Voice Control Verification for Medical Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current voice control methods for medical devices lack reliability and fail to ensure first error security due to error-prone language processing algorithms and the absence of established criteria for verifying voice recognition, limiting their use in safety-critical applications.

Innovation Solution

A method for voice control of medical devices that involves analyzing an audio signal to recognize voice commands, using a verification signal confirmed by comparing two independent voice command analyses to ensure accuracy, and generating a control signal only if the commands match a predetermined criterion, thereby ensuring first error security.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If voice control is implemented in medical devices, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to error-prone language processing algorithms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary verification by analyzing the audio signal a second time and comparing the result with the first analysis before executing the voice command. This preliminary check prevents erroneous commands from being executed, thereby maintaining reliability while preserving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the first voice command analysis is compared with a second independent analysis. The comparison result feeds back into the decision-making process, confirming whether the voice command should be executed. This feedback loop ensures reliability without compromising the ease of voice-based operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If voice control is implemented in medical devices, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to lack of verification mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveproductivityVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary verification by analyzing the audio signal a second time and comparing the result with the first analysis before executing the voice command. This preliminary check prevents erroneous commands from being executed, thereby maintaining reliability while preserving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the first voice command analysis is compared with a second independent analysis. The comparison result feeds back into the decision-making process, confirming whether the voice command should be executed. This feedback loop ensures reliability without compromising the ease of voice-based operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If redundant verification systems are added to ensure first error security, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The verification process is segmented into two independent analysis steps: first voice command derivation and second voice command derivation for verification. Each segment uses the same audio signal but processes it independently, allowing reliability improvement through modular verification without requiring entirely separate hardware systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a copy of the voice analysis process by performing a second independent analysis of the same audio signal. This copied verification process checks the first analysis result without requiring additional microphones or separate signal acquisition systems, thereby improving reliability while limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP4156179A1Voice control of a medical device
Publication Date: 2023.03.29 SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG
  • EP4156179A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4156179A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4156179A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Method for voice control of a medical device (1) comprising the steps of: - capturing (S10) an audio signal (E1) containing a voice input from an operator directed towards the control of the device; - analyzing (S20) the audio signal to provide a first speech analysis result (SAE1); - recognizing (S30) a first voice command (SSB1) from the operator based on the first speech analysis result; - determining (S50) a verification signal (VS) for the first voice command, comprising: - analyzing (S51) the audio signal to provide a second speech analysis result (SAE2); - recognizing (S52) a second voice command (SSB2) from the operator based on the second speech analysis result; - comparing (S53) the first and second voice commands, wherein the verification signal confirms the first voice command if the first voice command and the second voice command meet a conformity criterion (CC).- Generating (S60) a control signal (C1) to control the medical device based on the verification signal, provided that the first voice command has been confirmed by the verification signal, wherein the control signal is suitable to control the medical device in accordance with the first voice command, and - inputting (S70) the control signal into the medical device.