System for controlling a diagnosis and/or therapy system

• US 8,463,613 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2007
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GMBH (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Kagermeier, Robert, Sierk, Dietmar
• Primary Examiner(s): AZAD, ABUL K
• Application Number:
  US11/999,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20080147398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,014 Days
• Field of Search: 704/275, 704/270, 224/183
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00203 with speech control or speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/00 Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups A61B1/00 - A61B50/00, e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges protective face masks A41D13/11; surgeon's or patient's gowns or dresses A41D13/12; devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body liquids A61M1/00

Abstract

A system for controlling a diagnosis and/or therapy system is provided. The system may include a portable unit that includes at least one voice signal detection device and a transmission device for wireless transmission of data to a receiver unit of the diagnosis and/or therapy system. The portable unit includes a voice recognition unit that generates control signals depending on the voice signals arriving via the voice signal detection device. The control signals may be transmitted by the transmission device as commands.

Claims

1. A portable unit for controlling a diagnosis, therapy, or diagnosis and therapy system, the portable unit comprising:

a voice signal detector operable to receive voice signals;

a voice recognition unit operable to create control signals depending on the voice signals that arrive via the voice signal detector;

a transmission device for wireless transmission of data to a receiver unit of the diagnosis, therapy, or diagnosis and therapy system, the transmission device being operable to transmit the control signals;

a shared housing sized and shaped to be worn by a user, the voice signal detector, the voice recognition unit and the transmission device being disposed in the shared housing; and

an actuation element configured to generate an enabling signal operable to enable execution of safety-relevant commands of the control signals when the actuation element is activated, such that the execution of the safety-relevant commands via the portable unit is only enabled when the actuation element is activated,

wherein the transmitted control signals are for transmission to another controller, the another controller being of the diagnosis, therapy, or diagnosis and therapy system.

2. The portable unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuation element includes a two-stage safety switch with two independently actuatable contacts.

3. The portable unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the actuation element is integrated into the portable unit.

4. The portable unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission device is operable to transmit the control signals at least twice.

5. The portable unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the voice signal detector includes a microphone input.

6. The portable unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the voice signal detector includes a microphone integrated into a housing of the portable unit.

7. The portable unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the voice signal detector includes a microphone connected by a flexible tubular connecting piece to a housing of the portable unit.

8. The portable unit as claimed in claim 1, comprising at least one attachment device operable to attach the portable unit in an environment of a user.

9. The portable unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the attachment device includes a permanent magnetic element.

10. The portable unit as claimed in claim 9, wherein the attachment device includes a magnetic foil.

11. The portable unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the magnetic foil includes a self-adhesive magnetic foil for attachment.

12. The portable unit as claimed in claim 1, comprising at least one clip operable to attach the portable unit to a belt of an operator.

13. The portable unit as claimed in claim 1, comprising a receiver unit operable for wireless reception of signals.

14. The portable unit as claimed in claim 13, comprising a voice synthesis apparatus operable for synthesizing voice signals received via the receiver unit of the portable unit.

15. A system for controlling a diagnosis, therapy, or diagnosis and therapy system, the system comprising:

the diagnosis, therapy, or diagnosis and therapy system with a receiver unit; and

an apparatus operable to control the diagnosis, therapy, or diagnosis and therapy system, the apparatus being a portable unit comprising;

a voice signal detector operable to receive voice signals;

a voice recognition unit operable to create control signals depending on the voice signals that arrive via the voice signal detector;

a transmission device for wireless transmission of data to a receiver unit of the diagnosis, therapy, or diagnosis and therapy system, the transmission device being operable to transmit the control signals;

a shared housing sized and shaped to be worn by a user, the voice signal detector, the voice recognition unit and the transmission device being disposed in the shared housing; and

an actuation element configured to generate an enabling signal operable to enable execution of safety-relevant commands of the control signals when the actuation element is activated, such that the execution of the safety-relevant commands via the portable unit is only enabled when the actuation element is activated,

wherein the transmitted control signals are for transmission to another controller, the another controller being of the diagnosis, therapy, or diagnosis and therapy system.

16. A method for controlling a diagnosis, therapy, or diagnosis and therapy system, the method comprising:

generating control signals with a voice recognition unit of a portable unit sized and shaped to be worn by a user, the portable unit including a voice signal detection device, the control signals depending on voice signals being detected by the voice signal detection device;

transmitting the control signals wirelessly to a receive unit of the diagnosis therapy, or diagnosis and therapy system; and

generating, with an actuation element, an enabling signal operable to enable execution of safety-relevant commands of the control signals when the actuation element is activated, such that the execution of the safety-relevant commands via the portable unit is only enabled when the actuation element is activated,

wherein the transmitted control signals are transmitted to a controller of the diagnosis, therapy, or diagnosis and therapy system.

17. A portable unit for controlling a diagnosis, therapy, or diagnosis and therapy system, the portable unit comprising:

a voice signal detector operable to receive voice signals;

a voice recognition unit operable to create control signals depending on the voice signals that arrive via the voice signal detector;

a transmission device for wireless transmission of data to a receiver unit of the diagnosis, therapy, or diagnosis and therapy system, the transmission device being operable to transmit the control signals;

a shared housing sized and shaped to be worn by a user, the voice signal detector, the voice recognition unit and the transmission device being disposed in the shared housing; and

an actuation element configured to generate an enabling signal operable to enable execution of safety-relevant commands of the control signals when the actuation element is activated, such that the execution of the safety-relevant commands via the portable unit is only enabled when the actuation element is activated,

wherein the transmission device is operable to transmit the control signals at least twice.