Surgical Voice Control via Spatial Audio Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
In surgical procedures, voice-controlled systems face challenges in distinguishing between voice commands from the surgeon and other personnel, leading to potential errors and injuries due to misinterpretation of sound signals.
Innovation Solution
A controller system that processes sound signals from multiple microphones in conjunction with a tracking system to determine the position and origin of voice commands, using techniques like beamforming and temporal alignment to ensure that only commands from the surgeon are recognized and executed, while canceling out interference signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If voice commands are used to control surgical instruments, then the surgeon's ability to operate assisting systems is improved, but the risk of erroneous interpretation increases due to multiple voice sources in the operation environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of multiple microphones and processing units that act as mediators between the voice commands and the surgical system control. This intermediary layer filters, identifies, and validates voice commands by analyzing acoustic signals from multiple sources, ensuring that only intended commands are executed while blocking erroneous interpretations from other personnel or equipment in the operation environment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple microphones are used to capture voice commands, then the coverage of voice recognition is improved, but the complexity of processing and identifying the correct voice source increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the voice command processing into multiple independent processing units, each handling signals from specific microphones. The system divides the operation environment into multiple spatial zones and processes acoustic signals from each zone separately before integrating results. This segmentation allows the complex task of identifying the correct voice source among multiple microphones to be broken down into manageable processing stages, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining extended detection range.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances the accuracy and safety of voice-controlled surgical systems by correctly identifying and executing commands from the surgeon, reducing the risk of errors and improving procedural efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The tracking system may be an optical tracking system
Implementation Method 2
The tracking system may be an electromagnetic tracking system
Implementation Method 3
receive sound signals from a plurality of microphones directed toward the operation environment
Implementation Method 4
The controller may be configured to shift the sound signals relative to each other in time
Implementation Method 5
superpose the shifted sound signals to generate a superposition signal in such a way that sound signals received from a focus position related to the position of the hand-held surgical device interfere constructively
Data Source
AI summary
A controller for a surgical navigation system is presented. The controller is configured to receive a position signal from a tracking system, wherein the position signal is indicative of a position of a hand-held surgical device that is tracked by the surgical navigation system inside an operation environment. The controller is further configured to receive sound signals from a plurality of microphones directed toward the operation environment, wherein the sound signals potentially contain one or more voice commands from one or more voice sources inside the operation environment. The controller is configured to process the sound signals dependent on the position signal.