System and method for voice control of medical devices

• US 8,472,108 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2012
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omni Medsci, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cheetah Omni LLC
• Inventors: Islam, Mohammed N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hellner, Mark
• Application Number:
  US13/349,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20120113997A1
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 606/15, 600/424, 359/333
• US Class Current: 359/333
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0004 for electronic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00042 for mechanical operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/05 Surgical care
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/70 Manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0013 Medical image data A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02042 Determining blood loss or bleeding, e.g. during a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7264 Classification of physiological signals or data, e.g. using neural networks, statistical classifiers, expert systems or fuzzy systems neural networks per se G06N3/00; expert systems per se G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7445 Display arrangements, e.g. multiple display units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/749 Voice-controlled interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/302 : in an optical fibre

Abstract

A light-based medical scope system includes a semiconductor diode pump source, a multiplexer that combines diode outputs to generate an optical signal. First and second waveguide structures guide the optical signal with a coupling loss of about 5dB or less through a scope adapted for insertion into a patient'"'"'s body. A focusing element coupled to a distal end of the second waveguide structure is adapted to focus the optical signal onto the patient'"'"'s body. A housing includes a base portion, a flexible portion, and a head unit mounted onto the flexible portion. The focusing element is located within or passes through the head unit, and the base portion includes a mechanical control for manipulating the flexible portion. In one embodiment, a waveguide structure directs an output beam of 1.7 microns or more to perform a differential measurement on patient blood with the result displayed on an associated monitor.

Claims

1. A light-based medical scope system comprising:

a pump source including a plurality of semiconductor diodes capable of generating corresponding output beams;

a multiplexer capable of combining the output beams and generating at least a first optical signal having one or more wavelengths;

a first waveguide structure coupled to the multiplexer and adapted to guide the at least first optical signal having the one or more wavelengths to an output end of the first waveguide structure;

a second waveguide structure coupled to the output end of the first waveguide structure, wherein a coupling loss between the output end of the first waveguide structure and the second waveguide structure is approximately 5 dB or less;

the second waveguide structure being part of a scope at least a portion of which is adapted to be inserted into a patient'"'"'s body during a medical procedure, wherein the second waveguide structure is capable of at least partially transmitting the first optical signal having the one or more wavelengths;

the scope further comprising a focusing element coupled to a distal end of the second waveguide structure, the focusing element adapted to focus at least a portion of the first optical signal onto a part of the patient'"'"'s body; and

wherein the scope further comprises a housing including a base portion, a flexible portion and a head unit mounted onto the flexible portion, wherein the focusing element is located within or passes through the head unit, and wherein the base portion includes a mechanical control subsystem adapted for at least partially manipulating the flexible portion.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the scope is adapted to be inserted through an orifice or incision during the medical procedure.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first optical signal has at least one wavelength in the range of 1.7 microns or more.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the semiconductor diodes are laser diodes centered approximately at a desired wavelength.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first optical signal is used in a medical selective damage procedure that is adapted to preferentially damage a first tissue type based on a higher absorption of the first optical signal in the first tissue type and to cause less collateral damage to a second tissue type.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the mechanical control subsystem further comprises guide wires and is capable of at least partially being controlled through voice commands.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the flexible portion or head unit of the scope further comprise one or more sensors.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the scope further comprises a camera, wherein the camera is located within the flexible portion or head unit of the scope.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the scope further comprises an imaging subsystem, wherein images are propagated from the focusing element through the scope to a camera or display device of the subsystem coupled to the base portion.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the images are propagated from the focusing element through the second waveguide to the camera or display device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the mechanical control system further comprises a touch screen adapted for manipulation by an operator.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the flexible portion of the scope comprises telescoping tubes, with a diameter of the tubes decreasing toward the head unit mounted on the flexible portion.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the focusing element is one or more lenses or a tapered fiber end.

14. A light-based medical diagnostic system, comprising:

a pump source comprising a plurality of semiconductor diodes with output beams;

a multiplexer capable of combining the plurality of semiconductor diode output beams and generating at least a first optical signal comprising one or more wavelengths;

a first waveguide structure coupled to the multiplexer and adapted to guide the first optical signal to an output end of the first waveguide structure to form an output beam, wherein at least a portion of the output beam comprises at least one wavelength in the range of 1.7 microns or more; and

a lens system coupled to the output end of the first waveguide structure, the lens system adapted to adjust at least the portion of the output beam onto a part of a patient'"'"'s body comprising a patient'"'"'s blood;

wherein at least the portion of the output beam is adapted for use in a medical diagnostics to measure a property of the patient'"'"'s blood, wherein the medical diagnostics comprises a spectroscopic procedure comprising a differential measurement, wherein the differential measurement is based at least in part on a comparison of a plurality of wavelengths transmitted or reflected from the patient'"'"'s blood; and

wherein one or more signals from the differential measurement is sent to a processor, and a result from the processor is displayed on a monitor.

15. The light-based medical diagnostic system of claim 14, wherein a gain fiber is coupled to the multiplexer, and the first waveguide structure comprises at least in part a Raman wavelength shifter.

16. The light-based medical diagnostic system of claim 14, wherein the spectroscopic procedure is selected from the group consisting of transmission, reflection, fluorescence and near field microscopy.