System and method for wireless voice control of an interventional or diagnostic medical device

• US 20030149342A1
• Filed: 02/01/2002
• Published: 08/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hanover, Barry Keith
• Granted Patent: US 6,968,223 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/00 Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment instruments measuring radiation intensity for application in the field of nuclear medicine, e.g. in vivo counting, G01T1/161; apparatus for taking X-ray photographs G03B42/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4423 related to hygiene or sterilisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/548 Remote control of the apparatus or devices

Abstract

A system and method of controlling a medical device through voice commands is provided that includes an input unit, such as a microphone, for receiving a voice command identifying a function associated with one of a diagnostic and interventional procedure. The system also includes a control module for directing a medical device to perform the function based on the voice command. The system includes a voice decoder that decodes the voice command into a basic signal, and a protocol translator that converts the basic signal into a signal code associated with the voice command. The control module also includes a processing unit. The control module receives the signal code and the processing unit directs the medical device to perform the function designated by the signal code.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a medical device through voice commands, comprising:

a medical device for performing at least one of interventional and diagnostic procedures;

an input unit for receiving a voice command identifying a function associated with one of a diagnostic and interventional procedure; and

a control module for directing a medical device to perform the function based on said voice command.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said input unit is a microphone.

3. The system of claim 1 further including a voice decoder for decoding said voice command into a basic signal.

4. The system of claim 3 further including a protocol translator for converting said basic signal into a signal code representing the function identified by said voice command.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said control module includes a processing unit for directing said medical device to perform said function designated by said signal code.

6. The system of claim 4 further including a transmitter for transmitting said signal code to said control module.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said medical device is an interventional medical device.

8. A system for controlling a medical device through voice commands, comprising:

a medical device for performing one of a medical diagnostic and interventional procedure;

a microphone for receiving a voice command identifying a function associated with one of said medical diagnostic and interventional procedure;

a voice decoder for decoding said voice command into a basic signal; and

a protocol translator for converting said basic signal into a signal code representing said function identified by said voice command; and

a processing unit for directing said medical device to perform said function designated by said signal code.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said medical device is an interventional medical device.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein said signal code is an infrared (IR) signal code.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein said signal code is a radio frequency (RF) signal code.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein said medical device is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein said medical device is a computerized tomography imaging device.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein said medical device is a fluoroscopic imaging device.

15. The system of claim 8 further including:

a transmitter associated with said microphone, wherein said transmitter transmits said signal code, and

a receiver provided at said medical device for receiving said signal code, wherein said medical device and said microphone are remotely located from one another.

16. The system of claim 15 further including a remote control, wherein said remote control includes a remote control receiver for receiving said signal code transmitted from said transmitter, and wherein said remote control transfers said signal code to said receiver provided at said medical device.

17. A method of controlling a medical device through voice commands, comprising:

speaking a voice command into a microphone, said voice command identifying a function associated with one of a diagnostic and interventional procedure;

decoding said voice command into a basic code;

converting said basic code into a signal code representing the function identified by said voice command;

transmitting said signal code to a receiver of a medical unit including the medical device; and

directing said medical device to perform said function designated by said signal code.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said transmitting step includes wirelessly transmitting said signal code to the receiver of the medical unit.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting said signal code through infrared signals to the receiver of the medical unit.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting said signal code through radio frequency signals to the receiver of the medical unit.

21. A system for operating an interventional fluoroscopic imaging apparatus through voice commands, comprising:

an interventional fluoroscopic imaging device for performing one of a medical diagnostic and interventional procedure;

an input unit for receiving a voice command identifying a function associated with one of a diagnostic and interventional procedure;

a voice decoder for decoding said voice command into a basic signal;

a protocol translator for converting said basic signal into a signal code representing said function identified by said voice command; and

a processing unit for directing said interventional fluoroscopic imaging apparatus to perform said function designated by said signal code.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein said input unit is a microphone.

23. The system of claim 21 further including:

a transmitter associated with said microphone, wherein said transmitter wirelessly transmits said signal code, and

a receiver provided at said medical device for receiving said signal code, wherein said medical device and said microphone are remotely located from one another.

24. The system of claim 21 wherein said signal code is an infrared (IR) signal code.

25. The system of claim 21 wherein said signal code is a radio frequency (RF) signal code.

26. A method of controlling an interventional fluoroscopic imaging device through voice commands, comprising:

speaking a voice command into an input unit, said voice command identifying a function associated with one of a diagnostic and interventional procedure;

decoding said voice command into a basic code;

converting said basic code into a signal code representing the function identified by said voice command;

transmitting said signal code to a receiver of a medical unit including the interventional fluoroscopic imaging device; and

directing the interventional fluoroscopic imaging device to perform said function designated by said signal code.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein said transmitting step includes wirelessly transmitting said signal code to the receiver of the medical unit.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting said signal code through infrared signals to the receiver of the medical unit.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting said signal code through radio frequency signals to the receiver of the medical unit.18.

30. A system for operating an interventional medical device through voice commands, comprising:

an interventional medical device for performing one of a medical diagnostic and interventional procedure; and

a processing unit for directing said medical device to perform a function based on a voice command, said processing unit including;

a voice decoder for decoding said voice command into a basic signal; and

a protocol translator for converting said basic signal into a signal code representing said function identified by said voice command, said processing unit directing said medical device to perform said function designated by said signal code.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein said interventional medical device is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device.

32. The system of claim 30 wherein said interventional medical device is a computerized tomography imaging device.

33. The system of claim 30 wherein said interventional medical device is a fluoroscopic imaging device.