Dynamic Graphical Elements for Blood Treatment Interface Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current medical treatment apparatus graphical user interfaces lack intuitive and interactive elements to effectively manage and visualize the states of process features in extracorporeal blood treatment systems, such as dialysis, making it difficult for users to monitor and control the treatment processes.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of graphical user interfaces that allow process feature graphical elements to be moved and connected to represent changes in states, such as blood flow and dialysate processes, enabling users to initiate or stop processes and providing visual feedback through animations and parameter displays, with affordance indications for correct placement and automatic movement based on sensor inputs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional static graphical user interfaces are used in medical treatment apparatus, then the interface structure is simple and easy to implement, but the user cannot effectively monitor and control the treatment processes and the visualization of process features is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser ability to monitor and control treatment processesVSAvoidgraphical user interface structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic graphical elements that can be moved, dragged, and repositioned by users to represent different process states. The graphical user interface transitions from static displays to dynamic visual representations where elements respond to user actions and automatically update based on sensor inputs, enabling intuitive monitoring and control of treatment processes without overwhelming complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates visual copies and representations of physical treatment components through graphical elements. These graphical representations mirror the actual treatment apparatus components and their states, allowing users to interact with visual models that accurately reflect the physical system's condition, thereby simplifying control while enhancing monitoring capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Loss of information

If graphical elements are made movable and interactive to represent process states, then user understanding and control capability are improved, but the interface complexity and difficulty of implementation increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisualization of treatment system stateVSAvoidgraphical user interface implementation
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements bidirectional feedback mechanisms where graphical elements automatically update their positions and states based on sensor inputs from the treatment apparatus, and user interactions with graphical elements immediately reflect in the controlled processes. This continuous feedback loop ensures accurate state visualization while automating updates reduces implementation complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The graphical user interface elements automatically update themselves based on system state changes detected by sensors. The system self-updates the graphical representations without requiring manual intervention or complex programming for each state change, reducing implementation difficulty while maintaining comprehensive visualization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If drag-and-connect functionality is implemented for process feature graphical elements, then ease of operation and user interaction are enhanced, but the device complexity and programming requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocess initiation and controlVSAvoidsoftware development complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-programs the graphical user interface with drag-and-connect functionality and predefined interaction patterns during the design phase. Common treatment processes are pre-configured with appropriate graphical elements and connection logic, allowing users to simply drag and connect elements without requiring complex programming knowledge, thereby enhancing ease of operation while managing development complexity through upfront design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3316926B1Process feature graphical elements for medical treatment user interfaces
Publication Date: 2019.05.29 GAMBRO LUNDIA AB
  • EP3316926B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3316926B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3316926B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

Graphical user interfaces for use with extracorporeal blood treatment systems may include one or more process feature graphical elements. The process feature graphical elements may be moved automatically or manually by users to provide indications with respect to the process features associated with and represented by the process feature graphical elements.