Gesture Control Mode for Medical Procedure Error Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical systems using gesture input for controlling procedures face errors due to inadvertent or unwanted gestures, which can lead to unintended actions with high consequences for patients, as they lack effective error mitigation mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a gesture control mode that requires an indicator gesture to initiate, limits the rate of change and adjustment range for gesture inputs, and includes mechanisms to ensure only intended user inputs are recognized, such as using camera-based or presence-sensitive sensors to detect hand motions and configurations, and applying error mitigation techniques like requiring confirmation gestures and limiting gesture input accuracy based on error rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If gesture input is used to control medical procedures, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to inadvertent gestures
Solution Approach 1:
The system requires a specific indicator gesture to be performed before the gesture control mode is activated. This preliminary action ensures that the user intentionally wants to use gesture control, preventing inadvertent activation and improving reliability while maintaining ease of operation when properly initiated.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides visual feedback by displaying an indicator when gesture control mode is active, and requires confirmation gestures for critical actions. This feedback mechanism allows users to verify that their gestures are being recognized as intended, improving reliability without compromising the ease of gesture-based operation.
2Productivity
If gesture control mode is activated for all actions, then productivity is improved, but reliability worsens due to increased error risk
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different levels of error mitigation to different types of actions. Routine actions can be controlled with simpler gestures for maintained productivity, while critical actions require additional confirmation gestures or have more stringent validation, improving reliability where needed without reducing overall gesture control efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adjusts the threshold for gesture recognition and the required precision based on the context and type of action being performed. For critical actions, it increases the precision requirement and may require multiple gestures, while for routine actions it maintains lower thresholds to preserve productivity. This dynamic parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between efficiency and reliability.
3Reliability
If multiple error mitigation mechanisms are implemented, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts which error mitigation mechanisms are applied based on the current context, type of action, and detected user intent. Rather than having all mechanisms always active, the system enables only those necessary for the current situation, improving reliability when needed while minimizing the perceived complexity for the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary confirmation step for critical actions, where a second gesture or visual confirmation is required before execution. This intermediary mechanism adds reliability without significantly increasing complexity, as it builds upon the existing gesture recognition framework rather than introducing entirely new control pathways.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, systems, and techniques for mitigating error from gesture input are disclosed. A system may receive an indication of a first gesture input, determine that the first gesture input is an indicator gesture input, and, responsive to the determination that the first gesture input is the indicator gesture input, enter a gesture control mode during which the system is configured to control one or more actions related to a medical procedure. Only during the gesture control mode, the system may receive an indication of a second gesture input associated with the medical procedure and, responsive to receiving the indication of the second gesture input, control, based on the second gesture input, at least a portion of the medical procedure. Additionally, or alternatively, the system may employ other error mitigation techniques for gesture input related to medical procedures.