Voice activated diagnostic imaging control user interface

• US 6,785,358 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2001
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Johnson, Mark A., Chase, Maureen L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Glick, Edward J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): THOMAS, COURTNEY D
• Application Number:
  US09/973,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20030068011A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 378/62, 378/98, 378/115, 378/116
• US Class Current: 378/115
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• 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 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A X-ray exam system includes an x-ray source, a detector positioned to receive x-rays transmitted for the x-ray source, a patient table positioned so that the x-ray source emits x-rays towards a patient thereon, a video monitor for displaying images while performing an exam, and a voice activated control system coupled to the x-ray source, the detector, and the video monitor. The voice activated control system configured to control playback imaging sequencing based on a voice command to facilitate analysis of a plurality of acquired images. The control system includes an audio microphone configured to be positioned for receiving audio input from an operator, and an audio signal processor coupled to the microphone for processing amplified audio signals from the amplifier. The processing includes at least one of word and phrase recognition.

Claims

1. An X-ray exam system, comprising:

an x-ray source;

a detector positioned to receive x-rays transmitted from said x-ray source;

a patient table positioned so that said x-ray source emits x-rays towards a patient thereon;

a video monitor for displaying images that are sampled and reconstructed while performing an exam; and

a voice activated control system coupled to said x-ray source, said detector, and said video monitor, said voice activated control system for controlling playback imaging sequencing during the exam based on a voice command to facilitate analysis of a plurality of images acquired during the exam, said control system comprising an audio microphone configured to be positioned for receiving audio input from an operator, and an audio signal processor coupled to said microphone for processing amplified audio signals from said amplifier, said processing comprising at least one of word and phrase recognition, said control system coupled to controls of said x-ray source, said detector, and said monitor for executing commands received by said control system.

2. An X-ray exam system according to claim 1 further comprising an audio amplifier for receiving audio signals from said microphone, said amplifier coupled to a computer.

3. An X-ray exam system according to claim 1 wherein said microphone comprises a highly directional microphone.

4. An X-ray exam system according to claim 1 wherein said voice activated control system further comprises a speaker coupled to an audio amplifier, said audio amplifier coupled to said processor.

5. An X-ray exam system according to claim 1 wherein said X-ray source, said detector, said monitor, and said microphone are located in an exam room, a microphone sensitivity zone located in said exam room.

6. An X-ray exam system according to claim 1 wherein said controls comprise X-ray generator controls and image review controls.