Healthcare systems and methods using voice inputs
First Claim
1. A voice-enabled digital communications assistant system comprising:
- at least one healthcare device or instrument each characterized by a present state or condition and each adapted to performing a plurality of functions or actions in at least an operating room;
at least one controller associated with each of the at least one device or instrument for causing the at least one device or instrument to perform one or more of the plurality of functions or actions in its present state or condition;
at least one audio input device for receiving real-time human-generated speech in at least the operating room and for outputting a signal representing the speech;
at least one knowledge base containing a list of mappings or decision trees relating at least the present state or condition, a plurality of future states or conditions, and the plurality of functions and actions, and further containing a list of capabilities of each of the at least one device or instrument;
a processor adapted to executing a digital media-containing software, the software being adapted tousing natural language processing or other machine learning algorithms to extract semantic meaning from the outputted signal from the audio input device,identifying which one of the at least one device or instrument the speech is directed to based on the present state or condition, the capabilities, and the extracted meaning,identifying from the at least one knowledge base one or more of the plurality of future states or conditions of the identified or instrument,selecting the present or one of the plurality of future states or conditions to place the identified device or instrument in, andgenerating a control signal to send to the identified device or instrument or to its at least one controller;
wherein the control signal includes information useful for causing the identified device or instrument, systems, or subsystems to perform at least one of the plurality of functions or take at least one of the plurality of actions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A voice-enabled digital communications assistant powered in part using tailored machine learning models and other algorithms is used to engage with and control one or more healthcare devices or instruments such that a user is able to control the devices or instruments using natural language, conversational-like, voice commands. A command processor processes the audible instructions, while a context-aware processor monitors the present states and conditions of all devices and instruments, as well as the environment, for situational awareness purposes, including situations where executing commands may be incompatible with or conflict with the present states or conditions of devices and instruments as well as their expected future states. In addition to speech responses by the digital assistant, a separate notification engine provides audible or visual feedback to the user.
13 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A voice-enabled digital communications assistant system comprising:
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at least one healthcare device or instrument each characterized by a present state or condition and each adapted to performing a plurality of functions or actions in at least an operating room; at least one controller associated with each of the at least one device or instrument for causing the at least one device or instrument to perform one or more of the plurality of functions or actions in its present state or condition; at least one audio input device for receiving real-time human-generated speech in at least the operating room and for outputting a signal representing the speech; at least one knowledge base containing a list of mappings or decision trees relating at least the present state or condition, a plurality of future states or conditions, and the plurality of functions and actions, and further containing a list of capabilities of each of the at least one device or instrument; a processor adapted to executing a digital media-containing software, the software being adapted to using natural language processing or other machine learning algorithms to extract semantic meaning from the outputted signal from the audio input device, identifying which one of the at least one device or instrument the speech is directed to based on the present state or condition, the capabilities, and the extracted meaning, identifying from the at least one knowledge base one or more of the plurality of future states or conditions of the identified or instrument, selecting the present or one of the plurality of future states or conditions to place the identified device or instrument in, and generating a control signal to send to the identified device or instrument or to its at least one controller; wherein the control signal includes information useful for causing the identified device or instrument, systems, or subsystems to perform at least one of the plurality of functions or take at least one of the plurality of actions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A voice-enabled digital communications assistant system comprising:
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at least one healthcare device or instrument characterized by a present state or condition and adapted to performing one or more of a plurality of operating room functions or actions in at least an operating room; at least one audio input device within at least the operating room for receiving and processing real-time human-generated speech from inside or outside the operating room and for outputting a speech signal in response to the speech; a context engine for receiving the speech signal, an information about the present state or condition, and an information from one or more knowledge bases, wherein the information from the one or more knowledge bases includes a plurality of future states or conditions of the at least one device or instrument, its capabilities, and a work flow of a healthcare procedure to be performed in at least the operating room, and wherein the context engine is adapted to, extracting semantic meaning from the speech signal; identifying which one of the at least one device or instrument the speech is directed to based on at least the information about the present state or condition, the capabilities, the work flow, and the extracted meaning; identifying one or more of the plurality of future states or conditions of the identified device or instrument, selecting the present or one of the identified future states or conditions to place the identified device or instrument in, and generating a context signal, based on the selection and the list of capabilities; and a command processor for receiving an output from the context signal and outputting a command signal, wherein the command signal includes information useful for causing the identified device or instrument to remain in the present state or condition or to perform at least one of the plurality of functions or actions. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A voice-enabled healthcare method comprising:
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providing one or more healthcare instruments or devices each characterized by one or more present states, conditions, and capabilities, and a plurality of future states and conditions, and wherein each is adapted to performing one or more of a plurality of functions or actions; monitoring and storing an information about the present state or condition of each of the one or more instruments or devices; receiving in an input device a real-time human-generated speech; using natural language processing or other machine learning algorithms, extract semantic meaning from the speech; identifying which of the one or more devices or instruments the speech is directed to based on their respective present states or conditions, their respective capabilities, and the extracted meaning; identifying one or more of the plurality of future states or conditions of the identified one or more devices or instruments; selecting the present or one of the identified one or more plurality of future states or conditions to place the identified ones of the devices or instruments in; and generating a control signal, based on the selection, to send to the identified ones of the devices or instruments for performing the at least one of the plurality of functions or actions. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification