US 10,588,492 B2 · Use of human input recognition to prevent contamination

Abstract

Embodiments of a system and method for processing and recognizing non-contact types of human input to prevent contamination are generally described herein. In example embodiments, human input is captured, recognized, and used to provide active input for control or data entry into a user interface. The human input may be provided in variety of forms detectable by recognition techniques such as speech recognition, gesture recognition, identification recognition, and facial recognition. In one example, the human input recognition techniques are used in connection with a device cleaning workflow used to obtain data and human input during cleaning procedures while minimizing cross-contamination between the contaminated device or person and other objects or persons. In another example, the human input recognition techniques are used in connection with a device tracking workflow used to obtain data and human input while tracking interactions with and locations of the contaminated or uncontaminated device.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A method for preventing contamination in an endoscope handling workflow with use of non-contact human-machine input, comprising electronic operations performed by an input-controllable electronic system, the electronic operations including:

capturing a non-contact human-machine input provided by a human in a contamination-sensitive environment, the contamination-sensitive environment involving an endoscope being tracked in the endoscope handling workflow;
identifying a stage of the endoscope handling workflow involving the endoscope, wherein the captured non-contact human-machine input corresponds to a selectable option for a handling activity performed on the endoscope during the identified stage of the endoscope handling workflow;
determining a command of the input-controllable electronic system based on recognition of the non-contact human-machine input, wherein the command is available to be performed during the identified stage of the endoscope handling workflow;
and
performing the command in the input-controllable electronic system, the command causing the selectable option for the handling activity to be implemented with the input-controllable electronic system, wherein implementation of the selectable option causes a change to a status of the endoscope within the identified stage of the endoscope handling workflow.

2 more elements

An input-controllable electronic system, comprising:

an input device to capture non-contact input provided from a human in a contamination-sensitive environment, the contamination-sensitive environment involving an endoscope being tracked in an endoscope handling workflow;
an output device to output information, to the human, in the contamination-sensitive environment, in connection with the endoscope handling workflow;
and
processing circuitry to execute instructions to:
obtain the non-contact input provided by the human;
identify a stage of the endoscope handling workflow for operations with the endoscope, wherein the non-contact input corresponds to a selectable option for a handling activity performed on the endoscope during the identified stage of the endoscope handling workflow;
determine a command of the input-controllable electronic system from recognition on the non-contact input, the command available to be performed during the identified stage of the endoscope handling workflow;
and
perform the command in the input-controllable electronic system, the command causing the selectable option for the handling activity to be implemented with the input-controllable electronic system, wherein implementation of the selectable option causes a change to a status of the endoscope within the identified stage of the endoscope handling workflow.

6 more elements

At least one non-transitory machine readable storage medium, comprising a plurality of instructions adapted for preventing contamination in an endoscope handling workflow with use of non-contact input, wherein the instructions, responsive to being executed with processor circuitry of an input-controllable electronic system, cause the processor circuitry to perform operations that:

obtain a non-contact input provided by a human in a contamination-sensitive environment, the contamination-sensitive environment involving an endoscope being tracked in the endoscope handling workflow;
identify a stage of the endoscope handling workflow involving the endoscope, wherein the non-contact input corresponds to a selectable option for a handling activity performed on the endoscope during the identified stage of the endoscope handling workflow;
determine a command of the input-controllable electronic system based on recognition of the non-contact input, wherein the command is performable during the identified stage of the endoscope handling workflow;
and
perform the command in the input-controllable electronic system, the command causing the selectable option for the handling activity to be implemented with the input-controllable electronic system, wherein implementation of the selectable option causes a change to a status of the endoscope within the identified stage of the endoscope handling workflow.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Use of human input recognition to prevent contamination

Life of this patent

Use of human input recognition to prevent contamination

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23