System and method for wireless voice control of an interventional or diagnostic medical device

• US 6,968,223 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2002
• Issued: 11/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hanover, Barry Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): IMAM, ALI M
• Application Number:
  US09/683,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20030149342A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• Field of Search: 600/407, 600/425, 600/410, 600/437, 367132-134, D24/175, 704/246
• US Class Current: 600/407
• 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 6/4423 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

Abstract

A system and method of controlling a medical device through voice commands is provided that includes an input unit, such as a microphone, for receiving a voice command identifying a function associated with one of a diagnostic and interventional procedure. The system also includes a control module for directing a medical device to perform the function based on the voice command. The system includes a voice decoder that decodes the voice command into a basic signal, and a protocol translator that converts the basic signal into a signal code associated with the voice command. The control module also includes a processing unit. The control module receives the signal code and the processing unit directs the medical device to perform the function designated by the signal code.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a medical device through voice commands, comprising:

a medical device for performing at least one of interventional and diagnostic procedures;

an input unit for receiving a voice command identifying a function associated with one of a diagnostic and interventional procedure, wherein the function includes movement of said medical device; and

a control module for directing said medical device to perform the function based on said voice command.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said input unit is a microphone.

3. The system of claim 1 further including a voice decoder for decoding said voice command into a basic signal.

4. The system of claim 3 further including a protocol translator for converting said basic signal into a signal code representing the function identified by said voice command.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said control module includes a processing unit for directing said medical device to perform said function designated by said signal code.

6. The system of claim 4 further including a transmitter for transmitting said signal code to said control module.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said medical device is an interventional medical device.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising additional functions including positioning and imaging characteristics of said medical device, wherein said control module is configured to direct said medical device to perform the function and the additional functions based on said voice command and additional voice commands, respectively.

9. A system for controlling a medical device through voice commands, comprising:

a medical device for performing one of a medical diagnostic and interventional procedure;

a microphone for receiving a voice command identifying a function associated with one of said medical diagnostic and interventional procedure, wherein the function includes movement of said medical device;

a voice decoder for decoding said voice command into a basic signal; and

a protocol translator for converting said basic signal into a signal code representing said function identified by said voice command; and

a processing unit for directing said medical device to perform said function designated by said signal code.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said medical device is an interventional medical device.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein said signal code is an infrared (IR) signal code.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein said signal code is a radio frequency (RF) signal code.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein said medical device is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein said medical device is a computerized tomography imaging device.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein said medical device is a fluoroscopic imaging device.

16. The system of claim 9 further including:

a transmitter associated with said microphone, wherein said transmitter transmits said signal code, and

a receiver provided at said medical device for receiving signal code, wherein said medical device and said microphone are remotely located from one another.

17. The system of claim 16 further including a remote control, wherein said remote control includes a remote control receiver for receiving said signal code transmitted from said transmitter, and wherein said remote control transfers said signal code to said receiver provided at said medical device.

18. The system of claim 9, further comprising additional functions including positioning and imaging characteristics of said medical device, wherein said control module is configured to direct said medical device to perform said function and said additional functions based on said voice command and additional voice commands, respectively.

19. A method of controlling a medical device through voice commands, comprising:

speaking a voice command into a microphone, said voice command identifying a function associated with one of a diagnostic and interventional procedure, wherein said function includes movement of the medical device;

decoding said voice command into a basic code;

converting said basic code into a signal code representing the function identified by said voice command;

transmitting said signal code to a receiver of a medical unit including the medical device; and

directing said medical device to perform said function designated by said signal code.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said transmitting step includes wirelessly transmitting said signal code to the receiver of the medical unit.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting said signal code through infrared signals to the receiver of the medical unit.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting said signal code through radio frequency signals to the receiver of the medical unit.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising speaking additional voice commands into the microphone, wherein said additional voice commands identify additional functions including positioning and imaging characteristics of the medical device;

and directing said medical device to perform said additional functions.

24. A system for operating an interventional fluoroscopic imaging apparatus through voice commands, comprising:

an interventional fluoroscopic imaging device for performing one of a medical diagnostic and interventional procedure;

an input unit for receiving a voice command identifying a function associated with one of a diagnostic and interventional procedure, wherein the function includes movement of the said interventional fluoroscopic imaging device;

a voice decoder for decoding said voice command into a basic signal;

a protocol translator for converting said basic signal into a signal code representing said function identified by said voice command; and

a processing unit for directing said interventional fluoroscopic imaging apparatus to perform said function designated by said signal code.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein said input unit is a microphone.

26. The system of claim 24 further including:

a transmitter associated with said microphone, wherein said transmitter wirelessly transmits said signal code, and

a receiver provided at said medical device for receiving said signal code, wherein said medical device and said microphone are remotely located from one another.

27. The system of claim 24 wherein said signal code is an infrared (IR) signal code.

28. The system of claim 24 wherein said signal code is a radio frequency (RF) signal code.

29. A method of controlling an interventional fluoroscopic imaging device through voice commands, comprising:

speaking a voice command into an input unit, said voice command identifying a function associated with one of a diagnostic and interventional procedure, wherein the function includes movement of the interventional fluoroscopic imaging device;

decoding said voice command into a basic code;

converting said basic code into a signal code representing the function identified by said voice command;

transmitting said signal code to a receiver of a medical unit including the interventional fluoroscopic imaging device; and

directing the interventional fluoroscopic imaging device to perform said function designated by said signal code.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein said transmitting step includes wirelessly transmitting said signal code to the receiver of the medical unit.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting said signal code through infrared signals to the receiver of the medical unit.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting said signal code through radio frequency signals to the receiver of the medical unit.

33. A system for operating an interventional medical device through voice commands, comprising:

an interventional medical device for performing one of a medical diagnostic and interventional procedure; and

a processing unit for directing said medical device to perform functions based on voice commands, wherein the functions include movement, positioning and imaging capabilities of said interventional medical device, said processing unit including;

a voice decoder for decoding said voice commands into basic signals; and

a protocol translator for converting said basic signals into signal codes representing said functions identified by said voice commands, said processing unit directing said medical device to perform functions designated by said codes.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein said interventional medical device is a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device.

35. The system of claim 33 wherein said interventional medical device is a computerized tomography imaging device.

36. The system of claim 33 wherein said interventional medical device is a fluoroscopic imaging device.