Operating table control system and operating table comprising such a system

• US 6,462,500 B1
• Filed: 06/14/2000
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: STERIS Surgical Technologies (Steris Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alm Co.
• Inventors: Bedoure, Daniel, L′Hegarat, Jean-Marie, Rocher, Philippe
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Application Number:
  US09/593,763
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 318/16, 318/560, 318/567, 318/568.1, 318/600, 318/601, 318/649, 560/0, 561/2, 561/6, 108/20, 704/200, 704/231, 704/243, 704/246, 381/110, 340/825.3, 340/825.31, 340/825.34
• US Class Current: 318/649
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/02 Adjustable operating tables; Controls therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/12 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/18 by patient's head, eyes, facial muscles or voice
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 Execution procedure of a spoken command

Abstract

The control system comprises a microphone (7) linked to a receiver block (9) and delivering audio signals to a discriminating block (11) comparing the voice profile of the speaker with a particular authorized speaker profile recorded in a personal chip card (20) of the speaker.

The authorized audio signals are then processed in a voice recognition device and an electronic control unit so as to selectively activate one of the actuators (3) of the operating table in response to a specific voice command uttered into the microphone and effected by an effector (16) actuated by the speaker.

Claims

1. System for controlling at least one displacement, under the effect of an actuator (3), of at least one part of an operating table (1), comprising, in series:

a microphone (7), a voice profile discriminating device (11), a voice recognition device (12), and an electronic control unit (13) actuating the actuator in response to a voice command uttered into the microphone.

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an effector (16), which can be actuated by the speaker, linked to the electronic control unit (13) for effecting the voice command.

3. System according to claim 2, characterized in that the effector (16) is a pedal.

4. System according to claim 3, characterized in that the discriminating device (11) comprises at least one first memory area (111) for an identification of an individual voice.

5. System according to claim 4, characterized in that the first memory area comprises at least one portion of the transportable removable type (112).

6. System according to claim 5, characterized in that said transportable removable memory portion is carried by a chip card (20).

7. System according to claim 2, characterized in that the discriminating device (11) comprises at least one first memory area (111) for an identification of an individual voice.

8. System according to claim 7, characterized in that the first memory area comprises at least one portion of the transportable removable type (112).

9. System according to claim 8, characterized in that said transportable removable memory portion is carried by a chip card (20).

10. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the discriminating device (11) comprises at least one first memory area (111) for an identification of an individual voice.

11. System according to claim 10, characterized in that the first memory area comprises at least one portion of the transportable removable type (112).

12. System according to claim 11, characterized in that said transportable removable memory portion is carried by a chip card (20).

13. System according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one sensor (21) for tracking the displacement of the actuator (3).

14. Operating table equipped with a control system according to claim 1.