Dialysis User Interface Dynamic Operation Step Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dialysis apparatuses have rigid user interfaces that limit flexibility and require users to be trained on specific hardware, restricting their usage context and not adapting well to varying user skills or treatment combinations.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a dynamic user interface that classifies operation steps as sequential or non-sequential based on process progress and sensor inputs, allowing for real-time enabling and disabling of selection options, and providing adaptable guidance based on user interaction and skill level.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a rigid user interface is used that is connected to hardware, then the apparatus structure is simple and reliable, but the adaptability to different users and treatment contexts is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The user interface dynamically adapts its behavior and information presentation based on the operational state of the dialysis process. The UI controller monitors process progress and sensor inputs in real-time, enabling or disabling operation step items based on current state, thereby providing context-relevant guidance without requiring complex pre-programming for every possible scenario.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface changes its parameters (available operations, information display, guidance level) based on the completion state of operation steps and current process conditions. As operations are completed, the UI updates which operations are selectable, providing adaptability through state-dependent parameter changes rather than fixed structure.
2Ease of operation
If pre-programmed data sets are provided for treatment, then ease of operation is improved for average users, but flexibility for optimizing specific treatment combinations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides self-service through automatic state monitoring and dynamic UI updates. The UI controller automatically determines which operations are available based on process progress and sensor inputs, eliminating the need for users to navigate complex menus or remember procedural sequences. The interface serves itself by adapting to the treatment state without requiring pre-programmed data sets for every scenario.
3Ease of operation
If operation steps are presented as always selectable, then ease of operation is improved, but safety is reduced due to potential misguided operation
Solution Approach 1:
The UI controller implements feedback by continuously monitoring process progress and sensor inputs, then using this information to dynamically enable or disable operation step items. This feedback mechanism ensures that only appropriate operations are selectable at any given moment, preventing misguided operation while maintaining ease of use through clear, state-appropriate options.
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus for performing a plurality of operation steps of a dialysis process is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a process controller for controlling the apparatus to perform the operation steps of the dialysis process, monitor process progress of the dialysis process and monitor sensor inputs of sensors of the apparatus; and a user interface, comprising a display, an input device and a user interface, UI, controller, wherein the UI controller is connected to enable presentation of graphical data on the display, and wherein the UI controller is connected to enable user interaction with the graphical data and connected to exchange information with the process controller, wherein the information is based on the user interaction of the user interface and monitoring of process progress of the dialysis process and sensor inputs of sensors of the apparatus by the process controller. Each of the operation steps are classified as one of a sequential operation step, which is dependent on completion of another operation step, and a non-sequential operation step, which is independent of completion of another operation step. The UI controller is configured to represent each of the operation steps by an operation step item which is a graphical item suitable to be presented on said display. The UI controller is configured to dynamically, for each of the operation steps, control enabling and disabling of interaction with the corresponding operation step items based on a state of respective operation step, wherein a completed state is assigned to each operation step that is completed, a non-completed state is assigned to each operation step that is non-completed, a selectable state is assigned to each operation step item of an operation step that is non-sequential and each operation step item of an operation step that is sequential but only in relation to a completed operation step, and a non-selectable state is assigned to each operation step item of an operation step that is sequential in relation to a non-completed operation step. A method and computer program are also disclosed.