Hands-free operation

Voice-controlled medical devices could help to streamline operating theatres, following successful European trials of technology developed by Philips.

Researchers at the Dutch HQ of the global electronics giant claim that their Hands Free Interaction in the Hospital (HIH) system enables doctors to operate medical equipment while their hands are busy carrying out other procedures.

Mathias Lang, the senior scientist in charge of the project, said previous voice-activated medical applications required doctors to wear clip-on microphones or headsets. Such devices are distracting and cumbersome during lengthy medical procedures, Lang said.

The Philips system avoids this problem by arranging microphones around the room out of the doctors’ way. When someone in the vicinity of the microphone array speaks, each microphone detects the sound at a slightly different time, allowing the system to determine the precise location of the speaker.

Having established this, the control unit then uses algorithms developed for use in the mobile phone industry to filter out extraneous background noise and channel commands to medical equipment.