'Hands-off' - Voice activated automated anesthesia recordkeeping and monitoring system (ARMS)

The development of an inexpensive pilot anesthesia recordkeeping and monitoring system (ARMS) for use during surgery is described. This IBM-PC-based system permits automated acquisition and storage of physiologic data obtained continuously from anesthetized patients during surgery. Additionally, graphic displays have been developed to trend changes in relevant physiologic variables. Operation of this automated recordkeeping system is under voice control of the anesthesiologist. Voice control also permits accurately timed annotation of the automated anesthesia record even when the user is otherwise occupied. Speech synthesis offers operating instructions to the user, verifies the accuracy of voice entries and provides discrete, unambiguous warning messages.<
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