VOICE RESPONSIVE FLUID DELIVERY, CONTROLLING AND MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20130275139A1
• Filed: 05/21/2012
• Published: 10/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dennis R. Coleman
• Original Assignee: Dennis R. Coleman
• Inventors: COLEMAN, DENNIS R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,669,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0003 Accessories therefor, e.g. sensors, vibrators, negative pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0072 Tidal volume piston pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/06 Respiratory or anaesthetic masks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0672 Nasal cannula assemblies for oxygen therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0677 Gas-saving devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0683 Holding devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/101 using an oxygen concentrator
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/202 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0033 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/80 voice-operated command
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8293 Solar
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/088 on the body
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/00 Speech recognition G10L17/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/22 : Procedures used during a speech recognition process, e.g. man-machine dialogue
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 : Execution procedure of a spoken command

Abstract

A system and methodology of delivery fluids and monitoring their status which is voice actuated. This system has application where a hands-free environment is preferred. Voice commands are given by the user via a Bluetooth® headset and received typically by the user'"'"'s Smartphone. Voice recognition circuitry is programmed to recognize the simple commands and through complementing electronics, and electro-mechanical and mechanical elements, delivery at corresponding flow rates is accomplished. A further feature allows for respective voice commands to initiate a monitoring function where the status of any particular characteristic of the fluid can be relayed back to the user via the headset.

Claims

1. A voice responsive fluid delivery and monitoring system comprising the following elements:

(a) a storage means having a quantity of fluid stored therein;

(b) means for releasing the fluid from said storage means;

(c) means for delivering any fluid released from said storage means by said means for releasing, to the near vicinity of a person intending to use the fluid that is released;

(d) means for monitoring the status of at least a first characteristic of the fluid stored in the storage means;

(e) a voice responsive means;

(f) a first communication link disposed between said voice responsive means and said means for releasing the fluid;

(g) a second communication link disposed between said voice responsive means and said means for monitoring the status of at least a first characteristic of the stored fluid;

(h) a third communication link disposed between said voice responsive means and the a mouth area of a user an operator of said system whereby the transmission of voice commands from the user operator to said voice responsive means is facilitated, wherein the operator and the person intending to use the fluid that is released are one and the same person;

said voice responsive means adapted to respond to a first set of voice commands to produce a corresponding first set of electrical signals, said first set of electrical signals supplied via said first communication link to said means for releasing the fluid, said means for releasing the fluid adapted to respond to respective ones of said first set of electrical signals in a corresponding respective way whereby the flow of fluid through said means for delivery is at least initiated, controlled at respective predetermined rates and stopped;

said voice responsive means adapted to respond to a second set of voice commands transmitted to said voice responsive means by way of said third communication link by the operator, to produce a corresponding second set of electrical signals, said second set of electrical signals supplied via said second communication link to said means for monitoring the status of at least a first characteristic of the stored fluid, said means for monitoring the status of at least a first characteristic of the stored fluid adapted to respond to respective ones of said second set of electrical signals in a corresponding respective way whereby a respective one of a third set of electrical signals evidencing the status of said at least first characteristic is generated by said means for monitoring, said respective one of said third set of electrical signals communicated to said voice responsive means by way of said second communication link;

said voice responsive means adapted to generate a further respective signal for said respective one of said third set of electrical signals; and

,

(i) a fourth communication link disposed between an ear of the user operator and said voice responsive means, whereby said further respective signal for said respective one of said third set of electrical signals is transmitted to an area in near proximity to the ear, whereat said further respective signal is detectable by the ear, said fourth communication link including means to adapt said further respective signal, if necessary, so that the further respective signal has an associated sensory form so as to be detectable by the ear, wherein all of said elements comprising said system are physically located in place on or in close proximity to the operator such that the system is carried in its entirety along with the operator and is adapted to be operable on an eye and hands-free basis.

2. The system claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and third communication link are at least partially the same.

3. The system claimed in claim 1 wherein the fluid is delivered by the means for delivering to the mouth or nose area of said person.

4. The system claimed in claim 3 wherein at least some part of said voice responsive means is adapted to be programmed with a software application, said software application directing said voice responsive means to produce respective ones of said first set of electrical signals responsive to corresponding ones of said first set of voice commands, said software application directing said voice responsive means to produce respective ones of said second set of electrical signals responsive to corresponding ones of said second set of voice commands, said software application directing said voice responsive means to produce a respective sensory signal corresponding to a respective one of said third set of electrical signals.

5. The system claimed in claim 4 wherein at least some part of said voice responsive means is contained in a Smartphone.

6. The system claimed in claim 1 wherein at least some part of said voice responsive means is adapted to be programmed with a software application, said software application directing said voice responsive means to produce respective ones of said first set of electrical signals responsive to corresponding ones of said first set of voice commands, said software application directing said voice responsive means to produce respective ones of said second set of electrical signals responsive to corresponding ones of said second set of voice commands, said software application directing said voice responsive means to produce a respective sensory signal corresponding to a respective one of said third set of electrical signals.

7. The system claimed in claim 6 wherein at least some part of said voice responsive means is contained in a Smartphone.

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. A method implemented by an operator for activating, controlling, delivering and monitoring a fluid providing means comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a storage means having a quantity of fluid, said quantity of fluid releasably stored in said storage means;

(b) providing a means for releasing the fluid from the storage means;

(c) providing a means for delivering any fluid released from said storage means by said means for releasing to the near vicinity of a person intending to use the fluid that is released;

(d) providing a means for monitoring the status of at least a first characteristic of the fluid remaining in the storage means;

(e) providing a voice responsive means;

(f) providing a first communication link between the voice responsive means and the means for releasing the fluid;

(g) providing a second communication link between the voice responsive means and the means for monitoring the status of at least a first characteristic of the fluid remaining in the storage means;

(h) providing a third communication link between the voice responsive means and a mouth area of the operator to transmit a plurality of voice commands of the operator to the voice responsive means;

(i) adapting said voice responsive means to produce a first set of electrical signals unique to each of said plurality of voice commands of the operator whereby the fluid is released at a predetermined flow rate from said storage means for each of said set of electrical signals;

(j) further adapting said voice responsive means to respond to a second set of voice commands transmitted to said voice responsive means by way of said third communication link, to produce a corresponding second set of electrical signals, said second set of electrical signals supplied via said second communication link to said means for monitoring the status of at least a first characteristic of the stored fluid, said means for monitoring the status of at least a first characteristic of the stored fluid adapted to respond to respective ones of said second set of electrical signals in a corresponding respective way whereby a respective one of a third set of electrical signals evidencing the status of said at least first characteristic is generated by said means for monitoring, said respective one of said third set of electrical signals communicated to said voice responsive means by way of said second communication link;

(k) further adapting said voice responsive means to respond to the means for monitoring to produce at least one sensory signal indicative of the status of at least one of the predetermined characteristics of the fluid remaining in the storage means; and

,

(l) providing a fourth communication link between said voice responsive means and an ear of the operator responsive to the sensory signal,

wherein at least the initiating, controlling, delivering, stopping and monitoring in accordance with the method hereof is performed, hands-free and eyes-free, by the operator, and wherein the person intending to use the fluid and the operator are the one and the same person.

18. The method claimed in claim 15 further comprising a step of estimating an amount of time required to release any fluid remaining in said storage means at a predetermined rate of release and communicating the estimated amount of time remaining to ear of the operator.

19. The method claimed in claim 15 wherein the steps (f), (g), (h) and (k) employ, at least in part, wireless technology means such that the operator can control the release of the fluid via at least one of said voice commands and further that operator speaking another at least one of said voice commands can direct through said voice responsive means, the provisioning of a status of at least one predetermined characteristic of the fluid in the storage means, said monitoring means adapted to provide an electrical signal corresponding to said status of at least one predetermined characteristic of the fluid to said voice responsive means.

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

20. (canceled)