Patent ID: 7523043
Filing Date: 2009-04-21
Classification: G06Q,G16H

Abstract:
1. A system for creating a lowest cost surveillance schedule by determining subsequent testing dates for detection of a disease, the system comprising a computer having a computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor of the computer, causes the processor to perform the steps of: (a) choosing a surveillance schedule, wherein the surveillance schedule includes a plurality of time segments for which a corresponding test is scheduled, wherein the surveillance schedule has associated therewith a plurality of probabilities representing the probabilities that relapse will be detected in the corresponding plurality of time segments of the surveillance schedule; (b) determining a solution for an equation: wherein T is a threshold on cost per relapse detected; wherein C is the cost associated with the subsequent testing date; wherein P(i) is the probability that a relapse will be detected in time segment i; wherein m is the time segment of the last testing date; wherein n is the time segment of the subsequent testing date; and wherein the sum of P(i) for i from m+1 to n is the cumulative probability of a relapse from the test at time segment m to the test at time segment n; and (c) defining cost per detected relapse as Cost(m,n) by determining a solution for an equation: wherein C is the cost associated with a subsequent testing date in the surveillance schedule; wherein P(i) is the probability that a relapse will be detected in time segment i; wherein m is the time segment of the last testing date; wherein n is the time segment of the subsequent testing date; wherein the sum of P(i) for i from m+1 to n is the cumulative probability of a relapse from the test at time segment m to the test at time segment n; and wherein Cost(m,n) is the cost of each subsequent testing date per relapse detected; and (d) modifying the surveillance schedule by delaying each subsequent testing date until the cost per detected relapse is below a probability threshold of C/T, whereby the lowest cost surveillance schedule is determined.