Method and apparatus for handwriting recognition
A PC tablet or similar device is used to generate a patient diagnosis. A doctor or other health provider writes a diagnosis on the device. A known handwriting algorithm is used to convert the written phrase into a sequence of words. Two lists are also provided, one containing words commonly used in medical diagnoses and the other containing actual diagnoses. The two lists are used to generate a diagnosis which is presented to the provider.
1 . An apparatus generating information related to patient diagnosis comprising:
a data entry element sensing a handwritten phrase from a user;
a data storage including a first list formed of common medical terms and a second list formed of phrases of several words, each phrase defining a patient diagnosis; and
a processor adapted to receive a plurality of converted words corresponding to said handwritten phrase, said processor generating a patient diagnosis based on the comparison of said plurality of words to said first and second list.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a handwriting recognition module that analyzes said written phrase and generates in response said converted words.
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a screen used to display said diagnosis to the health care provider.
4 . The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a selection member operable by a health provide to selectively accept said diagnosis.
5 . A method of generating a patient diagnosis using a data entry device, comprising the steps of:
receiving a handwritten phrase from a health provider;
converting said handwritten phrase into a sequence of converted words, said sequence including at least a first converted word and a second converted word;
comparing said first and a second converted word to a list of words commonly used in medical diagnosis;
obtaining a first plurality of words from said list associated with said first converted word and a second plurality of words from said list associated with said second converted word;
generating word grooups, each word group including a word from at least each of said first and second plurality of words;
comparing word groups to phrases from a list of phrases, each phrase forming a known diagnosis; and
selecting one of said phrases as the diagnosis.
6 . The method of claim 5 further comprising obtaining a third converted word.
7 . The method of claim 5 wherein said one phrase is selected using fuzzy logic.
8 . The method of claim 5 further comprising presenting the patient diagnostic to said health provider.
9 . The method of claim 8 further comprising providing several diagnoses to said health provider, said health provider selecting one of said diagnoses as corresponding to the patient.
10 . An apparatus for generating a patient diagnosis by a health care provider comprising:
means for receiving written phrases from said health care provider;
means for converting said written phrases into converted words;
a comparator comparing said converted words to entries of a list to generate a first set of words and a second set of words corresponding to said first and second converted words, respectively;
a second comparator comparing groups of said first and second words to entries in a list of diagnoses; and
a selector that selects an entry from said list of diagnoses as being descriptive of the patient's condition.
11 . The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said means for receiving includes a touch screen.
12 . The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said touch screen is adapted to display data.
13 . The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said touch screen is adapted to display said diagnosis.
14 . The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising data storage means storing said list of words and said list of diagnoses.
15 . the apparatus of claim 10 wherein said apparatus is a hand-held device.
16 . The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a memory storing said lists.
17 . The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising communication means arranged to receive said list from a remote data storage facility.