Interactive control systems for medical processing devices

Abstract

A controller provides an abstract, “virtual” interface between the software based applications resident in the controller and the hardware elements of the fluid processing system. The controller also provides a straightforward yet very interactive dual region user interface.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A fluid processing system including a user interactive interface, the system comprising 
 an array of hardware elements,    control means for actuating the hardware elements to carry out a predetermined fluid processing procedure, the control means including an output for transmitting a processing status value that changes over time as the hardware elements carry out the fluid processing procedure,    an interface screen having a first display region and a second display region spaced and distinct from the first display region,    an interface manager communicating with the interface screen and the control means output, the interface manager including 
 means for generating a first display including a first touch activated field and another field displaying the changing processing status value in response to the control means output,  
 means for generating a second display different than the first display,  
 means for generating a third display different than the first and second display,  
 means for activating the first display in the first region to display changes in the processing status value in response to the control means output,  
 means for activating the second display in the second region while simultaneously keeping the first display active in the first region to display changes in the processing status value, and  
 means responsive to touching the first touch activated field in the first display while the the second display is active in the second region for inactivating the second display and activating the third display in the second region while simultaneously keeping the first display active in the first region to display changes in the processing status value.  
   
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1   wherein the means for generating the first display including means for generating a second touch activated field in the first display different than the first touch activated field, and    wherein the interface manager further includes means responsive to touching the second touch activated field in the first display while the third display is active in the second region for inactivating the third display and activating the second display in the second region while simultaneously keeping the first display active in the first region to display changes in the processing status value.    
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 1   wherein the means for generating the first display including means for generating a second touch activated field in the first display different than the first touch activated field, and    wherein the interface manager includes 
 means for activating the second display in the second region whenever the second touch activated field is touched while simultaneously keeping the first display active in the first region to display changes in the processing status value.  
   
     
     
         4 . A fluid processing system including 
 an array of hardware elements, and    control means for actuating the hardware elements to carry out a predetermined fluid processing procedure, the control means including 
 first program means for defining the functional steps of the procedure and generating prescribed abstract Perform_Function# commands based upon the defined steps,  
 second program means communicating with the first program means for generating specific Operate_Hardware# commands in response to receiving the Perform_Function# commands generated by the first program means, and  
 peripheral control means communicating with the hardware elements and with the second program means, and not with the first progranm means, for actuating the hardware elements in response to receiving the Operate-Hardware# commands generated by the second program means.  
   
     
     
         5 . A system for specifying a user interface comprising 
 an interface device,    first program means for generating prescribed abstract Create_Display# commands,    second program means communicating with the first program means for generating specific Format_Display# commands in response to receiving the Create_Display# commands generated by the first program means, and    interface control means communicating with the interface device and with the second program means, and not with the first progranm means, for creating a display on the interface device in response to receiving the Format_Display# commands generated by the second program means.    
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 5   wherein the display created by the interface control means includes at least one touch activated field,    wherein the interface control means is operative for generating a Touch_Code# in response to touching the touch activated field for transmittal to the second program means,    wherein the second program means is operative for transmitting a Function_Code# to the first programming means in response to receipt of the Touch_Code#, and    wherein the first programming means includes means for generating output based upon the Function_Code#.