A method and system for retrieving images using a coupled knowledge- base/database is provided, the method comprising the steps of modeling structural knowledge by identifying classes and attributes of classes, determining relationships among the classes, operations for each classes; modeling heuristic and general procedural knowledge by acquiring heuristic rules for each class dependent on the application domain, specifying data processing procedures required by the heuristic rules acquired; modeling control knowledge by specifying intra-class-hierarchy searching paths, specifying intra-class-hierarchy searching paths, and representing the specified search paths in triggers for each class; and deriving a schema for the coupled database from the structural knowledge. The knowledge-based system for retrieving images provided includes a coupled knowledge-base/database and comprises a knowledge-base storing expert knowledge information including structural knowledge, general procedural knowledge, heuristic knowledge, and control knowledge; a database storing patient information; a knowledge-base/database interface for coupling the database to the knowledge-base; reasoning means to search the classes for the selecting rules; retrieving means for retrieving the examination data; and a user interface; and a control interface for coupling the user interface to the knowledge-base.
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