Voice Control Surgical System Eliminating Confirmation Delays

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing voice-controlled interfaces for medical devices, such as phacoemulsification systems, require additional confirmation commands after the original voice command, leading to undesirable delays during surgical procedures.

Innovation Solution

A voice-controlled surgical system with a microphone and a voice-controlled computer interface that listens for a valid request to invoke a voice command, allowing for direct execution of voice commands without subsequent confirmation, utilizing a speech recognition module that can recognize multiple languages and adapt to individual surgeons' voices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If voice-controlled interface requires additional confirmation commands, then safety and accuracy are improved, but operational time and efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety and accuracyVSAvoidoperational time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by requiring the surgeon to explicitly invoke voice command mode before issuing commands. This preliminary invocation action sets the system state to expect and process voice commands, allowing subsequent commands to be executed immediately without confirmation delays while maintaining safety through the initial intentional activation step.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If foot pedal interface is used to control multiple parameters, then hands-free operation is improved, but device complexity and user confusion increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehands-free operationVSAvoidinterface complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical foot pedal interface with an acoustic voice-based interface. Instead of using physical pedals that require mapping multiple functions to limited physical switches, the system uses voice recognition to interpret natural language commands, thereby reducing interface complexity while maintaining hands-free operation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The voice-controlled interface provides universal control capability for all surgical parameters through a single unified interface. Rather than requiring separate physical controls for each parameter (irrigation rate, aspiration rate, ultrasonic power), the voice interface allows the surgeon to control all parameters through natural speech, simplifying the overall system while maintaining comprehensive functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If traditional user interface is used, then control precision is improved, but ease of operation during surgery deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidease of operation during surgery

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces traditional mechanical user interfaces (buttons, switches, dials) with an acoustic voice recognition interface. This substitution maintains control precision by using digital voice command processing while dramatically improving ease of operation during surgery, as the surgeon can issue precise control commands without breaking sterile technique or manipulating physical controls with contaminated hands.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 approach reduces operational delays by eliminating the need for additional confirmations, enabling seamless control of various surgical parameters and settings, such as ultrasonic power, irrigation rates, and light settings, while maintaining safety through conflict detection with other input devices.

Implementation Method 1

A voice controlled surgical system is disclosed with a microphone coupled to the surgical system

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMicrophone transduction:

Data Source

PatentUS7921017B2Systems and methods for voice control of a medical device

Publication Date: 2011.04.05 JOHNSON & JOHNSON SURGICAL VISION INC

AI summary

The invention is generally directed to systems and methods for medical care, and more particularly to systems and methods for voice control of a medical device. A first embodiment includes a voice controlled surgical system, such as a phacoemulsification system, a microphone coupled to the surgical system, and a voice controlled computer interface coupled with the surgical system. The voice controlled interface is configured to receive a request to invoke a voice command via the microphone, to listen for a voice command upon receipt of a valid request to invoke a voice command, and to forward a valid voice command upon receipt of the valid voice command to the surgical system for execution.