Localized projection of audible noises in medical settings
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Publication Number
US-12394285-B2
Publication Date
2025-08-19
Expiration Date
Abstract
A localized sound projection system can coordinate the sounds of speakers to simulate the placement of an auditory cue in a 3D space. The system can include a plurality of speakers configured to output auditory signals and a sound localization controller configured to control the plurality of speakers to coordinate the auditory signals to simulate an origination location of a patient alarm. The sound localization controller can determine adjusted auditory signals and control a plurality of speakers to output the plurality of adjusted auditory signals. A method for dynamically controlling speaker settings in a medical environment can include determining volume settings corresponding to a speaker, monitoring a level of ambient noise corresponding to a room of a patient, controlling the volume settings of the speaker to reduce or increase a sound level output of a speaker. A patient monitoring system can be configured to physically manipulate medical devices in response to audible commands. The system can receive a plurality of vocal commands from a user and can manipulate various settings after confirmation from a user.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to medical monitoring systems that use coordinated speaker arrays and a sound localization controller to provide localized 3D projection of audible patient alarms. The system determines an origination location for a patient indicator and projects the audible alert with localized directionality in a 3D space based on speaker control. Audible alarms associated with patient indicators are output using a plurality of speakers controlled by one or more control functions.
A key aspect is dynamically controlling speaker output by using ambient sound conditions and person health information. A sensor in a housing monitors a level of ambient noise, and the system determines a threshold volume for output of an audible alert based at least in part on the monitored level of ambient noise. The system also monitors a health status of the person using at least one physiological sensor configured to measure one or more physiological parameters from tissue, processes physiological information to determine the physiological parameters, and determines a first adverse health event based on the monitored health status.
Based at least in part on the determined adverse health event, the system dynamically controls output of the one or more speakers in the housing. For each speaker, it determines a first audible alert based on the first adverse health event, identifies a first priority of the first audible alert, and causes speaker output behavior that reduces a volume of a current output comprising at least a second audible alert, while outputting the first audible alert at the determined threshold volume. The invention further uses adaptive speaker parameter adjustment with test signals plus a noise sensor to infer surrounding acoustics and dynamically changes speaker volume based on ambient noise level and/or time of day.
Claims Coverage
The document contains one independent claim (clm-00001). It covers a method that combines ambient-noise monitoring, physiological health monitoring to detect an adverse health event, and dynamic speaker control that uses alert priority to reduce current speaker output while outputting an audible alert at a noise-based threshold volume.
Noise-based threshold volume for audible alerts
Monitoring a level of ambient noise in an environment of a person using a sensor in the housing; determining a threshold volume for output of an audible alert based at least in part on the monitored level of ambient noise.
Physiological monitoring to determine an adverse health event
Monitoring a health status of the person based on at least one physiological sensor configured to measure one or more physiological parameters from a tissue of the person, the physiological sensor connected to the housing and wherein the hardware processor receives and processes physiological information from the physiological sensor to determine the physiological parameters; determining a first adverse health event based on the monitored health status.
Priority-based dynamic speaker output with volume reduction
Based at least in part on the determined adverse health event, dynamically controlling output of the one or more speakers in the housing, wherein said dynamically controlling comprises, for each of the one or more speakers: determining a first audible alert to output by the one or more speakers based at least in part on the first adverse health event; identifying a first priority of the first audible alert; and based at least in part on the first priority of the first health event, causing the one or more speakers to reduce a volume of a current output of the one or more speakers, the current output comprising at least a second audible alert, and output the first audible alert on the one or more speakers at the determined threshold volume.
Overall, the claim coverage centers on dynamically selecting and prioritizing audible alerts for a person based on physiological monitoring and adverse health events, while using ambient-noise monitoring to determine a threshold volume. It then reduces the volume of current audible output to accommodate the prioritized first audible alert at the determined threshold volume.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
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