions and the testing data partition is used to provide a final performance estimate for the second decision-support system after the training data partitions have been run.
- 64. The method of claim 63, wherein the second decision-support system comprises a plurality of neural networks, each neural network of the plurality having a unique set of starting weights and having a performance rating value.
- 65. The method of claim 64, wherein the final performance estimate is generated by averaging the performance rating values for the plurality of neural networks.
- 66. The method of claim 45, wherein the observation values are obtained from patient historical data results and/or biochemical test results.
- 67. The method of claim 45, wherein the condition is a pregnancy-related condition or endometriosis.
- 68. The method of claim 45, further comprising:
(e) collecting additional observations from patients and categorizing them into a set of candidate variables, which are then added to first set of candidate variables; and then (f) repeating steps (c) and (d).
- 69. The method of claim 24, wherein the test assesses the presence, absence, severity or course of treatment of a disease, disorder or other medical condition or aids in determining the outcome resulting from a selected treatment.
- 70. The method of claim 24, wherein the test assesses the presence, absence, severity or course of treatment of a disease, disorder or other medical condition or aids in determining the outcome resulting from a selected treatment.
- 71. The method of claim 45, further comprising identifying any biochemical test data variable~s) that end up in the sinal subset of selected important variables, whereby the identified biochemical test data variable(s) serve as indicators of the disease, disorder or condition.
- 72. The method of claim 71, wherein the test assesses the presence, absence, severity or course of treatment of a disease, disorder or other medical condition or aids in determining the outcome resulting from a selected treatment.
- 73. The method of claim 71, wherein the test assesses the presence, absence, severity or course of treatment of a disease, disorder or other medical condition or aids in determining the outcome resulting from a selected treatment.
- 74. The method of claim 71, wherein the decision-support system includes a neural network and the final set constitutes a consensus of neural networks.
- 75. The method of claim 71, wherein the first subset of relevant variables is identified using sensitivity analysis performed on the decision-support based system or consensus thereof.
- 76. The method of claim 71, wherein the first decision-support system includes at least one neural network.
- 77. The method of claim 71, wherein the second decision-support system includes at least one neural network.
- 78. The method of claim 71, wherein the step of selecting a subset of selected important variables includes:
(i) providing a first set of n candidate variables and a second set of selected important variables, wherein the second set is initially empty; (ii) taking candidate variables one at a time and evaluating each by training a decision-support system on that variable combined with the current set of selected important variables; (iii) selecting the best of the candidate variables, wherein the best variable is any one that gives the highest performance of the decision-support system, and if the best candidate variable improves performance compared to the performance of the selected important variables, adding it to the selected important variable set, removing it from the candidate set and continuing evaluating at step (ii), wherein the best candidate variable does not improve performance, the process is completed.
- 79. The method of claim 71, wherein the step of selecting a subset of selected important variables includes:
(i) providing a first set of n candidate variables and a second set of selected important variables, wherein the second set is initially empty; (ii) ranking all candidate variables, wherein the ranking is either arbitrary or ordered; (iii) taking the highest m ranked variables one at a time, wherein m is from 1 up to n, and evaluating each by training a decision-support system on that variable combined with the current set of selected important variables; (iv) selecting the best of the m variables, wherein the best variable is the one that gives the highest performance of the decision-support system, and if the best variable improves performance compared to the performance of the selected important variables, adding it to the selected important variable set, removing it from the candidate set and continuing evaluating at step (iii), if the variable does not improve performance in comparison to the performance of the selected important variables, evaluating is continued at step (v); (v) determining if all variables on the candidate set have been evaluated, wherein if they have been evaluated, the process is complete and the set of selected important variables is a completed set, otherwise continuing by taking the next highest m ranked variables one at a time, and evaluating each by training a decision-support-system on that variable combined with the current set of important selected variables and performing step (iv).
- 80. The method of claim 79, wherein the candidate variables include biochemical test data.
- 81. The method of claim 79, wherein ranking is based on an analysis comprising a sensitivity analysis or other decision-support system-based analysis.
- 82. The method of claim 79, wherein ranking is based on process comprising a statistical analysis.
- 83. The method of claim 79, wherein ranking is based on a process comprising chi square, regression analysis or discriminant analysis.
- 84. The method of claim 79, wherein ranking is determined by a process that uses evaluation by an expert, a rule based system, a sensitivity analysis or combinations thereof.
- 85. The method of claim 81, wherein the sensitivity analysis, comprises:
(i) determining an average observation value for each of the variables in the observation data set; (ii) selecting a training example, and running the example through a decision-support system to produce an output value, designated and stored as the normal output; (iii) selecting a first variable in the selected training example, replacing the observation value with the average observation value of the first variable, running the modified example in the decision-support system in the forward mode and recording the output as the modified output; (iv) squaring the difference between the normal output and the modified output and accumulating it as a total, wherein the total for each variable designated the selected variable total for each variable; (v) repeating steps (iii) and (iv) for each variable in the example; (vi) repeating steps (ii)-(v) for each example in the data set, wherein each total for the selected variable represents the relative contribution of each variable to the determination of the decision-support system output.
- 86. The method of claim 84, wherein the sensitivity analysis comprises:
(i) determining an average observation value for each of the variables in the observation data set; (ii) selecting a training example, and running the example through a decision-support system to produce an output value, designated and stored as the normal output; (iii) selecting a first variable in the selected training example, replacing the observation value with the average observation value of the first variable, running the modified example in the decision-support system in the forward mode and recording the output as the modified output; (iv) squaring the difference between the normal output and the modified output and accumulating it as a total, wherein the total for each variable designated the selected variable total for each variable; (v) repeating steps (iii) and (iv) for each variable in the example; (vi) repeating steps (ii)-(v) for each example in the data set, wherein each total for the selected variable represents the relative contribution of each variable to the determination of the decision-support system output.
- 87. The method of claim 86, further comprising:
(vii) ranking the variables according to their relative contribution to the determination of the decision-support system output.
- 88. The method of claim 71, wherein the step of training a second decision-support system includes a validating step wherein a previously-unused set of observation data is run through the second decision-support system after training to provide a performance estimate for indication of the medical condition, wherein the previously-unused set of observation data are collected from patients in whom the medical condition is known.
- 89. The method of claim 71, wherein the step of training a second decision-support system includes partitioning the observation data set into a plurality of partitions comprising at least one testing data partition and a plurality of training data partitions, wherein the second decision-support system is run using the plurality of training data partitions and the testing data partition is used to provide a final performance estimate for the second decision-support system after the training data partitions have been run.
- 90. The method of claim 89, wherein the second decision-support system comprises a plurality of neural networks, each neural network of the plurality having a unique set of starting weights and having a performance rating value.
- 91. The method of claim 90, wherein the final performance estimate is generated by averaging the performance rating values for the plurality of neural networks.
- 92. The method of claim 71, wherein the observation values are obtained from patient historical data results and/or biochemical test results.
- 93. The method of claim 71, wherein the condition is a pregnancy-related condition or endometriosis.
- 94. The method of claim 71, further comprising:
(e) collecting additional observations from patients and categorizing them into a set of candidate variables, which are then added to first set of candidate variables; and then (f) repeating steps (c) and (d).
- 95. The method of claim 71, further comprising developing a diagnostic biochemical test for the identified biochemical test data variable(s).
- 96. A method for developing new biochemical tests or identifying new disease markers, comprising:
performing the method of claim 71, and identifying biochemical data variables that are selected important variables; and developing tests that detect the biochemical data or disease marker from which the variable is derived.
- 97. In a computer system, a method for analyzing effectiveness of a diagnostic test to aid in diagnosing the presence, absence or severity of a medical condition or to assess a course of treatment or the effectiveness of a particular treatment in a patient comprising:
(a) collecting observations from a group of test patients in whom the medical condition is known; (b) categorizing the observations into a set of candidate variables having observation values and storing the observation values as a observation data set in a computer; (c) selecting a subset of selected important variables from the set of candidate variables by classifying the observation data set using a first decision-support system programmed into the computer system; and (d) training a second decision-support system using the observation data corresponding to the subset of selected important variables; (e) collecting results of the diagnostic test under analysis or collecting observations after or during treatment from same the group of test patients; (f) categorizing the observations into a second set of candidate variables having observation values, combining them with the observations from step (b), and storing the observation values as a observation data set in a computer; (g) selecting a second subset of selected important variables by classifying the observation data set using a first decision-support system programmed into the computer system; (h) training a third decision-support system using the observation data corresponding to a subset of selected important variables from step (g); (i) comparing the performance of the second and third systems, and thereby identifying assessing the effectiveness of a diagnostic test to aid in diagnosing the presence, absence or severity of a medical condition or to assessing the effectiveness of a course of treatment or the effectiveness of a particular treatment in treating a disease, disorder or condition.
- 98. The method of claim 97, wherein the method assesses the effectiveness of a diagnostic test in aiding in a diagnosis.
- 99. The method of claim 97, wherein the method assesses the presence, absence, severity or course of treatment of a disease, disorder or other medical condition or aids in determining the outcome resulting from a selected treatment.
- 100. The method of claim 97, wherein the decision-support system includes a neural network and the final set constitutes a consensus of neural networks.
- 101. The method of claim 97, wherein the first subset of relevant variables is identified using sensitivity analysis performed on the decision-support based system or consensus thereof.
- 102. The method of claim 97, wherein the first decision-support system includes at least one neural network.
- 103. The method of claim 97, wherein the second decision-support system includes at least one neural network.
- 104. The method of claim 97, wherein the third decision-support system includes at least one neural network.
- 105. The method of claim 97, wherein the step of selecting a subset of selected important variables includes:
(i) providing a first set of n candidate variables and a second set of selected important variables, wherein the second set is initially empty; (ii) taking candidate variables one at a time and evaluating each by training a decision-support system on that variable combined with the current set of selected important variables; (iii) selecting the best of the candidate variables, wherein the best variable is any one that gives the highest performance of the decision-support system, and if the best candidate variable improves performance compared to the performance of the selected important variables, adding it to the selected important variable set, removing it from the candidate set and continuing evaluating at step (ii), wherein the best candidate variable does not improve performance, the process is completed.
- 106. The method of claim 97, wherein the step of selecting a subset of selected important variables includes:
(i) providing a first set of n candidate variables and a second set of selected important variables, wherein the second set is initially empty; (ii) ranking all candidate variables, wherein the ranking is either arbitrary or ordered; (iii) taking the highest m ranked variables one at a time, wherein m is from 1 up to n, and evaluating each by training a decision-support system on that variable combined with the current set of selected important variables; (iv) selecting the best of the m variables, wherein the best variable is the one that gives the highest performance of the decision-support system, and if the best variable improves performance compared to the performance of the selected important variables, adding it to the selected important variable set, removing it from the candidate set and continuing evaluating at step (iii), if the variable does not improve performance in comparison to the performance of the selected important variables, evaluating is continued at step (v); (v) determining if all variables on the candidate set have been evaluated, wherein if they have been evaluated, the process is complete and the set of selected important variables is a completed set, otherwise continuing by taking the next highest m ranked variables one at a time, and evaluating each by training a decision-support-system on that variable combined with the current set of important selected variables and performing step (iv).
- 107. The method of claim 106, wherein ranking is based on an analysis comprising a sensitivity analysis or other decision-support system-based analysis.
- 108. The method of claim 106, wherein ranking is based on process comprising a statistical analysis.
- 109. The method of claim 106, wherein ranking is based on a process comprising chi square, regression analysis or discriminant analysis.
- 110. The method of claim 107, wherein ranking is determined by a process that uses evaluation by an expert, a rule based system, a sensitivity analysis or combinations thereof.
- 111. The method of claim 107, wherein the sensitivity analysis, comprises:
(i) determining an average observation value for each of the variables in the observation data set; (ii) selecting a training example, and running the example through a decision-support system to produce an output value, designated and stored as the normal output; (iii) selecting a first variable in the selected training example, replacing the observation value with the average observation value of the first variable, running the modified example in the decision-support system in the forward mode and recording the output as the modified output; (iv) squaring the difference between the normal output and the modified output and accumulating it as a total, wherein the total for each variable designated the selected variable total for each variable; (v) repeating steps (iii) and (iv) for each variable in the example; (vi) repeating steps (ii)-(v) for each example in the data set, wherein each total for the selected variable represents the relative contribution of each variable to the determination of the decision-support system output.
- 112. The method of claim 110, wherein the sensitivity analysis comprises:
(i) determining an average observation value for each of the variables in the observation data set; (ii) selecting a training example, and running the example through a decision-support system to produce an output value, designated and stored as the normal output; (iii) selecting a first variable in the selected training example, replacing the observation value with the average observation value of the first variable, running the modified example in the decision-support system in the forward mode and recording the output as the modified output; (iv) squaring the difference between the normal output and the modified output and accumulating it as a total, wherein the total for each variable designated the selected variable total for each variable; (v) repeating steps (iii) and (iv) for each variable in the example; (vi) repeating steps (ii)-(v) for each example in the data set, wherein each total for the selected variable represents the relative contribution of each variable to the determination of the decision-support system output.
- 113. The method of claim 112, further comprising:
(vii) ranking the variables according to their relative contribution to the determination of the decision-support system output.
- 114. The method of claim 97, wherein the step of training a second and/or third decision-support system includes a validating step wherein a previously-unused set of observation data is run through the second decision-support system after training to provide a performance estimate for indication of the medical condition, wherein the previously-unused set of observation data are collected from patients in whom the medical condition is known.
- 115. The method of claim 97, wherein the step of training a second and/or third decision-support system includes partitioning the observation data set into a plurality of partitions comprising at least one testing data partition and a plurality of training data partitions, wherein the second decision-support system is run using the plurality of training data partitions and the testing data partition is used to provide a final performance estimate for the second decision-support system after the training data partitions have been run.
- 116. The method of claim 115, wherein the each decision-support system comprises a plurality of neural networks, each neural network of the plurality having a unique set of starting weights and having a performance rating value.
- 117. The method of claim 116, wherein the final performance estimate is generated by averaging the performance rating values for the plurality of neural networks.
- 118. The method of claim 97, wherein the observation values are obtained from patient historical data results and/or biochemical test results.
- 119. The method of claim 97, wherein the condition is a pregnancy-related condition or endometriosis.
- 120. The method of claim 97, further comprising:
collecting additional observations from patients and categorizing them into a set of candidate variables, which are then added to first set of candidate variables at step (b); and then (j) repeating steps (c) - (i).
- 121. In a computer system, a method for developing a condition-specific biochemical test to aid in diagnosing the presence, absence, or severity of a medical condition in a patient comprising:
(a) collecting test results of a biochemical test from a group of test patients in whom the condition is known or suspected; (b) categorizing the observations into a set of candidate variables having observation values and storing the observation values as a observation data set in a computer; (c) selecting a subset of selected important variables from a set of variables comprising the candidate variables by classifying the observation data set using a first decision-support system programmed into the computer system, whereby the subset of selected important variables includes the candidate variables substantially indicative of the medical condition; and (d) identifying those variable(s) in the selected important variable set that correspond to biochemical data; and (e) designing or selecting a biochemical test that assesses the data that corresponds to the identified variable(s).
- 122. The method of claim 121, wherein the decision-support system includes neural network or consensus thereof.
- 123. The method of claim 121, wherein the test assesses the presence, absence, severity or course of treatment of a disease, disorder or other medical condition or aids in determining the outcome resulting from a selected treatment.
- 124. The method of claim 121, wherein the test assesses the presence, absence, severity or course of treatment of a disease, disorder or other medical condition or aids in determining the outcome resulting from a selected treatment.
- 125. The method of claim 121, wherein the decision-support system includes a neural network and the final set constitutes a consensus of neural networks.
- 126. The method of claim 121, wherein the first subset of relevant variables is identified using sensitivity analysis performed on the decision-support based system or consensus thereof.
- 127. The method of claim 121, wherein the first decision-support system includes at least one neural network.
- 128. The method of claim 121, wherein the second decision-support system includes at least one neural network.
- 129. The method of claim 121, wherein the step of selecting a subset of selected important variables includes:
(i) providing a first set of n candidate variables and a second set of selected important variables, wherein the second set is initially empty; (ii) taking candidate variables one at a time and evaluating each by training a decision-support system on that variable combined with the current set of selected important variables; (iii) selecting the best of the candidate variables, wherein the best variable is any one that gives the highest performance of the decision-support system, and if the best candidate variable improves performance compared to the performance of the selected important variables, adding it to the selected important variable set, removing it from the candidate set and continuing evaluating at step (ii), wherein the best candidate variable does not improve performance, the process is completed.
- 130. The method of claim 121, wherein the step of selecting a subset of selected important variables includes:
(i) providing a first set of n candidate variables and a second set of selected important variables, wherein the second set is initially empty; (ii) ranking all candidate variables, wherein the ranking is either arbitrary or ordered; (iii) taking the highest m ranked variables one at a time, wherein m is from 1 up to n, and evaluating each by training a decision-support system on that variable combined with the current set of selected important variables; (iv) selecting the best of the m variables, wherein the best variable is the one that gives the highest performance of the decision-support system, and if the best variable improves performance compared to the performance of the selected important variables, adding it to the selected important variable set, removing it from the candidate set and continuing evaluating at step (iii), if the variable does not improve performance in comparison to the performance of the selected important variables, evaluating is continued at step (v); (v) determining if all variables on the candidate set have been evaluated, wherein if they have been evaluated, the process is complete and the set of selected important variables is a completed set, otherwise continuing by taking the next highest m ranked variables one at a time, and evaluating each by training a decision-support-system on that variable combined with the current set of important selected variables and performing step (iv).
- 131. The method of claim 130, wherein the candidate variables include biochemical test data.
- 132. The method of claim 130, wherein ranking is based on an analysis comprising a sensitivity analysis or other decision-support system-based analysis.
- 133. The method of claim 130, wherein ranking is based on process comprising a statistical analysis.
- 134. The method of claim 130, wherein ranking is based on a process comprising chi square, regression analysis or discriminant analysis.
- 135. The method of claim 131, wherein ranking is determined by a process that uses evaluation by an expert, a rule based system, a sensitivity analysis or combinations thereof.
- 136. The method of claim 132, wherein the sensitivity analysis, comprises:
(i) determining an average observation value for each of the variables in the observation data set; (ii) selecting a training example, and running the example through a decision-support system to produce an output value, designated and stored as the normal output; (iii) selecting a first variable in the selected training example, replacing the observation value with the average observation value of the first variable, running the modified example in the decision-support system in the forward mode and recording the output as the modified output; (iv) squaring the difference between the normal output and the modified output and accumulating it as a total, wherein the total for each variable designated the selected variable total for each variable; (v) repeating steps (iii) and (iv) for each variable in the example; (vi) repeating steps (ii)-(v) for each example in the data set, wherein each total for the selected variable represents the relative contribution of each-variable to the determination of the decision-support system output.
- 137. The method of claim 135, wherein the sensitivity analysis comprises:
(i) determining an average observation value for each of the variables in the observation data set; (ii) selecting a training example, and running the example through a decision-support system to produce an output value, designated and stored as the normal output; (iii) selecting a first variable in the selected training example, replacing the observation value with the average observation value of the first variable, running the modified example in the decision-support system in the forward mode and recording the output as the modified output; (iv) squaring the difference between the normal output and the modified output and accumulating it as a total, wherein the total for each variable designated the selected variable total for each variable; (v) repeating steps (iii) and (iv) for each variable in the example; (vi) repeating steps (ii)-(v) for each example in the data set, wherein each total for the selected variable represents the relative contribution of each variable to the determination of the decision-support system output.
- 138. The method of claim 137, further comprising:
(vii) ranking the variables according to their relative contribution to the determination of the decision-support system output.
- 139. The method of claim 121, wherein the step of training a second decision-support system includes a validating step wherein a previously-unused set of observation data is run through the second decision-support system after training to provide a performance estimate for indication of the medical condition, wherein the previously-unused set of observation data are collected from patients in whom the medical condition is known.
- 140. The method of claim 121, wherein the step of training a second decision-support system includes partitioning the observation data set into a plurality of partitions comprising at least one testing data partition and a plurality of training data partitions, wherein the second decision-support system is run using the plurality of training data partitions and the testing data partition is used to provide a final performance estimate for the second decision-support system after the training data partitions have been run.
- 141. The method of claim 140, wherein the second decision-support system comprises a plurality of neural networks, each neural network of the plurality having a unique set of starting weights and having a performance rating value.
- 142. The method of claim 141, wherein the final performance estimate is generated by averaging the performance rating values for the plurality of neural networks.
- 143. The method of claim 121, wherein the observation values are obtained from patient historical data results and/or biochemical test results.
- 144. The method of claim 121, wherein the condition is a pregnancy-related condition or endometriosis.
- 145. The method of claim 121, further comprising:
(e) collecting additional observations from patients and categorizing them into a set of candidate variables, which are then added to first set of candidate variables; and then (f) repeating steps (c) and (d).
- 146. A method for diagnosing endometriosis, comprising assessing a subset containing at least three of the following variables:
01. 10. Past history of Endo 02. 6. number of births 03. 14. dysmenorrhea 04. 1. age (preproc) 05. 13. pelvic pain 06. 11. history of pelvic surgery 07. 4. smoking (packs/day) 08. 1 2. medication History 09. 5. number of pregnancies 10. 7. number of abortions 11. 9. Abnormal PAP smear/dysplasia 12. 3. Pregnancy hyperplasia 13. 8. Genital Warts 14. 2. Diabetes using a decision-support system that has been trained to diagnose endometriosis.
- 147. The method of claim 146, wherein the selected subset of these variables contains one or more of the following combinations of three variables set forth in sets (a)-(n):
a) number of births, history of endometriosis, history of pelvic surgery; b) diabetes, pregnancy hypertension, smoking; c) pregnancy hypertension, abnormal pap smear/dysplasia, history of endometriosis; d) age, smoking, history of endometriosis; e) smoking, history of endometriosis, dysmenorrhea; f) age, diabetes, history of endometriosis; g) pregnancy hypertension, number of births, history of endometriosis; h) Smoking, number of births, history of endometriosis; i) pregnancy hypertension, history endometriosis, history of pelvic surgery; j) number of pregnancies, history of endometriosis, history of pelvic surgery; k) number of births, abnormal PAP smear/dysplasia, history of endometriosis; l) number of births, abnormal PAP smear/dysplasia, dysmenorrhea; m) history of endometriosis, history of pelvic surgery, dysmenorrhea; and n) number of pregnancies, history of endometriosis, dysmenorrhea.
- 148. The method of claim 147, wherein the decision support system is a neural network.
- 149. The method of claim 24, wherein the disorder is endometriosis and the candidate variables comprise at least four of the variables selected from:
(i) past history of endometriosis, number of births, dysmenorrhea, age, pelvic pain, history of pelvic surgery, smoking quantity per day, medication history, number of pregnancies, number of abortions, abnormal PAP/dysplasia, pregnancy hypertension, genital warts, and diabetes, or (ii) age, parity, gravidity, number of abortions, smoking quantity per day, past history of endometriosis, dysmenorrhea, pelvic pain, abnormal PAP, history of pelvic surgery, medication history, pregnancy hypertension, genital warts and diabetes.
- 150. The method of claim 149, wherein the decision-support system comprises a neural network or a consensus of neural networks.
- 151. The method of claim 149, wherein at least five variables are selected.
- 152. In a computer system, a method to aid in diagnosis of the presence, absence or severity of endometriosis in a patient comprising:
(a) collecting observation values reflecting presence and absence of specified clinical data factors and storing the observed clinical data factors in storage means of the computer system, the specified clinical data factors comprising at least four of the factors selected from:
(i) past history of endometriosis, number of births, dysmenorrhea, age, pelvic pain, history of pelvic surgery, smoking quantity per day, medication history, number of pregnancies, number of abortions, abnormal PAP/dysplasia, pregnancy hypertension, genital warts, and diabetes, or (ii) age, parity, gravidity, number of abortions, smoking quantity per day, past history of endometriosis, dysmenorrhea, pelvic pain, abnormal PAP, history of pelvic surgery, medication history, pregnancy hypertension, genital warts and diabetes; (b) applying the observation values from the memory means to a first decision-support system trained on samples of the specified factors; and thereupon (c) extracting from the first decision-support system an output value, wherein the output value is a quantitative objective aid to enhance decision processes for a diagnosis of endometriosis.
- 153. The method of claim 152, wherein the decision-support system comprises a neural network.
- 154. The method of claim 152, wherein at least five factors are selected.
- 155. The method of claim 152, further comprising:
b1) applying said observation values from said memory means to a plurality of the first decision-support system, wherein each one of the first decision-support systems is trained on the samples of the specified factors with different starting weights for each training; c1) extracting from the first decision-support system, output value pairs for each one of said first neural networks; and d) forming a linear combination of said first ones of said output value pairs and forming a linear combination of said second ones of said output value pairs, to obtain a confidence index pair, said confidence index pair being said quantitative objective aid.
- 156. The method of claim 155, wherein the first decision support system is a neural network that comprises a three-layer network containing an input layer, a hidden layer and an output layer, the input layer having fourteen input nodes, first and second hidden layer nodes, a hidden layer bias for each hidden layer node, first and second output layer nodes in the output layer, and an output layer bias for each output layer node.
- 157. The method of claim 155, wherein the first decision support system is a neural network and each of the plurality of first trained neural networks comprises a three-layer network comprising an input layer, a hidden layer and an output layer.
- 158. The method of claim 155, wherein the first decision support system is a neural network that comprises a three-layer network comprising an input layer, a hidden layer and an output layer, the input layer having fourteen input nodes, first and second hidden layer nodes and a hidden layer bias for each hidden layer node and first and second output layer nodes in the output layer and an output layer bias for each output layer node,
wherein weights, in order of identification as follows:
0. Bias 1. Age 2. Diabetes 3. Pregnancy hypertension 4. Smoking Packs/Day 5. Number of Pregnancies 6. Number of Births 7. Number of Abortions 8. Genital Warts 9. Abnormal PAP/Dysplasia 10. History of Endometriosis 11. History of Pelvic Surgery 12. Medication History 13. Pelvic Pain 14. Dysmenorrhea are as follows for each of eight neural networks of the first neural networks: First neural network A to processing element at the first hidden layer node:
0.15 -1.19 -0.76 3.01 1.81 1.87 3.56 -0.48 1.33-1.96-4.45 1.36 -1.61 -1.97 -0.91 to processing element at the second hidden layer node:
0.77 2.25-2.30-1.48-0.85 0.27 -1.70-0.47 0.84-6.19 0.50-0.95 0.40 2.38 1.86 output layer weights (0 bias, first hidden layer weight, second hidden layer weight) to processing element at the first output layer node:
-0.12 -0.44 0.66 to processing element at the second output layer node:
0.12 0.44 -0.65 First neural network B to processing element at the first hidden layer node:
-0.16 -3.30 0.85 1.00 0.99 -0.81 1.57-1.40 0.46 1.16-0.80-0.01 -1.19 -1.10-2.29 to processing element at the second hidden layer node:
-1.62 0.79 0.45 2.14 3.82 3.93 3.96 2.27-0.54 1.51 -4.76 2.83 0.74 -0.43 -0.17 output layer weights (0 bias, first hidden layer weight, second hidden layer weight) to processing element at the first output layer node:
0.70 -0.69 -0.65 to processing element at the second output layer node:
-0.70 0.69 0.65 First neural network C to processing element at the first hidden layer node:
0.94 1.43 0.29 1.17 2.11 -1.16 1.033-0.68-0.88 0.31 -1.74 1.62 -1.49 -1.05 -0.41 to processing element at the second hidden layer node:
0.77 3.31 -1.48-0.83 0.60-2.09 -1.39-0.40-0.19-0.89 1.36 0.59 -1.11 0.26 1.04 output layer weights (0 bias, first hidden layer weight, second hidden layer weight) to processing element at the first output layer node:
0.10 -0.90 0.87 to processing element at the second output layer node:
-0.10 0.90 -0.87 First neural network D to processing element at the first hidden layer node:
1.08 1.27-0.89-1.00-1.74 -0.40 -1.38 1.26 1.06 0.66 0.71 -0.57 0.67 1.89-0.90 to processing element at the second hidden layer node:
-0.03 -0.58 -0.46 -0.94 0.73 0.10 0.55-0.79-0.098-1.36 1.01 0.00 -0.38 -0.49 1.57 output layer weights (0 bias, first hidden layer weight, second hidden layer weight) to processing element at the first output layer node:
-1.43 1.39 1.28 to processing element at the second output layer node:
1.30 -1.28 -1.17 First neural network E to processing element at the first hidden layer node:
0.14-2.12 8.36 1.02 1.79 0.31 2.87 0.84-1.24-1.75-2.98 1.72 -1.22 -2.47 -1.14 to processing element at the second hidden layer node:
-3.93 -1.07 1.16 1.39 1.01 -1.08 2.33 0.76-0.51 -0.31 -1.92 0.59 0.06 -0.76 -1.44 output layer weights (0 bias, first hidden layer weight, second hidden layer weight) to processing element at the first output layer node:
0.46-0.52-0.80 to processing element at the second output layer node:
-0.46 0.51 0.82 First neural network F to processing element at the first hidden layer node:
-1.19-2.93 1.19 6.85 1.08 0.66 1.65 -0.28 -1.63 -1.15 -0.79 0.43 -0.13 -3.10 -2.27 to processing element at the second hidden layer node:
0.82 0.19 0.72 0.83 0.59 0.07 1.06 0.51 1.04 1.47-1.97 0.97 -0.91 -0.15 0.09 output layer weights (0 bias, first hidden layer weight, second hidden layer weight) to processing element at the first output layer node:
0.68 -0.67 -0.58 to processing element at the second output layer node:
-0.68 0.67 0.58 First neural network G to processing element at the first hidden layer node:
-1.18 -2.55 0.48 -1.40 1.11 -0.28 2.33 0.33-1.92 0.99-1.41 0.68 -0.28 -1.65 -0.79 to processing element at the second hidden layer node:
1.07 1.11 0.52 1.41 0.55 -0.48 -0.23 0.44-1.23 0.77-2.96 1.39 -0.28 -0.64 -2.38 output layer weights (0 bias, first hidden layer weight, second hidden layer weight) to processing element at the first output layer node:
0.69 -0.70 -0.50 to processing element at the second output layer node:
-0.69 0.70 0.50 First neural network H to processing element at the first hidden layer node:
15.74 -0.76 -0.91 -1.13 -0.75 -0.66 -0.83 1.03 0.75 -0.48 -0.47 2.01 -0.02 0.25 1.11 to processing element at the second hidden layer node:
-2.48-2.49 0.99 1.97 2.41 1.51 1.01 -0.26-0.76 2.00-5.03 1.77 -0.77 -2.29 -2.01 output layer weights (0 bias, first hidden layer weight, second hidden layer weight) to processing element at the first output layer node:
0.02 0.41 -0.84 to processing element at the second output layer node:
-0.75 0.34 0.85.
- 159. The method of claim 158, wherein normalized observation values for each one of the first neural networks have the following mean and standard deviations, in order of the identification:
-0.00 1.00 0.01 0.08 0.01 0.09 0.16 0.37 1.09 1.39 0.55 0.94 0.54 0.93 0.01 0.10 0.03 0.17 0.23 0.42 0.65 0.48 0.39 0.49 0.19 0.39 0.72 0.45.
- 160. In a computer system, a method to aid in diagnosis of the presence, absence or severity of endometriosis in a patient comprising the steps of:
(a) collecting observation values reflecting presence and absence of specified factors and storing the observation factors in storage means of the computer system, the specified factors comprising: past history of the disease, number of births, dysmenorrhea, age, pelvic pain, history of pelvic surgery, smoking quantity per day, medication history, number of pregnancies, number of abortions, abnormal PAP/dysplasia, pregnancy hypertension, genital warts, and diabetes; (b) obtaining results from the patient of a biochemical test relevant to endometriosis and storing in the memory mean; (c) applying the observation values and the relevant biochemical test results from the memory means to a second neural network trained on samples of the specified factors and the test results; and thereupon (d) extracting from the second trained neural network an output value pair, the output value pair being a preliminary indicator for the diagnosis of endometriosis.
- 161. The method of claim 160, further including the steps of:
(c1) applying the observation values and the relevant biochemical test results from the memory means to a plurality of the second neural networks, each one of the first neural networks being trained on the samples of the specified factors with starting weights for each training being randomly initialized; (d1) extracting from each one of the first trained neural networks, output value pairs for each one of the first neural networks; and (e) forming a linear combination of the first ones of the output value pairs and forming a linear combination of the second ones of the output value pairs, to obtain a confidence index pair, the confidence index pair being a final indicator for the diagnosis of endometriosis.
- 162. The method of claim 160, wherein the first trained neural network comprises a three-layer network containing an input layer, a hidden layer and an output layer, the input layer having fifteen input nodes, first and second hidden layer nodes, a hidden layer bias for each hidden layer node, first and second output layer nodes in the output layer, and an output layer bias for each output layer node.
- 163. The method of claim 161, wherein the plurality of the second trained neural networks each comprises a three-layer network containing an input layer, a hidden layer and an output layer, the input layer having fifteen input nodes, first and second hidden layer nodes and a hidden layer bias for each hidden layer node and first and second output layer nodes in the output layer and an output layer bias for each output layer node,
wherein weights, in order of identification as follows:
0. Bias 1. Age 2. Diabetes 3. Pregnancy hypertension 4. Smoking Packs/Day 5. Number of Pregnancies 6. Number of Births 7. Number of Abortions 8. Genital Warts 9. Abnormal PAP/Dysplasia 10. History of Endometriosis 11. History of Pelvic Surgery 12. Medication History 13. Pelvic Pain 14. Dysmenorrhea 15. Biochemical test results.
- 164. In a computer system, a neural network system to aid in diagnosis of the presence, absence or severity of endometriosis in a patient, the neural network system comprising:
a plurality of first trained neural networks each comprising a three-layer network containing an input layer, a hidden layer and an output layer, the input layer having fourteen input nodes, first and second hidden layer nodes, a hidden layer bias for each hidden layer node, first and second output layer nodes in the output layer, and an output layer bias for each output layer node, each trained neural network for generating a preliminary indicator for the diagnosis of endometriosis; input means for observed values of clinical data factors; storage means of the computer system for the observed values of the clinical data factors, the clinical data factors comprising: past history of the disease, number of births, dysmenorrhea, age, pelvic pain, history of pelvic surgery, smoking quantity per day, medication history, number of pregnancies, number of abortions, abnormal PAP/dysplasia, pregnancy hypertension, genital warts, and diabetes; and means for building a consensus from the output layer nodes, the consensus being a quantitative objective aid to enhance the decision process for the diagnosis of endometriosis.
- 165. The neural network system of claim 164, further including:
an input normalizer for normalizing the observation values from the memory means to a plurality of the first neural networks, each one of the first neural networks being trained on the samples of the specified factors with starting weights for each training being randomly initialized.
- 166. The neural network system of claim 164, wherein the consensus builder comprises a linear combiner of first ones of output value pairs and of second ones of output value pairs, to obtain a confidence index pair, the confidence index pair being the consensus and final indicator for the diagnosis of endometriosis.
- 167. The neural network system of claim 164, wherein weights, in order of identification as follows:
0. Bias 1. Age 2. Diabetes 3. Pregnancy hypertension 4. Smoking Packs/Day 5. Number ofPregnancies 6. Number of Births 7. Number of Abortions 8. Genital Warts 9. Abnormal PAP/Dysplasia 10. History of Endometriosis 11. History of Pelvic Surgery 12. Medication History 13. Pelvic Pain 14. Dysmenorrhea are as follows for each of eight the first neural networks: First neural network A to processing element at the first hidden layer node:
0.15-1.19-0.76 3.01 1.81 1.87 3.56-0.48 1.33-1.96-4.45 1.36 -1.61 -1.97 -0.91 to processing element at the second hidden layer node:
0.77 2.25-2.30-1.48-0.85 0.27 -1.70 -0.47 0.84 -6.19 0.50 -0.95 0.40 2.38 1.86 output layer weights (0 bias, first hidden layer weight, second hidden layer weight) to processing element at the first output layer node:
-0.12 -0.44 0.66 to processing element at the second output layer node:
0.12 0.44 -0.65 First neural network B to processing element at the first hidden layer node:
-0.16-3.29 0.85 1.00 0.99-0.81 1.57-1.40 0.46 1.16-0.80-0.01 -1.19 -1.10 -2.29 to processing element at the second hidden layer node:
-1.62 0.79 0.45 2.14 3.82 3.93 3.96 2.27-0.54 1.51 -4.76 2.83 0.74 -0.43 -0.17 output layer weights (0 bias, first hidden layer weight, second hidden layer weight) to processing element at the first output layer node:
0.70 -0.69 -0.65 to processing element at the second output layer node:
-0.70 0.69 0.65 First neural network C to processing element at the first hidden layer node:
0.94 1.43 0.29 1.17 2.11 -1.16 1.03-0.68-0.88 0.31 -1.74 1.62 -1.49 -1.05 -0.41 to processing element at the second hidden layer node:
0.77 3.31 -1.48-0.83 0.60-2.09 -1.39-0.40-0.19-0.89 1.36 0.59 -1.11 0.26 1.04 output layer weights (0 bias, first hidden layer weight, second hidden layer weight) to processing element at the first output layer node:
0.10 -0.90 0.87 to processing element at the second output layer node:
-0.10 0.90 -0.87 First neural network D to processing element at the first hidden layer node:
1.08 1.27-0.89-1.00-1.74 -0.40 -1.38 1.26 1.06 0.66 0.71 -0.57 0.67 1.89-0.90 to processing element at the second hidden layer node:
-0.03 -0.58-0.46-0.94 0.73 0.10 0.55 -0.79 -0.10 -1.36 1.01 0.00 -0.38 -0.49 1.57 output layer weights (0 bias, first hidden layer weight, second hidden layer weight) to processing element at the first output layer node:
-1.43 1.39 1.28 to processing element at the second output layer node:
1.30 -1.28 -1.17 First neural network E to processing element at the first hidden layer node:
0.14-2.12 8.36 1.02 1.79 0.31 2.87 0.84-1.24-1.75-2.98 1.72 -1.22 -2.47 -1.14 to processing element at the second hidden layer node:
-3.93-1.07 1.16 1.39 1.01 -1.08 2.33 0.76-0.51 -0.31 -1.92 0.59 0.06 -0.76 -1.44 output layer weights (0 bias, first hidden layer weight, second hidden layer weight) to processing element at the first output layer node:
0.46 -0.52 -0.80 to processing element at the second output layer node:
-0.46 0.51 0.82 First neural network F to processing element at the first hidden layer node:
-1.19-2.93 1.19 6.85 1.08 0.66 1.65 -0.28 -1.63 -1.15 -0.79 0.43 -0.13 -3.10 -2.27 to processing element at the second hidden layer node:
0.82 0.19 0.72 0.83 0.59 0.07 1.06 0.51 1.04 1.47-1.97 0.97 -0.91 -0.15 0.09 output layer weights (0 bias, first hidden layer weight, second hidden layer weight) to processing element at the first output layer node:
0.68 -0.67 -0.58 to processing element at the second output layer node: -0.68 0.67 0.58 First neural network G to processing element at the first hidden layer node:
-1.18 -2.55 0.48 -1.40 1.11 -0.28 2.33 0.33-1.92 0.99-1.41 0.68 -0.28 -1.65 -0.79 to processing element at the second hidden layer node:
1.08 1.11 0.52 1.41 0.55 -0.48 -0.23 0.44-1.23 0.77-2.96 1.39 -0.28 -0.64 -2.38 output layer weights (0 bias, first hidden layer weight, second hidden layer weight) to processing element at the first output layer node:
0.69 -0.70 -0.50 to processing element at the second output layer node:
-0.69 0.70 0.50 First neural network H to processing element at the first hidden layer node:
15.74 -0.76 -0.91 -1.13 -0.75 -0.66 -0.83 1.03 0.75-0.48-0.47 2.01 -0.02 0.25 1.11 to processing element at the second hidden layer node:
-2.48-2.49 0.99 1.97 2.41 1.51 1.01 -0.26-0.76 2.00-5.03 1.77 -0.77 -2.29 -2.01 output layer weights (0 bias, first hidden layer weight, second hidden layer weight) to processing element at the first output layer node:
0.017 0.41 -0.84 to processing element at the second output layer node:
-0.75 0.34 0.85.
- 168. The system of claim 167, wherein normalized observation values for each one of the first neural networks have the following mean and standard deviations, in order of the identification:
-0.00 1.00 0.01 0.08 0.01 0.09 0.16 0.37 1.09 1.39 0.55 0.94 0.54 0.93 0.01 0.10 0.03 0.17 0.23 0.42 0.65 0.48 0.39 0.49 0.19 0.39 0.72 0.45.
- 169. The system of claim 164, further comprising storage means for biochemical results, and wherein the plurality of networks have been trained to include biochemical test results.
- 170. The method of claim 5, wherein the pregnancy-related condition is preterm delivery or risk of delivery within a selected time period.
- 171. The method of claim 7, wherein the candidate variables are selected from the group consisting of:
Age; Ethnic origin Caucasian; Ethnic origin Black; ethnic origin Asian; ethnic origin Hispanic; ethnic origin Native American; ethnic origin other than the Native American, Hispanic, Asian, Black, or Caucasian; marital status single; marital status married; marital status divorced or separated; marital status widowed; marital status living with partner; marital status other than married, divorced/separated, widowed, or living with partner; education unknown; education less than high school; education high school graduate; education college or trade school; patient has Uterine Contractions with or without pain; patient has intermittent lower abdominal pain, dull, low backache pelvic pressure; patient has bleeding during the second or third trimester; patient has menstrual-like or intestinal cramping; patient has change in vaginal discharge or amount, color, or consistency; patient is not “feeling right”; pooling; ferning; nitrazine; estimated gestational age (EGA) based on last menstrual period (LMP); EGA by sonogram (SONO); EGA by best, wherein EGA by best refers to the best of EGA by SONO and EGA by LMP determined as follows:
if EGA by SONO is<13 weeks, then EGA best is EGA SONO; if the difference by EGA by LMP and EGA by SONO is>2 weeks, then EGA best is EGA by SONO; otherwise EGA best is EGA by LMP; EGA at sampling; cervical dilatation (CD); gravity; parity-term; parity-preterm; parity-abortions, wherein the number of abortions include spontaneous and elective abortions; parity-living; sex within 24 hrs prior to sampling for fFN; vaginal bleeding at time of sampling; cervical consistency at time of sampling; uterine contractions per hour as interpreted by the physician; no previous pregnancies; at least one previous pregnancy without complications; at least one preterm delivery; at least one previous pregnancy with a premature rupture of membrane (PROM); at least one previous delivery with incompetent cervix; at least on previous pregnancy with pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH)/preeclampsia; at least one previous pregnancy with spontaneous abortion prior to 20 weeks; and at least one previous pregnancy with a complication not listed above.
- 172. The method of claim 171, wherein the biochemical test is a test that detects fetal fibronectin in cervico/vaginal samples.
- 173. The method of claim 41, wherein the pregnancy related condition is preterm delivery or risk of delivery within a selected time period.
- 174. A method for assessing the risk of delivery prior to completion of 35 weeks of gestation, comprising assessing a subset of variables containing at least three and up to all of the following variables:
Ethnic Origin Caucasian; Marital Status living with partner; EGA by sonogram; EGA at sampling; estimated date of delivery by best; cervical dilatation (CM); parity-preterm; vaginal bleeding at time of sampling; cervical consistency at time of sampling; and previous pregnancy without complication, using a decision-support system that has been trained to assesses the risk of delivery prior to 35 weeks of gestation.
- 175. The method of claim 174, wherein the decision support system is a neural network.
- 176. The method of claim 174, wherein the decision-support system has been trained using a set of variables that do not include biochemical test data.
- 177. In a computer system, a method for assessing the risk of delivery prior to completion of 35 weeks of gestation comprising:
(a) collecting observation values reflecting presence and absence of specified clinical data factors and storing the observed clinical data factors in storage means of the computer system, the specified clinical data factors comprising at least four up to all of the factors selected from the group consisting of:
Ethnic Origin Caucasian, Marital Status living with partner, EGA by sonogram, EGA at sampling, estimated date of delivery by best, cervical dilatation (CM), parity-preterm, vaginal bleeding at time of sampling, cervical consistency at time of sampling, and previous pregnancy without complication; (b) applying the observation values from the memory means to a first decision-support system trained on samples of the specified factors; and thereupon (c) extracting from the first decision-support system an output value, wherein the output value is a quantitative objective aid to assess the risk of delivery prior to 35 weeks of gestation.
- 178. The method of claim 177, wherein the decision-support system comprises a neural network.
- 179. The method of claim 177, wherein at least five factors are selected.
- 180. The method of claim 177, wherein the clinical factors further comprise the result of a test that detects fetal fibronectin in cervico/vaginal samples.
- 181. The method of claim 180, wherein the selected factors include the result of the test.
- 182. The method of claim 181, further comprising:
b1) applying said observation values from said memory means to a plurality of the first decision-support system, wherein each one of the first decision-support systems is trained on the samples of the specified factors with different starting weights for each training; c1) extracting from the first decision-support system, output value pairs for each one of said first neural networks; and d) forming a linear combination of said first ones of said output value pairs and forming a linear combination of said second ones of said output value pairs, to obtain a confidence index pair, said confidence index pair being said quantitative objective aid.
- 183. The method of claim 182, wherein the first decision support system is a neural network that comprises a three-layer network containing an input layer, a hidden layer and an output layer, the input layer having eleven input nodes, first, second and third second hidden layer nodes, a hidden layer bias for each hidden layer node, first and second output layer nodes in the output layer, and an output layer bias for each output layer node.
- 184. The method of claim 182, wherein the first decision support system is a neural network and each of the plurality of first trained neural networks comprises a three-layer network comprising an input layer, a hidden layer and an output layer.
- 185. The method of claim 177, further comprising:
b1) applying said observation values from said memory means to a plurality of the first decision-support system, wherein each one of the first decision-support systems is trained on the samples of the specified factors with different starting weights for each training; c1) extracting from the first decision-support system, output value pairs for each one of said first neural networks; and d) forming a linear combination of said first ones of said output value pairs and forming a linear combination of said second ones of said output value pairs, to obtain a confidence index pair, said confidence index pair being said quantitative objective aid.
- 186. The method of claim 185, wherein the first decision support system is a neural network that comprises a three-layer network containing an input layer, a hidden layer and an output layer, the input layer having eleven input nodes, first, second and third second hidden layer nodes, a hidden layer bias for each hidden layer node, first and second output layer nodes in the output layer, and an output layer bias for each output layer node.
- 187. The method of claim 185, wherein the first decision support system is a neural network and each of the plurality of first trained neural networks comprises a three-layer network comprising an input layer, a hidden layer and an output layer.
- 188. In a computer system, a method for assessing the risk of delivery prior to completion of 35 weeks of gestation, comprising the steps of:
(a) collecting observation values reflecting presence and absence of specified factors and storing the observation factors in storage means of the computer system, the specified factors comprising: Ethnic Origin Caucasian, Marital Status living with partner, EGA by sonogram, EGA at sampling, estimated date of delivery by best, cervical dilatation (CM), parity-preterm, vaginal bleeding at time of sampling, cervical consistency at time of sampling, and previous pregnancy without complication; (b) obtaining results from the patient of a test that detects fetal fibronectin (fFN) mammalian body tissue and fluid samples; (c) applying the observation values and the fFN test results from the memory means to a second neural network trained on samples of the specified factors and the test results; and thereupon (d) extracting from the second trained neural network an output value pair, the output value pair being a preliminary indicator for the risk of delivery prior to 35 weeks of gestation.
- 189. The method of claim 188, further including the steps of:
(c1) applying the observation values and the relevant biochemical test results from the memory means to a plurality of the second neural networks, each one of the first neural networks being trained on the samples of the specified factors with starting weights for each training being randomly initialized; (d1) extracting from each one of the first trained neural networks, output value pairs for each one of the first neural networks; and (e) forming a linear combination of the first ones of the output value pairs and forming a linear combination of the second ones of the output value pairs, to obtain a confidence index pair, the confidence index pair being a final indicator for the risk of delivery prior to 35 weeks of gestation.
- 190. The method of claim 188, wherein the first trained neural network comprises a three-layer network containing an input layer, a hidden layer and an output layer, the input layer having eleven input nodes, first, second and third hidden layer nodes, a hidden layer bias for each hidden layer node, first and second output layer nodes in the output layer, and an output layer bias for each output layer node.
- 191. A method for assessing the risk for delivery in 7 or fewer days, comprising assessing a subset of variables containing at least three up to all of the following variables:
Ethnic Origin Caucasian; Uterine contractions with or without pain; Parity-abortions; vaginal bleeding at time of sampling; uterine contractions per hour; and No previous pregnancies, using a decision-support system that has been trained to assess the risk of delivery within seven days.
- 192. The method of claim 191, wherein:
the variables further include the results of a test for to detect fetal fibronectin (fFN) in a cervico/vaginal sample; the selected variables include the results of the test; and the method measures the risk of delivery in 7 days or few days from obtaining the sample for the fFN.
- 193. The method of claim 192, wherein the decision support system is a neural network.
- 194. The method of claim 192, wherein the decision-support system has been trained using a set of variables that do not include biochemical test data.
- 195. The method of claim 192, wherein the decision-support system has been trained using a set of variables that do not include the results of a test that detects fetal fibronectin in cervico/vaginal samples.
- 196. In a computer system, a method for assessing the risk for delivery in 7 days or fewer days, comprising:
(a) collecting observation values reflecting presence and absence of specified clinical data factors and storing the observed clinical data factors in storage means of the computer system, the specified clinical data factors comprising at least four up to all of the factors selected from the group consisting of: Ethnic Origin Caucasian, Uterine contractions with or without pain, Parity-abortions, vaginal bleeding at time of sampling, uterine contractions per hour, prior to and No previous pregnancies; (b) applying the observation values from the memory means to a first decision-support system trained on samples of the specified factors; and thereupon (c) extracting from the first decision-support system an output value, wherein the output value is a quantitative objective aid to assess the risk of delivery in less than or in 7 days.
- 197. The method of claim 196, wherein the decision-support system comprises a neural network.
- 198. The method of claim 196, wherein at least five factors are selected.
- 199. The method of claim 196, wherein the clinical factors further comprise the result of a test that detects fetal fibronectin in cervico/vaginal samples.
- 200. The method of claim 199, wherein the selected factors include the result of the test.
- 201. The method of claim 200, further comprising:
b1) applying said observation values from said memory means to a plurality of the first decision-support system, wherein each one of the first decision-support systems is trained on the samples of the specified factors with different starting weights for each training; c1) extracting from the first decision-support system, output value pairs for each one of said first neural networks; and d) forming a linear combination of said first ones of said output value pairs and forming a linear combination of said second ones of said output value pairs, to obtain a confidence index pair, said confidence index pair being said quantitative objective aid.
- 202. The method of claim 201, wherein the first decision support system is a neural network that comprises a three-layer network containing an input layer, a hidden layer and an output layer, the input layer having seven input nodes, first, second, third, forth and fifth second hidden layer nodes, a hidden layer bias for each hidden layer node, first and second output layer nodes in the output layer, and an output layer bias for each output layer node.
- 203. The method of claim 201, wherein the first decision support system is a neural network and each of the plurality of first trained neural networks comprises a three-layer network comprising an input layer, a hidden layer and an output layer.
- 204. The method of claim 196, further comprising:
b1) applying said observation values from said memory means to a plurality of the first decision-support system, wherein each one of the first decision-support systems is trained on the samples of the specified factors with different starting weights for each training; c1) extracting from the first decision-support system, output value pairs for each one of said first neural networks; and d) forming a linear combination of said first ones of said output value pairs and forming a linear combination of said second ones of said output value pairs, to obtain a confidence index pair, said confidence index pair being said quantitative objective aid.
- 205. The method of claim 196, wherein the first decision support system is a neural network that comprises a three-layer network containing an input layer, a hidden layer and an output layer, the input layer having six input nodes, first, second, third, forth and fifth second hidden layer nodes, a hidden layer bias for each hidden layer node, first and second output layer nodes in the output layer, and an output layer bias for each output layer node.
- 206. The method of claim 196, wherein the first decision support system is a neural network and each of the plurality of first trained neural networks comprises a three-layer network comprising an input layer, a hidden layer and an output layer.
- 207. In a computer system, a method for assessing the risk for delivery in 7 days or fewer days, comprising the steps of:
(a) collecting observation values reflecting presence and absence of specified factors and storing the observation factors in storage means of the computer system, the specified factors comprising: Ethnic Origin Caucasian, Uterine contractions with or without pain, Parity-abortions, vaginal bleeding at time of sampling, uterine contractions per hour, prior to and No previous pregnancies; (b) obtaining results from the patient of a test that detects fetal fibronectin (fFN) in mammalian body tissue and fluid samples; (c) applying the observation values and the fFN test results from the memory means to a second neural network trained on samples of the specified factors and the test results; and thereupon (d) extracting from the second trained neural network an output value pair, the output value pair being a preliminary indicator for the risk of delivery in 7 days or few days from obtaining the cervico/vaginal sample.
- 208. The method of claim 207, further including the steps of:
(c1) applying the observation values and the relevant biochemical test results from the memory means to a plurality of the second neural networks, each one of the first neural networks being trained on the samples of the specified factors with starting weights for each training being randomly initialized; (d1) extracting from each one of the first trained neural networks, output value pairs for each one of the first neural networks; and (e) forming a linear combination of the first ones of the output value pairs and forming a linear combination of the second ones of the output value pairs, to obtain a confidence index pair, the confidence index pair being the indicator of the risk for delivery in 7 days or fewer days.
- 209. The method of claim 207, wherein the first trained neural network comprises a three-layer network containing an input layer, a hidden layer and an output layer, the input layer having seven input nodes, first, second, third, fourth and fifth hidden layer nodes, a hidden layer bias for each hidden layer node, first and second output layer nodes in the output layer, and an output layer bias for each output layer node.
- 210. A method for assessing the risk for delivery in 14 or fewer days, comprising assessing a subset of variables containing at least three up to all of the following variables:
Ethnic Origin Hispanic; Marital Status living with partner; Uterine contractions with or without pain; Cervical dilatation; Uterine contractions per hour; and No previous pregnancies, using a decision-support system that has been trained to assess the risk of delivery within fourteen days.
- 211. The method of claim 210, wherein:
the variables further include the results of a test for to detect fetal fibronectin (fFN) in a cervico/vaginal sample; the selected variables include the results of the test; and the method measures the risk of delivery in 14 days or few days from obtaining the sample for the fFN.
- 212. The method of claim 211, wherein the decision support system is a neural network.
- 213. The method of claim 211, wherein the decision-support system has been trained using a set of variables that do not include biochemical test data.
- 214. The method of claim 211, wherein the decision-support system has been trained using a set of variables that do not include the results of a test that detects fetal fibronectin in cervico/vaginal samples.
- 215. In a computer system, a method for assessing the risk for delivery in 14 days or fewer days, comprising:
(a) collecting observation values reflecting presence and absence of specified clinical data factors and storing the observed clinical data factors in storage means of the computer system, the specified clinical data factors comprising at least four up to all of the factors selected from the group consisting of:
Ethnic Origin Hispanic, Marital Status living with partner, Uterine contractions with or without pain, cervical dilatation, Uterine contractions per hour, and No previous pregnancies; (b) applying the observation values from the memory means to a first decision-support system trained on samples of the specified factors; and thereupon (c) extracting from the first decision-support system an output value, wherein the output value is a quantitative objective aid to assess the risk of delivery in less than or in 14 days.
- 216. The method of claim 215, wherein the decision-support system comprises a neural network.
- 217. The method of claim 215, wherein at least five factors are selected.
- 218. The method of claim 215, wherein the clinical factors further comprise the result of a test that detects fetal fibronectin in cervico/vaginal samples.
- 219. The method of claim 215, wherein the selected factors include the result of the test.
- 220. The method of claim 219, further comprising:
b1) applying said observation values from said memory means to a plurality of the first decision-support system, wherein each one of the first decision-support systems is trained on the samples of the specified factors with different starting weights for each training; c1) extracting from the first decision-support system, output value pairs for each one of said first neural networks; and d) forming a linear combination of said first ones of said output value pairs and forming a linear combination of said second ones of said output value pairs, to obtain a confidence index pair, said confidence index pair being said quantitative objective aid.
- 221. The method of claim 219, wherein the first decision support system is a neural network that comprises a three-layer network containing an input layer, a hidden layer and an output layer, the input layer having seven input nodes, first, second, third, forth and fifth second hidden layer nodes, a hidden layer bias for each hidden layer node, first and second output layer nodes in the output layer, and an output layer bias for each output layer node.
- 222. The method of claim 219, wherein the first decision support system is a neural network and each of the plurality of first trained neural networks comprises a three-layer network comprising an input layer, a hidden layer and an output layer.
- 223. The method of claim 215, further comprising:
b1) applying said observation values from said memory means to a plurality of the first decision-support system, wherein each one of the first decision-support systems is trained on the samples of the specified factors with different starting weights for each training; c1) extracting from the first decision-support system, output value pairs for each one of said first neural networks; and d) forming a linear combination of said first ones of said output value pairs and forming a linear combination of said second ones of said output value pairs, to obtain a confidence index pair, said confidence index pair being said quantitative objective aid.
- 224. The method of claim 215, wherein the first decision support system is a neural network that comprises a three-layer network containing an input layer, a hidden layer and an output layer, the input layer having six input nodes, first, second, third, forth and fifth second hidden layer nodes, a hidden layer bias for each hidden layer node, first and second output layer nodes in the output layer, and an output layer bias for each output layer node.
- 225. The method of claim 215, wherein the first decision support system is a neural network and each of the plurality of first trained neural networks comprises a three-layer network comprising an input layer, a hidden layer and an output layer.
- 226. In a computer system, a method for assessing the risk for delivery in 14 days or fewer days, comprising the steps of:
(a) collecting observation values reflecting presence and absence of specified factors and storing the observation factors in storage means of the computer system, the specified factors comprising: Ethnic Origin Hispanic, Marital Status living with partner, Uterine contractions with or without pain, cervical dilatation, Uterine contractions per hour, and No previous pregnancies; (b) obtaining results from the patient of a test that detects fetal fibronectin (fFN) mammalian body tissue and fluid samples; (c) applying the observation values and the fFN test results from the memory means to a second neural network trained on samples of the specified factors and the test results; and thereupon (d) extracting from the second trained neural network an output value pair, the output value pair being a preliminary indicator for the risk of delivery in 14 days or few days from obtaining the cervico/vaginal sample.
- 227. The method of claim 226, further including the steps of:
(c1) applying the observation values and the relevant biochemical test results from the memory means to a plurality of the second neural networks, each one of the first neural networks being trained on the samples of the specified factors with starting weights for each training being randomly initialized; (d1) extracting from each one of the first trained neural networks, output value pairs for each one of the first neural networks; and (e) forming a linear combination of the first ones of the output value pairs and forming a linear combination of the second ones of the output value pairs, to obtain a confidence index pair, the confidence index pair being the indicator of the risk for delivery in 14 days or fewer 5 days.
- 228. The method of claim 226, wherein the first trained neural network comprises a three-layer network containing an input layer, a hidden layer and an output layer, the input layer having seven input nodes, first, second, third, fourth and fifth hidden layer nodes, a hidden layer bias for each hidden layer node, first and second output layer nodes in the output layer, and an output layer bias for each output layer node.
- 229. The method of claim 174 wherein the decision-support system has been trained using a set of variables that do not include the results of a test that detects fetal fibronectin in samples of mammalian body tissue and fluids.
- 230. The method of claim 174, wherein the set of variables further includes the result of a test that detects fetal fibronectin in cervico/vaginal samples.
- 231. The method of claim 177, wherein the clinical factors further comprise the result of a test that detects fetal fibronectin in mammalian body tissue and fluid samples.
- 232. The method of claim 188, wherein the sample is a cervico/vaginal samples.
- 233. The method of claim 191, wherein:
the variables further include the results of a test for to detect fetal fibronectin (fFN) in mammalian body tissue and fluid samples; the selected variables include the results of the test; and the method measures the risk of delivery in 7 days or few days from obtaining the sample for the fFN.
- 234. The method of claim 196, wherein the clinical factors further comprise the result of a test that detects fetal fibronectin in mammalian body tissue and fluid samples.
- 235. The method of claim 207, wherein the clinical factors further comprise the result of a test that detects fetal fibronectin in mammalian body tissue and fluid samples.
- 236. The method of claim 210, wherein:
the variables further include the results of a test that detects fetal fibronectin in mammalian body tissue and fluid samples; the selected variables include the results of the test; and the method measures the risk of delivery in 14 days or few days from obtaining the sample for the fFN.
- 237. The method of claim 215, wherein the clinical factors further comprise the result of a test that detects fetal fibronectin in mammalian body tissue and fluid samples.
- 238. The method of claim 226, wherein the sample is a cervico/vaginal sample.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/798,306 entitled “METHOD FOR SELECTING MEDICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL DIAGNOSTIC TESTS USING NEURAL NETWORK-RELATED APPLICATIONS” to Jerome Lapointe and Duane DeSieno, filed Feb. 7, 1997. This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/599,275, entitled “METHOD FOR DEVELOPING MEDICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL DIAGNOSTIC TESTS USING NEURAL NETWORKS” to Jerome Lapointe and Duane DeSieno, filed Feb. 9, 1997. U.S. application Ser. No. 08/798,306 is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/599,275. U.S. application Ser. No. 08/599,275, entitled “METHOD FOR DEVELOPING MEDICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL DIAGNOSTIC TESTS USING NEURAL NETWORKS” to Jerome Lapointe and Duane DeSieno, filed Feb. 9, 1996 claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/011,449, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AIDING IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF ENDOMETRIOSIS USING A PLURALITY OF PARAMETERS SUITED FOR ANALYSIS THROUGH A NEURAL NETWORK” to Jerome Lapointe and Duane DeSieno, filed Feb. 9, 1996.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
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60011449 |
Feb 1996 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (2)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
08798306 |
Feb 1997 |
US |
Child |
08912133 |
Aug 1997 |
US |
Parent |
08599275 |
Feb 1996 |
US |
Child |
08798306 |
Feb 1997 |
US |