Patent ID: 7953612

Claim:
A computer-implemented method comprising: uploading digital image data from a digital data storage medium to a computer for each of a plurality of patients, said digital image data comprising an orthopedic image associated with an orthopedic surgical procedure performed on each of said plurality of patients by a plurality of surgeons, said orthopedic image comprising a graphics portion and a text portion, said text portion comprising a representation of an anatomical measurement parameter associated with said orthopedic surgical procedure and a representation of a value for said anatomical measurement parameter, said anatomical measurement parameter being selected from a distance between two anatomical features and an angle between two anatomical features; determining said value for said anatomical measurement parameter for each of said plurality of patients by executing an optical character recognition process on said text portion using a computer; storing said value for said anatomical measurement parameter for each of said plurality of patients in a computer-searchable database; receiving a query from an authorized user via a computer, said query comprising a search criterion comprising a value for said anatomical measurement parameter; and in response to said query, sending a search result to said authorized user via a computer, said search result comprising at least one of (a) the value of said anatomical measurement parameter for each of said plurality of patients that meets said search criterion, and (b) a statistic of the values of said anatomical measurement parameter for all of said plurality of patients that meet said search criterion; wherein at least one of said plurality of patients has no relationship with said authorized user and wherein said search result is configured to protect the privacy of said at least one of said plurality of patients with respect to said authorized user.