A Speech Interface For Bedside Data Entry In An Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

This thesis presents the design and implementation of a speech interface for bedside data entry in an intensive care unit. A speech interface is a system comprised of a speech recognition system, for speech input, and a speech generation or speech synthesis system, for speech output. These interfaces allow the operation of a computer system using voice commands providing the user with feedback via speech output. Such systems permit users to perform "hands-free" and "eyesfree" data entry or system operation in circumstances where the use of traditional manual input devices, such as a keyboard, cannot be used. This thesis begins with a literature sampling of contemporary computerized medical information systems and speech interface systems followed by a description of the hardware and software architecture of the speech interface implemented. Test results are then presented and discussed followed by an outline of future exten~ions for the system. Thanks must also he expressed to my supervisor, Alfred Méll\owany, for allowing me to discover the interesting and rewarding field of medical \tlformatics, and for the inspiring discussions that assisted me to the very end. 1 I\vould also like to acknowledge the help and input of Franco Carnevale and Dr. R'on Gottesman of the Montreal Children' s Hospital for sensitizing me, and the rest 01 the PD MS team, to the issues and considerations specifie to the intensive care unit efl I/ironmenti our collaboration has been both enriching and exciting.An acknowledgment is also extended to the countless undergraduate students who have contributed in one way or another to the PDMs project. A special thanks goes out to the NsERC summer stl\dents Chantal, Han, and Lifang, who were responsible for implementing portions of the design.Last but not least, a special thanks to aIl my fellow students in McRCIM, with whom 1 shared many adventures, and also a very special thanks to the "veterans" Nick, Christian, Mathieu, Jean, Kathleen, and Jean-François. They deserve praise for their help, patience, suggestions, and friendship.iii ---~ Computerization has also had a large impact on hospital intensive care units (ICUs) allowing the continuous monitoring and (!isplay of the physiological parameters of a crilically ill patient. The advent of these computeri.zed monitoring sysLems In hospital ICUs, has removed the burd'2n, on the health care staff, of having Lo continuously take patient readings allowing them to spend more time on patient care, and less doing tasks which can easHy be handled by machines.In addition, many of these computerized monitoring systems perform sorne basic parameter analysis, generating alarms when either pre-set thresholds have been exceeded or when a combination of parame ter changes may indicate an impending problem. These systems provide a continuous, watchful"eye" on the patient while the heallh care professionals are busy with other tasks at the patient bedside.As in most other applications, computerization and automation in the ICU has lead to an increas...