Patent · US Active

Optimizing test procedures for a subject under test

US8762165B2 · kind B2 · utility

6Cited by
180References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 31, 2010
Grant dateJun 24, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 10, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG16H40/20
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

In a computer-implemented method of optimizing a diagnostic test sequence to diagnose a medical condition of a subject. A group of diagnostic tests related to a symptom is determined from a pool of diagnostic tests. A probabilistic failure mode analysis is conducted to determine the efficacy of each of the diagnostic tests based on historical outcomes of actual diagnostic testing. The comparative utility of each diagnostic tests based on a plurality of factors that can affect problem resolution is analyzed. A weight is assigned to each factor involved in the probabilistic failure mode analysis. The diagnostic tests are ordered based upon at least one of: a probability of the diagnostic test identifying a cause of the failure mode in a minimum amount of time; a probability of the diagnostic test identifying the cause of the failure mode at a minimum cost; and a relative weighting of minimizing time versus minimizing cost. A first diagnostic test is selected from the group based at least in part on a probabilistic failure mode analysis and the weighted factors involved therein.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.