User interface for an extracorporeal blood treatment machine

Abstract

A user interface for a machine for extracorporeal blood treatment comprises a touch screen and a controller programmed to display on a screen ( 16 ) a display in which two distinct areas are arranged, one of which ( 161 ) exhibits a series of touch keys ( 17 ). Activation of any one touch key ( 17 ) causes visualization of an image in a second area ( 162 ) of the screen. The images are displayed alternatively and are at least partly different one from another. Each touch key ( 17 ) is associated to an instruction, or to a group of instructions, all concerned with readying the machine for use. Each image is a pictograph of a configuration of the machine, correlated with an instruction associated to the touch key ( 17 ) selected. The operator is aided in making the machine ready for treatment.

1 . A user interface for an extracorporeal blood treatment machine, which user interface comprises: 
 at least one touch screen;    at least one memory containing at least two images; and    at least a controller programmed for: 
 displaying on a screen of the touch screen at least one display including at least two distinct areas, a first area of the two distinct areas exhibiting at least two touch keys;  
 detecting activation of the at least two touch keys;  
 displaying in a second area of the at least two areas of the at least one display, a first of the at least two images, when a first of at the least two touch keys is activated;  
 displaying in the second area of the at least two areas of the at least one display, a second of the at least two images, when a second of the at least two touch keys is activated.  
   
     
     
         2 . The user interface of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is programmed to display the at least two images alternatively and not contemporaneously on the second area of the at least one display.  
     
     
         3 . The user interface of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two images are at least partially different one from another.  
     
     
         4 . The user interface of  claim 1 , wherein the memory comprises a plurality of data relating to the machine, and wherein the controller is programmed to display the data on the first area of the at least one display, each item of the data being displayed in a visually-associated position to a touch key of the at least two touch keys.  
     
     
         5 . The user interface of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is programmed to display contemporaneously the plurality of data on the first area of the at least one display.  
     
     
         6 . The user interface of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is programmed to keep the plurality of data displayed on screen following activation of any one of the at least two touch keys.  
     
     
         7 . The user interface of  claim 4 , wherein: 
 the plurality of data comprises operating instructions for readying the machine for use;    the at least two images are pictographs which represent configurations of the machine correlated to the operating instructions.    
     
     
         8 . The user interface of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is programmed to visually modify at least a part of the at least one display in response to a performing of at least one of the operating instructions.  
     
     
         9 . The user interface of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is programmed not to allow any change of contents of the plurality of data via the touch screen on the part of an operator.  
     
     
         10 . The user interface of  claim 1 , wherein a resolution of the second area of the display is at least 80 pixels per inch.  
     
     
         11 . The user interface of  claim 1 , wherein the second area of the display is without areas predisposed for data input, at least in areas containing the at least two images.  
     
     
         12 . The user interface of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is programmed to visually modify a part of the first area by effect of an activation of any one of the at least two touch keys, the part being visually associated to the activated touch key.  
     
     
         13 . The user interface of  claim 1 , wherein each of the images comprises at least one pictograph, which at least one pictograph represents the machine for extracorporeal blood treatment and at least a part of a disposable set which is associated during machine operation to the machine.  
     
     
         14 . A controller for a user interface as in  claim 1 .  
     
     
         15 . A machine for extracorporeal blood treatment, comprising: 
 at least one blood pump;    at least one housing zone for receiving at least one extracorporeal blood circuit in a position wherein the at least one extracorporeal blood circuit is operatively associated with the blood pump;    at least a machine control unit;    at least one user interface for dialogue between an operator and the control unit, said at least one user interface being made according to  claim 1 .    
     
     
         16 . The machine of  claim 15 , wherein the machine is predisposed to perform at least one of following extracorporeal treatments: hemofiltration, hemodiafiltration, therapeutic plasma exchange; hemoperfusion; hemodialysis; pure ultrafiltration.  
     
     
         17 . A dialysis machine comprising a user interface as in  claim 1 .  
     
     
         18 . A process for assisting an operator in readying a machine for extracorporeal blood treatment, wherein the machine comprises at least one user interface provided with a touch screen, the process comprising stages of: 
 displaying on a screen of the touch screen at least one display in which at least two distinct areas are described, a first area of the at least two areas exhibiting at least two touch keys, each of which at least two touch keys is associated to at least one operational instruction for readying the machine;    touching one of the at least two touch keys located in the first area in order to make a selection of at least one operating instruction associated to the one of the at least two touch keys;    displaying, in response to the selection, a pictograph on a second area of the two areas of the display, the pictograph depicting a configuration of the machine correlated to the at least one operating instruction.    
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 18 , comprising stages of: 
 displaying pictographs which are at least partly different one from another, alternately and not contemporaneously on the second area of the display, in accordance with a selected touch key;    contemporaneously displaying, in the first area of the display, a plurality of the operating instructions, and keeping the operating instructions on-screen following activation of a touch key of the touch keys.    
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein an operator readying the machine cannot modify, via the touch screen, contents of the operating instructions displayed.