Voice-Controlled Interaction for Medical Devices in Noisy Clinical Environments

Context

Voice control offers a promising interface for medical devices, enabling hands-free interaction in dynamic clinical environments. However, operating rooms and adjacent areas present unique acoustic challenges that impact recognition accuracy and responsiveness. This thesis explores the viability of voice-controlled interaction for medical devices, focusing on what is realistically possible with current technologies, how reliable such systems can be, what hardware is required and what limitations must be considered. The work will contribute to a validated concept for future implementation using state-of-the-art techniques, architecture, and hardware.

Targets

The objectives of this master’s thesis are:

• To analyze the acoustic characteristics of clinical environments through field profiling in hospitals.

• To explore the stages and components of voice control systems, including wake word detection, command parsing, and auditory feedback.

• To distinguish and evaluate two core use cases:

  • Local control: recognizing and interpreting voice commands directly on the device, and acting on them reliably.

  • Central coordination: recognizing voice inputs intended for a centralized system and mediating fast, accurate communication between the user and that system.

• To select and work with a suitable development environment to enable rapid prototyping and testing.

• To implement a demonstration prototype that supports both use cases and provides auditory feedback.

• To assess system performance and derive recommendations for future development priorities and integration strategies.

Requirements

• Independent working style and creative thinking abilities

• Programming skills in Python or similar environments

• Basic understanding of voice recognition systems and embedded hardware

• Willingness to conduct field testing in clinical settings