A voice-controlled network for universal control of devices in the OR.

To achieve the benefits of an Intelligent Operating Room (OR), we envision an OR control center--a voice-controlled network of medical devices. This central controller allows doctors and nurses to control many smart devices in a minimally-invasive OR, in the same way the operating system of a personal computer allows users to control computer peripherals, such as a printer or modem. Surgeons in the OR may use voice commands to control surgical devices when their hands are busy. In addition, the OR staff may use a touch-sensitive display panel to control any device in the OR from a single, convenient location. As an example, this paper describes a new 'operating system for the OR', called HERMES. Because of the unique demands of the Intelligent OR, the design of such a voice-control network involves several challenges: safety, reliability and ease of use. This paper discusses the design strategies for the HERMES control network and presents findings from the use of commercial HERMES in operating rooms.