Voice command and control medical care system

• US 6,278,975 B1
• Filed: 08/19/1999
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Johns Hopkins University
• Original Assignee: Johns Hopkins University
• Inventors: Greenberg, Robert, Walsh, Alexander, deJuan, Eugene Jr., Rader, R. Scott, Brant, Arthur, Mandell, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorvil, Richemond
• Application Number:
  US09/377,655
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 704/275, 704/200, 704/270, 704/231, 704/271, 704/272, 704/225, 704/273, 381/110
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets A61B18/00 takes precedence; contraceptive devices, pessaries, or applicators therefor A61F6/00; eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00203 with speech control or speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A voice command and control medical care system is provided which comprises a processor having a continuous speech recognition capability. The processor is programmed to process a user'"'"'s conversational speech to identify valid commands therein and to generate control signals for operating medical equipment such as surgical tools in accordance with the commands. The processor is programmed to generate audio messages reporting status information when requested, and to generate confirmation messages and await acknowledgement before executing a command. The system is configurable to interface with and control via voice activation essentially and piece of medical equipment having instruments and control switches that can be controlled via electrical or electromagnetic signals.

Claims

1. A voice controlled medical care system comprising:

a medical care device to be controlled in accordance with commands spoken by an operator, said spoken commands being selected from the group consisting of one of a number of different command words, a command phrase comprising a plurality of said command words, and a mixed phrase comprising at least one of said command words and at least one non-command word;

an audio transducer for transducing said spoken commands and generating corresponding audio output information; and

a processor comprising a first port in communication with said audio transducer for receiving said audio output information said processor being programmable to monitor said first port for said audio output information, to process said audio output information to identify said command words therein, and to generate corresponding control signals for transmission to said medical care device.

2. A voice controlled medical care system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processor comprises at least one port selected from the group consisting of a serial port and a parallel port, and said medical care device is connected to said processor via said port to receive said control signals.

3. A voice controlled medical care system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processor is operable to generate said control signals in a signal type selected from the group consisting of an electrical signal, an infrared signal an ultrasonic signal, a radio frequency signal, and an electromagnetic signal.

4. A voice controlled medical care system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said medical care device comprises at least one controllable device selected from the group consisting of a variable input device and a variable output device, and further comprising an interface circuit connected to said processor and said medical care device for operating said controllable device in accordance with said control signals.

5. A voice controlled medical care system as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one of said processor and said interface circuit is operable to generate said control signals in a signal type selected from the group consisting of an electrical signal, an infrared signal an ultrasonic signal, a radio frequency signal, and an electromagnetic signal.

6. A voice controlled medical care system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spoken commands each comprise identification of said medical care device followed by a function of said medical care device that is being requested by said operator.

7. A voice controlled medical care system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said medical care device is an active surgical instrument, said processor being programmable to generate said control signals to control said surgical instrument during a surgical procedure.

8. A voice controlled medical care system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said medical care device is selected from the group consisting of a laser, an environmental control system, a surgical tool an imaging device, a microscope, patient prosthetic device, a patient mobilization device, and a patient monitoring device.

9. An apparatus for controlling a medical care device that is controllable via commands spoken by an operator, the apparatus comprising:

an input for receiving audio output information corresponding to said spoken commands when said spoken commands are transduced, said spoken commands comprising at least a mixed phrase having at least one of a number of different command words and at least one non-command word;

a processing device programmable to essentially continuously monitor said input for said audio output information, to process said audio output information to identify said command words therein, and to generate corresponding control signals for transmission to said medical care device.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said processing device comprises at least one output selected from the group consisting of a serial port and a parallel port, and said medical care device is connected to said processor via said port to receive said control signals.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said processing device is operable to generate said control signals in a signal type selected from the group consisting of an electrical signal an infrared signal an ultrasonic signal, a radio frequency signal, and an electromagnetic signal.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said medical care device comprises at least one controllable device selected from the group consisting of a variable input device and a variable output device, and further comprising an interface circuit connected to said processing device and said medical care device for operating said controllable device in accordance with said control signals.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein at least one of said processing device and said interface circuit is operable to generate said control signals in a signal type selected from the group consisting of an electrical signal, an infrared signal, an ultrasonic signal, a radio frequency signal, and an electromagnetic signal.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said medical care device is an active surgical instrument, said processing device being programmable to generate said control signals to control said surgical instrument during a surgical procedure.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said medical care device is selected from the group consisting of a laser, an environmental control system, a surgical tool, an imaging device, a microscope, patient prosthetic device, a patient mobilization device, and a patient monitoring device.