User interface and method for control of medical instruments, such as dialysis machines

US6146523A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• AKsys GmbH · US

Inventors

• Rodney S. Kenley · Libertyville, US
• Dawn C. Matthews · Grayslake, US
• Douglas L. Wilkerson · Gurnee, US
• Joel DeJesus · Buffalo Grove, US
• Tom L. Brose · Gurnee, US
• Andrew Gebhardt · Lake Zurich, US
• Lori A. Plummer · Spring Grove, US
• Frederick H. Peter, Jr. · Barrington, US
• Russel L. Sage · McHenry, US
• Dennis M. Treu · Castle Rock, US
• Michael Wiklund · Concord, US
• William R. Dolan · Sunrise, US
• Shawn Barrett · Libertyville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 3, 1998
• Grant date: Nov 14, 2000
• Expiry date: Aug 3, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S248/919
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A user interface for a medical instrument such as a dialysis machine is described which uses both a touch screen and at least one hard key off of the touch screen to effectuate a change in a parameter associated with the operation of the machine or the treatment session. The user interface is connected to a central computer control system having a host microprocessor and a backup safety microprocessor. The hard key is directly wired to the safety microprocessor. After the user selects a new parametric value on the touch screen, the user presses a hard key. The host and safety microprocessors implement a verification routine to insure that the entered parameter is appropriate for the patient's treatment and the display on the touch screen. If the verification procedure ends in a positive result, the user is prompted to presses a second hard key to confirm the change, causing an additional verification check to be preformed. If the additional verification check is successful, the parametric value is entered into a memory (such as a hard disk) storing instructions for operation of the medical instrument.