Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DISPLAYING MEDICAL IMAGES AND
EFFECTS OF DISEASE AND/OR DRUGS
Background of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method, apparatus, system and software for
displaying visual
images of body parts/systems, and the effects of disease and/or medications
thereon. In
particular, the present invention relates to displaying three-dimensional
images of the human
body, organs, limbs or other parts thereof, whereby such images may be viewed
from any
desired angle direction, magnification, cross-section or other view point.
The present invention also relates to provision of the aforementioned features
in conjunction
with an integrated computerised information and business system for medical
practitioners
and/or like professional persons, facilitating access to various databases and
software such as
drug, research, business and other databases.
Description of the Prior Art
Presently, following diagnosis of a medical condition by a medical
practitioner, the practitioner
seeks to explain to the patient the nature and extent of the disease, and the
affect of drugs,
surgery or other treatment thereon. The practitioner typically reverts to
published
documentation, including textbooks, brochures, etc., or to a model of the
human body or of a
particular organ, limb or other body part, to assist in such explanation.
Difficult medical concepts can, of course, be quite complex in nature for the
medical
practitioner to explain, and, are not readily understood by the patient.
As such, a need exists for an effective communication facility to assist
medical practitioners in
explaining such medical concepts to their patients.
Notwithstanding the aforementioned problem, medical practitioners are
additionally required
to maintain a vast and up-to-date knowledge of information, including the
latest advances in
treatment procedures and techniques, drugs, research data, specialist details,
etc. Furthermore,
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they typically also need to maintain business knowledge including
documentation and
information, such as practice management, patient records, appointments, daily
schedules,
banking, travel, taxation, etc.
As such, there exists a further need for an integrated system for provision of
such information
in an economic and readily usable format.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention seeks to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art by
providing a
system for displaying visual images of a person, a person's organs, limbs or
other bodily parts,
and for displaying such images, in a three-dimensional simulated format,
together with the
effects of disease and/or medications thereon.
The present invention also seeks to provide such a visual imaging system in
conjunction with
a fully integrated information and business system to assist in other aspects
of a medical or like
professional practice.
In one broad form, the present invention provides a system for displaying
visual images of a
living being or part thereof.
Preferably, the system further includes means for displaying visual images of
the effect of
disease, drugs, surgery or other treatment on said living being or part
thereof.
Also preferably, said images are three-dimensional simulations, and may be
viewed from any
selected direction, angle, cross-section or other view point.
In a preferred form, said system further includes readable and/or audio
messages associated with
said visual images.
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In a further broad form, the present invention provides a system for
displaying simulated visual
images of a living being such as the human body or a part thereof and the
effect of disease,
drugs, surgery or other treatment thereon, including:
a computer having a processor, input means, display means,
a first data storage means to provide data representative of visual images of
the
human body or a part thereof, and,
a second data storage means to provide data representative of the effect of
disease, drugs, surgery or other treatment on said living being or part
thereof,
wherein, in response to input data entered by an operator into said input
means, said
processor, utilising data from at least one of said data storage means,
formulates and displays
simulated visual images of the effects of diseases, drugs, surgery or other
treatment on said
living being or part thereof on said display means.
In this preferred form, either one or both of said data storage means are
provided at a remote
location, communication therewith being via modem or the like on a
communication Garner.
Preferably, communication between said databases) and said computer is via the
Internet.
Also preferably, the system further includes an integrated professional
hardware/software
package, for example, for a medical practitioner, including one or more of
electronic drug
databases, prescription software, Medicare processing, hospitals on-line,
daily medical bulletins,
specialists, research data, educational institutions, on-line publications, on-
line banking, practice
management advice, patient records, appointments, daily schedules, medical
conferences, travel
bookings, taxation advice, etc.
Also preferably, the system includes hardware and software including a PC or
laptop computer,
printers, modems, etc.
In a further broad form, the present invention provides a method of providing
a visual image of
a living being or part thereof, including the steps of:
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displaying a visual image or a selected living being or part thereof on a
display device;
selecting, via an input means, a disease, drug, surgery or other treatment to
be applied
to image of said living being or part thereof;
processing said inputted information using a processor, and utilising a
database
representing disease, drug, surgery or other treatment data including its
effects on a living being
or part thereof;
displaying on said display device a visual image of selected living being or
part thereof
illustrating the effect of said applied disease, drug and/or surgery.
Preferably, the method further comprises the step of:
selecting a direction, angle, magnification, cross-section or other viewpoint
from which
said visual image is viewed.
In yet a further broad form, the present invention provides a method of using
a system for
displaying visual images of a human body or part thereof, including the steps
of:
selecting a body system, from a group including (but not limited to)
gastrointestinal,
endocrine, genitrourinary, respiratory, sensory and skin systems;
selecting the display of a healthy condition of said body system, or of a body
system
having the effect of disease(s), drug(s), surgery or other treatment thereon;
and
viewing said selected display.
Preferably, when the display of a disease is selected, the method includes the
further steps of:
selecting the display of drug treatments, surgical treatments and other
treatments
associated with said disease.
Also preferably, the method further includes the steps of:
selecting presentations for display on a visual display unit, including
presentations
relating to:
the effects of particular drugs;
the results of medical research findings; and,
the procedure of surgery.
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In a preferred form, the method further includes the step of:
selecting an information window, by for example, but not limited to, using
hyperlinks
or the like to retrieve further information relating to said human being or
parts thereof or the
effects of disease, drugs, surgery or other treatments thereon.
Also preferably, the method further includes the steps of:
entering a search criteria, such as, but not limited to, keywords, persons
names, dates,
etc., such that a data retrieval process is effected.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The present invention will become more fully understood from the following
detailed
description of a preferred but non-limiting embodiment thereof, described in
connection with
the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Fig. 1. illustrates an overview of an embodiment of the system in accordance
with the present
invention, showing typical hardware and software components;
Fig. 2 illustrates, in Figs. 2(a) to 2(d), a series of images selected from an
animated display
format, showing the progressive demonstration of medical images, in this case,
associated with
the muscular skeletal system, and in particular, a tibial collateral ligament;
Fig. 3 illustrates, in Figs. 3(a) to 3(i), a series of images selected from an
animated display
format, showing the progressive demonstration of medical images, in this case,
associated with
the heart;
Fig. 4 illustrates the typical steps in the production process of the animated
images;
Fig. 5 illustrates a system overview of the functionality model system of the
present invention;
Fig. 6 illustrates a flow chart showing typical selection which may be made
during
implementation of the present invention, following selection of the '3D live
body' option of Fig.
5;
Fig. 7 illustrates a flow chart showing the types of presentations which may
be typically
displayed, following selection of the 'presentations' option of Fig. 5;
Fig. 8 illustrates a flow chart showing the types of information windows which
may be
displayed, following selection of the 'information window' option of Fig. 5;
Fig. 9 illustrates a flow chart showing the searching capabilities which may
be displayed,
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following selection of the 'search' option of Fig. 5;
Fig. 10 illustrates a display of an example of an ancillary interface
function, in this case an on-
line banking function; and,
Fig. 11 illustrates a display of an example of an alternate interface
function, in this case an e-
mail capabilities.
Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments
In Fig. 1 is shown a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of a plurality of
hardware and
software components of a system in accordance with the present invention, for
use in a medical
practitioner's practice, connected to a centralised database via a modem, ISDN
link, satellite or
other telecommunications means. The system may alternatively be an autonomous
PC or like
independent system, having the various databases, software, etc., stored in
memory.
The system of Fig. 1 shows a centralised information source 1, a
communications carrier 2 for
the transmission of information, via, for example, a modem, to one or a
plurality of remote
terminals 3, typically provided in a medical practitioner's surgery. Each
remote terminal may
include a personal computer (P.C.) 4, input means such as a keypad and mouse
5, and display
means such as a computer monitor 6 and printer 7. The remote system 3 would
preferably also
be suitable for performing any typical function of a personal computer, such
as word processing,
storage of patient records, and formatting of appointments and daily
schedules, etc. The remote
computer 3 may additionally be interfaced to on-line facilities such as
banking, hospitals,
pharmacies, travel agencies, and other business functions, such as illustrated
by reference
number 9. In addition to such capabilities, the system illustrated in Fig. 1
additionally
incorporates software and databases 8 which are unique to the present
invention, to enable
visual images of the human body, individual organs, limbs, or other parts
thereof, to be
displayed or printed on the computer display 6 or printer 7 in the medical
practitioner's surgery.
The software and such databases 8 may be stored in the memory devices of the
P.C. and/or may
be accessed via a network or modem connection.
The centralised database 1 may include a main database 10 with appropriate
network facilities,
and is preferably additionally adapted to receive update information from
daily bulletin board
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and disease information sources 11, to convey software updates 12, and, to
receive other
database information 13.
The computer software associated with the present invention provides a
simulated series of
anatomical presentations within an independent module, which may typically
reside on the
doctor's desktop.
The module may be separate to any other application software that the doctor
may use in clinical
practice. The doctor has the ability to demonstrate, to a patient, normal body
functions, disease
states, surgical procedures, diagnostic methods and the effects of drugs, diet
or other treatment
through a viewing mechanism on a computer, accessing a database of previously
constructed
3D animations produced in various 3D animation software.
The module gives the doctor the choice of healthy, diseased and drug
interacted medical
conditions to explain to the patient difficult to explain medical concepts. In
addition the doctor
can show the patient surgical procedures to explain the method used during a
specific procedure.
By accessing the various databases by way of navigation, the doctor has the
ability to
demonstrate to the patient various medical scenarios to communicate difficult
to explain
medical concepts. This visual interpretation bridges all communication
barriers a doctor may
see in everyday practice including cultural, intellectual and language
barriers.
Images produced by the system of the present invention are preferably
displayed in a three-
dimensional format, and may be preferably viewed from any desired direction,
angle,
magnification or viewpoint, as selected.
For example, for a doctor to illustrate to a patient the effect of a cataract
on an eye, the
progressive growth of the cataract over the cornea of the eye may be
illustrated in a three-
dimensional simulated format. The images may be viewed from any desired
external angle, and
also, from internally, to display to the patient, the gradual loss of sight
that might typically be
experienced during the progressive development of the cataract. Then, similar
images may be
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displayed showing the treatment or surgical procedures which may be performed
on the patient.
For example, the removal of the cataract from the cornea may be described and
illustrated in
a three-dimensional representation. In addition, or in alternative thereto,
the effects of drugs,
may further be illustrated. Therefore, drugs used to slow the growth of a
disease, reverse the
effect of the disease, or otherwise control or treat the disease, may be
displayed.
An example of a series of images illustrating the progressive demonstration /
treatment of a torn
tibial collateral ligament is shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 2(a) illustrating a first
view of the musco-
skeletal system in the leg of a person, Fig. 2(b) illustrating a more detailed
view of the knee
joint, and, Fig. 2(c) illustrating a healthy condition of a tibial collateral
ligament, and Fig. 2(d)
showing a torn tibial collateral ligament. It will be appreciated that a
series of images showing
the progressive healing of the ligament may be further embodied..
A further example of an image series is shown in Figs. 3, in Fig. 3(a) to
3(i), wherein the
selected images show the progressive demonstration of a heart associated
medical condition.
It will therefore be appreciated that such a system enables a medical
practitioner to more clearly
and simply explain difficult medical concepts to their patient in a manner
which is likely to be
more readily understood. The doctor, may electronically manipulate, rotate and
"walk through"
the body images with the patient to very accurately explain the organs and
other body functions.
The doctor has the ability to stop the animation at anytime for discussion
purposes. The doctor,
at any time, can access other parts of the database providing additional
material for the patient.
All onscreen functions are preferably mouse navigated with the exception of
the search function,
which has a field entry option to search for information. The module has a
point and click
appearance and function facilitating ease of use.
The same module can be used to educate doctors in the effects of drugs,
surgical procedures,
and the diagnostic process.
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An additional feature which may be considered useful to be used with the
present invention is
the provision of textual information to assist in the explanation of the
images. Such textual
information and labelling on the images may be preferably provided in any
desired language.
The information may typically incorporate treatment procedures, etc., and may
be printed in
a "fact sheet" format and provided to the patient for further referral and
study.
As hereinbefore mentioned, such a system may further be provided with a number
of additional
interfaces to enable the medical practitioner to connect to various other
commercial databases,
enabling a fully integrated medical and/or business system to be implemented.
For example,
the doctor may identify prescription medication from various drug databases
such as MIMS,
transmit prescriptions to pharmacies, transmit processing of Medicare type
operations, connect
to hospitals, receive periodical medical bulletins, select database of
specialists, identify up-to-
date research data, connect to educational institutions, access on-line
publications, perform on-
line banking, such as illustrated in Fig. 10, receiving practice management
advice, travel
information, taxation advice, etc. The various databases can be considered to
be a "virtual
bookshop", allowing access to relevant industry material to, in effect,
provide the doctor with
an electronic version of the printed matter traditionally used in the daily
operation of the
medical practice.
In addition, the medical practitioner may be able to manipulate confidential
and/or publicly
available patient records, and transmit patient information, such as
illustrated in Fig. 11, x-rays
and other images to other doctors, hospitals, etc., and/or perform tele-
conferencing.
In a further embodiment, members of the public may be permitted to access a
public web-site,
which might typically contain local doctor's surgery information including
surgery hours,
specialities, language spoken, plus a variety of self help information
services in areas such as
poisons, services directory, basic first-aid, spider identification, etc.
In addition to various databases provided for access by the doctor, in a
further embodiment, the
present invention may be extended to enable patients to access at least
particular parts of the
various databases. For example, databases such as may be useful for providing
specialised on-
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line or CD Rom information to mothers in pregnancy, new mothers, or senior
persons,
respectively. For example, a mother might typically have access to databases
to provide 3D
animations of the various stages of an embryo from conception to birth, the
birth process, 3D
animations of the maternity ward, details of the unborn child, nutrition
issues, community
support information, product catalogues, family issues, jpegs of ultrasounds,
mpegs of
ultrasounds, and even details of selecting a name. A database in relation to
baby information
could typically deal with issues for the mother, father and the new baby,
including 3D animation
of the development of the baby in early years, bathing, clothing sleeping,
SIDS, breastfeeding,
diet and nutrition, healthy family, etc., help and support groups and crisis
help. This database
could further include details of immunisation calendars, early learning years,
3D dental
development, health and well-being, emergency procedures, and a product
catalogue. A
database in relation to elderly persons could typically include issues such as
health and fitness,
financial information, security in the home, friendship and knowledge, and
could incorporate
medical data on aged health issues, including early signs of heart conditions,
early signs of
dementia, etc.
The production process, to create the images displayed in accordance with the
present invention,
is exemplified in schematic form in Fig. 4.
The production of images for this purpose begins with a brief from the medical
advisory board
(MAB), who identify the appropriate animation and provide a specification
document detailing
the content required.
The specification document is then interpreted into a storyboard format.
During this process
decisions are made as to content, look and feel and movement that will
ultimately effect the
final product-the animation. Decisions are based on scientifically correct
information,
biologically accurate body images and consumer acceptability
The MAB then sign off the storyboard.
The animation team produces the animation from a database of wire frame models
of the human
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body, including selection of surfaces, which are detailed in the specification
document. The
final output of the animation is in mpeg format.
The animation is then signed off by the MAB who in the process, verify all
content is correct
and as per the original specifications.
The system, in it's preferred embodiment, as illustrated in Fig. 5, is capable
of performing, four
major function, namely, 3D Live Body (as detailed in Fig. 6), Presentations
(as detailed in Fig.
7), Information Window (as detailed in Fig. 8), and, Search (as detailed in
Fig. 9).
The 3D Live Body Function, as detailed in Fig. 6, allows the doctor to
navigate to specific areas
within the human body to demonstrate to a patient their medical condition.
The first level takes the doctor to a selection of nine body systems
including, but not limited to:
i. Gastrointestinal
ii. Cardiovascular
iii. Central Nervous
System
iv. Musculoskeletal
v. Endocrine
vi. Genitourinary
vii. Respiratory
viii. Sensory
ix. Skin
Once a body system has been selected, the second level allows the doctor to
select from:
i. 'Healthy Body', or
ii. 'Diseases',
which goes to a further series of options.
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Once the doctor has selected one of the above options, the third level allows
the doctor to select
further options:
i. From Health Body, the doctor can select from a series of healthy, 3D
animations,
which demonstrate the body in a healthy state. For example, peristalsis of the
large intestine is a normal body function.
ii. From Diseases, the doctor can select from a series of diseases relevant to
the
chosen body system. For example if the doctor has selected gallstones, an
animation will appear to show the patient what gallstones are and how they are
formed.
From this point within diseases, the doctor has a series of options including:
i. print a fact sheet for the patient in the language of choice.
ii. Select a drug treatment animation to demonstrate the effect of a
particular drug on
the disease state.
iii. Select a surgical treatment animation to demonstrate the surgical
procedure relevant
to the disease state.
iv. Other treatment options (in text format), covering other treatments
including change
~ of lifestyle, change in diet, etc.
The presentations option, as illustrated in Fig. 7, allows the doctor to view
video presentations
from pharmaceutical companies, which they have traditionally viewed via
videotape.
This function is intended as an educational tool for the doctor rather than
the patient, to learn
about specific drugs and their applications. The doctor is able, in his or her
own time, to view
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the presentation, which relates to specific drug information.
Additionally, presentations will be on new research findings, new surgery
procedures, and
general medical findings.
The information window option, as illustrated in Fig. 8, allows the doctor to
view information
at all times on his or her computer screen. The information is presented as a
series of 'news'
headlines in an information window, which appears on a small part of the
computer screen.
When the doctor 'clicks' on a headline, the window expands to reveal the full
story.
The information appearing in the information window relates to:
~ Software upgrade information
~ Detailed medical information; and
~ New presentation information.
The search function option, as illustrated in Fig. 9, provides the doctor with
an alternative
navigation technique.
The doctor can either select a group heading, then select the appropriate
animation from within
that group with the click of a mouse.
Alternatively, the doctor can enter (type) the search criteria, which will
bring up the relevant
information.
In the commercialisation of the invention, preferably, the material will be
packaged on CD-
ROM with all necessary plug in 'bundled' software and downloaded onto the
doctor's hard drive
in a format that will provide for both offline and online accessibility (via a
dedicated intranet).
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As bandwidth improves, the online format gives the doctor access to the
following functions:
1. Module Upgrades;
2. Presentations; and
3. Information Window
The Offline format gives doctor access to the following functions:
1. 3D Live Body;
2. Presentations;
3. Information Window and
4. Search Function.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present
invention provides a unique
computer software and database system, apparatus and method which provides not
only a fully
integrated professional information and business system to the medical
practitioner in a format
which is not previously known, but also, provides a unique feature in the
imaging aspect in
ensuring that a patient fully understands a particular medical condition or
treatment regime.
Whilst the present invention is seen to be particularly useful as post-
diagnostic tool to describe
and communicate, a diagnosis to the patient in a simple and accurate manner,
it may further be
useful to provide educative material to doctors and assist in the diagnosis of
a patient's medical
condition.
Throughout the specification, the term 'living being' has been used. The
intention of this term
is to encompass a human being or any other animal. For example, whilst a
particular
application of the invention is in respect of medical applications for
persons, alternative
embodiments of the invention would encompass veterinary applications, for any
type of animal
(e.g. dogs, cats, horses, etc.). By utilisation of the word 'living' in the
term 'living being', no
limitation to the 'being' (person or other animal) being in a 'live' state
should be taken, that is,
the being may be in a live or deceased state. The utilisation of the term
'living being' is,
however, chosen to be used primarily for clarity of the specification.
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The terminology 'part thereof in relation to the 'living being' or 'human
body' should be
understood to encompass any individual component of the human body or other
living being,
such as a muscle, organ or skeletal component, or any combination of these.
Furthermore, the references to the 'visual images' of the living being should
be understood to
encompass not only real images in the forms of photographs, videos, etc., but
also, in
accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, °animated',
'graphically represented'
or images 'created' in any other form.
Furthermore, throughout the specification, reference is made to computer
systems and
communication means, etc. Whilst particular arrangements of preferred
embodiments have
been described, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that
alternative technical
arrangements may be utilised. A broad, but non-limiting description of the
scope of variations
and modifications possible in this regard is as follows.
In a networked data communications system, users have access to terminals
which are
capable of requesting and receiving information from local or remote
information
sources. In such a system the terminal may be any type of computer or
computerised
device, a personal computer (PC), a mobile or cellular phone, a mobile data
terminal,
a radio modem, a portable computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a
pager, or any
other similar type of electronic device. The capability of the terminal to
request and
receive information may be provided by an application program, hardware or
other such
entity. A terminal provided with these capabilities can act as a browser.
In such a system the information source may be a server (for example, a host
computer)
coupled to an information storage device (for example, a hard disk drive). The
exchange of information (i.e., the request and/or receipt of information)
between the
terminal and information source is facilitated by a connection referred to as
a
communication channel. The communication channel may be physically realised
via
a metallic wire (for example, a telephone line), an electromagnetic signal
(for example,
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a radio frequency (RF) signal), a fibre optic cable, a microwave link, a
satellite link or
any other such medium or combination thereof connected to a network
infrastructure.
The infrastructure may be a telephone switch, a base station, a bridge, a
router, or any other
such specialised component, which facilitates the connection between the
terminal and the
network. Collectively, the interconnected group of terminals, physical
connections,
infrastructure and information sources is referred to as a computer network.
The computer network itself may take a variety of forms. It may be located
within a local
geographic area, such as an office building, and consist of only a limited
number of
terminals and information sources. This type of computer network is commonly
referred to
as a Local Area Network (LAN). On a broader scale, it may be larger and
support more users
over a wider geographic area, such as across a city. This type of network is
commonly
referred to as a Wide Area Network (WAN). On an even broader scale LAN and WAN
networks may be interconnected across a country or globally. An example of a
globally
connected data communications network is the Internet.
To a user the Internet appears to be a single unified computer network,
although in reality it
consists of many different types of computer platforms utilising many diverse
data
communications technologies. The technologies are connected together in such a
manner so
they appear transparent to the user. This transparency is made possible
through the use of a
standard communications protocol suite known as Transmission Control Protocol
/Internet
Protocol (TCP/IP)
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) and Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) have
developed to make the Internet or World Wide Web very accessible. The exchange
of
information on the Internet is further facilitated through hypertext
documents. Hypertext
documents are unique in that they use tags to define links which, when
selected, fetch the
related information from within the same document or from a new document
altogether. The
links are defined using HTML which provides a document formatting method which
adapts
in a consistent manner to any computer on which it is displayed. HTML tags are
used to
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define the various components of an ASCII text file which make up a hypertext
document,
including such things as formatting and linking to other documents. HTML tags
which link
documents on one Internet information source to those on another do so by
associating a
Uniform Resource Locator (URL) with the referenced information. The ability to
link
Internet files of similar and/or differing formats to each other, and to link
documents on
other Internet sites, is a powerful feature of the Internet.
The appeal of the Internet is the large-scale interconnection of public and
private networks.
A concern exists, however, about "unauthorised" access from public networks to
the
attached private networks. This concern has resulted in the development of
proxies. A proxy
is a host computer or mechanism (usually an application program) on a network
node which
performs specialised functions on a network. One such function is to provide
network
security. Security is provided between a private and public network by
requiring
communications (i.e., information exchanges) to pass through the proxy.
Another function of
a proxy is to store or cache recently accessed information (i.e., copies of
documents and
images). If a browser desires information which is located outside the local
network, that is
to say on an information source attached to an external network,
communications pass from
the browser through the proxy before going on to the external network. Thus a
proxy may
operate to deny access to a private network from a public network by not
replying to HTTP
commands received from the public network.
It should be noted that the computer network as referenced in this
specification should be taken
to include all forms of connected or communicating computers or terminals
having at least two
terminals connected or communications as hereinbefore described. That is, the
term computer
network should be taken to include any type of terminal as hereinbefore
defined, computer,
computerised device, peripheral computer equipment, computerised accessory,
mobile or
cellular phone, digital electronic device or other similar type of
computerised electronic device
or part thereof which is rendered such that it is capable of communication
with at lest one of any
of the aforementioned entities. Said communication of information or data can
occur over any
data communications network, computer network., wireless network,
internetwork,
intranetwork, local area network (LAN), wide are network (WAN), the Internet,
the Internet 2,
CA 02380164 2002-O1-22
WO 01/08076 PCT/AU00/00872
_18_
transient or temporary network, combinations of the above or any other type of
network
providing for computerised, electronic or digital devices.
Furthermore, references to the terms connecting, communication, transmitting,
requesting,
receiving, exchanging and the like, and permutations thereof, as applied to
the term computer
network and/or components thereof should be taken to pertain to the transfer
of information or
data. Such transfers of information or data can be facilitated for by any form
of entity / entities
for facilitating such, including, but not limited to, metallic wires or
cables, semi-conducting
wires or cables, optical fibres and optical devices, wireless means,
electromagnetic waves and
the like and modulations thereof, acoustic waves and the like and modulations
thereof, control
of electric and/or magnetic fields, and/or the transportation of all forms of
memory devices.
The invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and
features referred
to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or
collectively, in any or all
combinations or two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where
specific integers are
mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which the
invention relates, such
known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set
forth.
It will be appreciated that numerous variations and modifications may be
enacted to the present
invention. For example, whilst the embodiment described has illustrated an
application of the
invention for medical practitioners, the invention may be readily adapted to
other professional
persons, for example, veterinarians, dentists, etc. Furthermore, it may be
adapted to any
engineer, tradesperson, or the like whereby alterations are usefully
demonstrated to a lay person.
All such variations and modifications should be considered to fall within the
spirit of the
present invention as broadly hereinbefore described and as hereinafter
claimed.
