Dialysis machine having touch screen user interface

Abstract

A hemodialysis apparatus includes: a dialysate-delivery system including at least one unit selected from the group consisting of (i) a dialysate-preparation unit, (ii) a dialysate-circulation unit, (iii) an ultrafiltrate-removal unit, and (iv) a dialysate-monitoring unit; and a user/machine interface operably connected to the dialysate-delivery system, the user/machine interface comprising a touch screen, the touch screen including a screen having (a) a target ultrafiltration display, (b) an ultrafiltration rate display, (c) a transmembrane pressure display, (d) an arterial pressure display, (e) a venous pressure display, (f) a dialysis fluid conductivity display, and (g) a dialysis fluid temperature display; and wherein at least one of the displays of the touch screen is selectable to adjust a setting displayed by the display, the setting used to operate at least one of (i) the dialysate-preparation unit, (ii) the dialysate-circulation unit, (iii) the ultrafiltrate-removal unit, and (iv) the dialysate-monitoring unit.

1 . A hemodialysis apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a dialysate-delivery system for supplying dialysate to a hemodialyzer, the dialysate-delivery system comprising at least one unit selected from the group consisting of (i) a dialysate-preparation unit, (ii) a dialysate-circulation unit, (iii) an ultrafiltrate-removal unit, and (iv) a dialysate-monitoring unit; and    (b) a user/machine interface operably connected to the dialysate-delivery system, the user/machine interface comprising a touch screen that (i) displays information corresponding to a setting of a first parameter pertinent to operation of the hemodialysis apparatus, the touch screen being operable to display a first indicium permitting the user to perform, using the touch screen, at least one step of a procedure for changing the setting of the first operational parameter, and to display a first time-variable profile of the first operational parameter, the first profile being representable as a plot of coordinates, the plot being with respect to an ordinate of values of the first operational parameter and a time-based abscissa; and (ii) is operable to display a second indicium permitting the user to perform, using the touch screen, at least one step of a procedure for changing a setting of a second operational parameter, and to display a second time-variable profile of the second operational parameter, the second profile being representable as a plot of coordinates, the plot being with respect to an ordinate of values of the second operational parameter and a time-based abscissa;    wherein the first indicium and the second indicium are displayed simultaneously on a first screen of the touch screen; and    wherein at least one of the first and second operational parameters is used to operate at least one of (i) the dialysate-preparation unit, (ii) the dialysate-circulation unit, (iii) the ultrafiltrate-removal unit, and (iv) the dialysate-monitoring unit.    
   
   
       2 . The hemodialysis apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second parameters include ultrafiltration rate and sodium level.  
   
   
       3 . The hemodialysis apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second parameters includes bicarbonate level.  
   
   
       4 . The hemodialysis apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first indicium and the second indicium are displayed simultaneously on a second screen of the touch screen, which is accessed via the first screen of the touch screen.  
   
   
       5 . The hemodialysis apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the first screen of the touch screen includes an indicium selectable to access the second screen of the touch screen.  
   
   
       6 . The hemodialysis apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first indicium and the second indicium are a program ultrafiltration indicium and a program sodium indicium.  
   
   
       7 . The hemodialysis apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the information corresponding to the setting of the first parameter is displayed on the first indicium.  
   
   
       8 . The hemodialysis apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one screen of the touch screen the touch screen is configured to display a plurality of settings corresponding to the first operational parameter.  
   
   
       9 . The hemodialysis apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one screen of the touch screen is configured to display a plurality of brands of dialysate and an indicium selectable to allow the user to select one of the brands for use with at least one of (i) the dialysate-preparation unit, (ii) the dialysate-circulation unit, (iii) the ultrafiltrate-removal unit, and (iv) the dialysate-monitoring unit.  
   
   
       10 . A hemodialysis apparatus comprising: 
 a dialysate-delivery system for supplying dialysate to a hemodialyzer, the dialysate-delivery system comprising at least one unit selected from the group consisting of (i) a dialysate-preparation unit, (ii) a dialysate-circulation unit, (iii) an ultrafiltrate-removal unit, and (iv) a dialysate-monitoring unit; and    a user/machine interface operably connected to the dialysate-delivery system, the user/machine interface comprising a touch screen, the touch screen including a single screen having    (a) a target ultrafiltration display,    (b) an ultrafiltration rate display,    (c) a transmembrane pressure display,    (d) an arterial pressure display,    (e) a venous pressure display,    (f) a dialysis fluid conductivity display, and    (g) a dialysis fluid temperature display; and    wherein at least one of the displays of the touch screen is selectable to adjust a setting displayed by the display, the setting used to operate at least one of (i) the dialysate-preparation unit, (ii) the dialysate-circulation unit, (iii) the ultrafiltrate-removal unit, and (iv) the dialysate-monitoring unit.    
   
   
       11 . The hemodialysis apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the screen of the touch screen further includes a prescribed time display.  
   
   
       12 . The hemodialysis apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of: (i) the prescribed time display is configured such that when it is touched the prescribed time can be modified and (ii) the prescribed time display is configured such that it changes to a running time display when dialysis is started.  
   
   
       13 . The hemodialysis apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the arterial and venous pressure displays is placed adjacent to an arterial or venous pressure limit display.  
   
   
       14 . The hemodialysis apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the arterial or venous pressure limit display shows upper and lower pressure limit settings and an approximation of a measured arterial or venous pressure relative to the upper and lower pressure limits.  
   
   
       15 . The hemodialysis apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the arterial or venous pressure limit display is a vertically elongated display disposed beneath the arterial or venous pressure display.  
   
   
       16 . The hemodialysis apparatus of  claim 10 , which further includes an ultrafiltration volume removed display.  
   
   
       17 . The hemodialysis apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of: (i) the target ultrafiltration display is configured such that when it is touched the target ultrafiltration volume can be modified and (ii) the target ultrafiltration display is configured such that it changes to the ultrafiltration volume removed display when dialysis is started.  
   
   
       18 . A hemodialysis apparatus comprising: 
 a dialysate-delivery system for supplying dialysate to a hemodialyzer, the dialysate-delivery system comprising at least one unit selected from the group consisting of (i) a dialysate-preparation unit, (ii) a dialysate-circulation unit, (iii) an ultrafiltrate-removal unit, and (iv) a dialysate-monitoring unit; and    a user/machine interface operably connected to the dialysate-delivery system, the user/machine interface comprising a touch screen, the touch screen including a single screen having    (a) a program sodium button,    (b) a program ultrafiltration button,    (c) a Kt/V button, and    (d) a heparin button    wherein at least one of the buttons of the touch screen is selectable to adjust a setting used to operate at least one of (i) the dialysate-preparation unit, (ii) the dialysate-circulation unit, (iii) the ultrafiltrate-removal unit, and (iv) the dialysate-monitoring unit.    
   
   
       19 . The hemodialysis apparatus of  claim 18 , the screen further including a return to home screen button.  
   
   
       20 . The hemodialysis apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the user/machine interface is programmed such that at least one of: (i) pressing the program sodium button causes a sodium graph to appear; and (ii) pressing the program ultrafiltration (“UF”) button causes a UF graph to appear.