Clarius Launches Voice Controls
Clarius Mobile Health, a provider of handheld ultrasound systems, has added Voice Controls to enable clinicians to control multiple imaging functions with voice commands.
Voice Controls, which is powered by artificial intelligence, is available now to all Clarius members using any Clarius HD3 wireless ultrasound scanne with the latest 10.3 release of the Clarius Ultrasound App for iOS and Android. Voice Controls will initially be available in English only.
With new AI-powered Voice Controls exclusive to Clarius, users don't have to put down the Clarius ultrasound scanner mid-procedure or ask an assistant to adjust the image. Users speak commands such as freeze, adjust gain and depth, capture images and videos, and switch imaging modes. Clarius Voice Controls help streamline workflows, and enable clinicians to perform procedures efficiently, while improving patient safety and comfort.
To develop Voice Controls, Clarius recorded thousands of voice commands and used machine learning algorithms to teach the software to recognize and perform key imaging functions. Users standing within a meter of the smart device will be able to use voice commands to adjust gain and depth, freeze images, switch imaging modes, and to capture images and video. Clarius Voice Controls also work seamlessly with wireless headsets.
"Voice Controls have proven to be useful on traditional ultrasound systems, and we're excited to offer this premium feature to all Clarius members," said Kris Dickie, vice president of research and development at Clarius, in a statement. "Our goal is to continue making innovative features available on all Clarius handheld scanners for a small fraction of the cost that is currently the norm for premium ultrasound systems. Every clinician should have access to a high-quality ultrasound system to improve patient care.""Voice Controls is an absolute game-changer for me when I'm doing a procedure using Clarius," said Dr. Alan Hirahara, an orthopedic surgeon, in a statement. "When I have two hands full, one with the ultrasound and the other with a scalpel or syringe, I would need an assistant to manipulate something on screen, or to document the procedure, so I don't contaminate the sterile field. Now I just say 'capture video, increase gain, or color mode. There's so much we can do, and the nurse is free to do something else in the clinic."
"The addition of the Voice Controls feature is brilliant," said Dr John Arlette, a dermatologist, in a statement. "Instead of reaching for the touch screen to make a change with what you're seeing on the screen, you can use Voice Controls to capture an image or capture a video clip. Procedures are faster and I can focus on the patient instead of being distracted by mechanical adjustments to the settings on my device. The voice-activated mechanism is especially an advantage to the practitioner who's working on their own."