The present invention provides a complete artificial intelligence system
for the acquisition and analysis of nucleic acid array hybridization
information. The system is divided into at least one central data
processing facility and one or more user facilities, linked by encrypted
network connections or similar links. Each user facility may include an
optical scanning system to collect hybridization signals from a nucleic
acid array, an image processing system to convert the optical data into a
set of hybridization parameters, a connection to a data network, and a
user interface to display, manipulate, search, and analyze hybridization
information. This system reads data from a gene chip or DNA microarray,
or a proteomics chip, analyzes test results based on maintained
parameters, evaluates patient risk for various ailments, recommends
methods of treatment, presents information to medical and/or private
individuals, and notifies test participants when new treatment becomes
available. The test results may be used to perform individual
diagnostics, longitudinal studies, population studies, or a wide variety
of statistical analyses of patient data. The automated artificial
intelligence system is a real time, dynamic decision making tool that can
be used not only in conjunction with a clinical analysis system, but also
with the information obtained in a research and development environment.
Access to this system allows the user(s) to look at both clinical and
non-clinical information. Most importantly, the system is intelligent and
possesses the capability to interpret the information obtained. The
system presents the information primarily via a secured encrypted Web
interface, such as the Internet. The information is also presented in a
retrievable format, such as electronic or paper format, using various
computing technologies.