Health imaging informatics system and methods

An informatics system for intraoperatively providing information relating to a neurosurgical procedure, the informatics system comprising:

• a central system comprising a processor operable by a data processing module, the data processing module comprising a planning module, a tractography generator to generate 3D models of neural tracts using diffusion tensor imaging data, a module for comparing pre-procedure tractography data with post-procedure tractography data generated from the diffusion tensor imaging data to enable determination of correlations between changes in the patient's tractography and patient outcome, the data processing module in communication with a plurality of databases, each of the plurality of databases storing different information associated with the neurosurgical procedure, and at least one plug-in configured to translate data formats for transmission to any given database and to enable output of a plurality of data types via a web portal,
• the central system configured to:
• receive a first set of data characterizing the neurosurgical procedure;
• access at least one historical database containing historical data about historical procedures;
• determine at least one set of historical data relevant to the neurosurgical procedure, based on a determination of similarity to the first set of data;
• determine, from the at least one set of historical data, at least one historical instance of at least one procedure parameter relevant to the neurosurgical procedure, the at least one procedure parameter comprising at least one historical entry site for the neurosurgical procedure;
• use the tractography generator to receive diffusion tensor imaging data and generate the pre-procedure tractography data and the post-procedure tractography data from the diffusion tensor imaging data;
• quantify the pre-procedure tractography data and the post-procedure tractography data by calculating a fiber volume of a particular fiber bundles in the pre-procedure tractography data and in the post-procedure tractography data;
• automatically perform a quantitative comparison of the pre-procedure tractography data with the post-procedure tractography;
• use the at least one plug-in to translate data formats for transmission to any given database;
• cause an output device to display the quantitative comparison in combination with the pre-procedure image data and the post-procedure image data, the pre-procedure image data comprising pre-procedure tractography data and the post-procedure image data comprising post-procedure tractography data, and the quantitative comparison comprising a comparison of pre-procedure neural tract data in the pre-procedure tractography data with the post-procedure neural tract data in the post-procedure tractography data;
• and
• cause an output device to display the at least one historical instance of the at least one procedure parameter, including displaying at least one indicator of at least one location of the at least one historical entry site superimposed on an image of a region of interest of a current treatment plan for the neurosurgical procedure,
• whereby output is providable via the web portal in at least one manner of direct output of analytics and indirect output of at least one translated data type of the plurality of data types via the at least one plug-in.

A method of fabricating an informatics system for intraoperatively providing information relating to a neurosurgical procedure, the method comprising:

• providing a central system comprising a processor operable by a data processing module, the processing module comprising a planning module, a tractography generator to generate 3D models of neural tracts using diffusion tensor imaging data, a module for comparing pre-procedure tractography data with post-procedure tractography data generated from the diffusion tensor imaging data to enable determination of correlations between changes in the patient's tractography and patient outcome, the processing module in communication with a plurality of databases, each of the plurality of databases storing different information associated with the neurosurgical procedure;
• and at least one plug-in configured to translate data formats for transmission to any given database and to enable output of a plurality of data types via a web portal, providing the central system comprising configuring the central system to:
• receive a first set of data characterizing the neurosurgical procedure;
• access at least one historical database containing historical data about historical procedures;
• determine at least one set of historical data relevant to the neurosurgical procedure, based on a determination of similarity to the first set of data;
• determine, from the at least one set of historical data, at least one historical instance of at least one procedure parameter relevant to the neurosurgical procedure, the at least one procedure parameter comprising at least one historical entry site for the neurosurgical procedure;
• use the tractography generator to receive diffusion tensor imaging data and generate the pre-procedure tractography data and the post-procedure tractography data from the diffusion tensor imaging data;
• quantify the pre-procedure tractography data and the post-procedure tractography data by calculating a fiber volume of a particular fiber bundles in the pre-procedure tractography data and in the post-procedure tractography data;
• automatically perform a quantitative comparison of the pre-procedure tractography data with the post-procedure tractography;
• use the at least one plug-in to translate data formats for transmission to any given database;
• cause an output device to display the quantitative comparison in combination with the pre-procedure image data and the post-procedure image data, the pre-procedure image data comprising pre-procedure tractography data and the post-procedure image data comprising post-procedure tractography data, and the quantitative comparison comprising a comparison of pre-procedure neural tract data in the pre-procedure tractography data with the post-procedure neural tract data in the post-procedure tractography data;
• and
• cause an output device to display the at least one historical instance of the at least one procedure parameter, including displaying at least one indicator of at least one location of the at least one historical entry site superimposed on an image of a region of interest of a current treatment plan for the neurosurgical procedure,
• whereby output is providable via the web portal in at least one manner of direct output of analytics and indirect output of at least one translated data type of the plurality of data types via the at least one plug-in.