Medical Apparatus Parameter Verification via Video RAM Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical apparatuses face usability issues and safety risks due to the manual, separate input of mutually dependent parameters, which can lead to errors in parameter implementation during therapies, particularly in extracorporeal blood treatment, requiring improved methods for safety-relevant parameter input with reduced operator handling needs and enhanced consistency.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a software component to drive a user interface connected to a screen for manual selection and amendment of parameters, where safety-relevant parameters are displayed in an input window, communicated to both the control and supervisor units, and compared to ensure consistency, with automatic detection and signaling of inconsistencies, reducing the need for manual comparison and minimizing operator concentration and time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If parameters are input manually one by one, then the operator can review each parameter individually, but the process is time-consuming and prone to errors due to mutual dependencies between parameters
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically capturing the screen image containing the parameter values via video RAM before the operator confirms the parameters. This pre-capture allows the supervisor unit to verify parameter consistency in advance, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual verification while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by comparing the captured screen image data with the parameter data stored in the control unit. The supervisor unit provides automatic feedback on parameter consistency, alerting the operator to any discrepancies between displayed and actual parameter values, thereby ensuring accuracy without manual review.
2Reliability
If the operator manually compares parameter values between control unit and supervisor unit, then parameter consistency can be verified, but this requires continuous operator awareness, time and concentration which introduces human error risks
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically verifying parameter consistency between the control unit and supervisor unit without requiring operator intervention. The supervisor unit autonomously compares parameter data and generates alerts for discrepancies, eliminating the need for manual comparison and reducing operator workload while maintaining high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the mechanical process of manual parameter comparison with an automated electronic verification process. The supervisor unit uses software-based comparison algorithms to check parameter consistency, substituting human cognitive operations with automated computational processes that are more reliable and require no operator concentration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate parameter input methods are used, then each parameter can be entered independently, but mutually dependent parameters cause usability problems and potential implementation errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a universal parameter input approach where a single user interface handles multiple parameter inputs simultaneously. The batch input functionality allows operators to enter multiple parameters in one operation, and the system universally applies the same verification process to all parameters, ensuring both flexibility and safety regardless of parameter dependencies.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides comprehensive feedback by comparing all input parameters against the captured screen image data. The supervisor unit verifies each parameter and detects inconsistencies, providing immediate feedback to the operator about any errors in parameter input, thereby ensuring implementation safety while maintaining input flexibility.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for setting at least one safety relevant parameter of a microprocessor controlled medical apparatus, whereby processes (50) of the medical apparatus are operated based at least on said parameter setting and the medical apparatus comprises a software component (20) driving a user interface (21) connected to a screen (10), and the medical apparatus further comprises means for manual selection and amendment of the parameter setting by an operator. The method comprises displaying by means of the user interface (21) the at least one safety relevant parameter in an input window (11) on the screen (10) and adjusting said parameter in the input window (11) upon manual selection by an operator. In addition, the new parameter is represented in a screen image by means of a video RAM (14). Data regarding the new parameter is then communicated from the user interface (21) to a control unit (30) and to a supervisor unit (40) of the medical apparatus after a parameter setting acceptance operation is actuated by the operator, and the screen image is captured from the video RAM (14) and decoded to data regarding the new parameter. This decoded data regarding the new parameter is communicated to the supervisor unit (40), and the data regarding the new parameter communicated from the user interface (21) is compared with the data regarding the new parameter communicated from the video RAM (14), wherein the result of the comparison leads to: - generating a signal, if the data regarding the new parameter communicated from the user interface (21) differs from the data regarding the new parameter communicated from the video RAM (14), or if data regarding the new parameter communicated from the video RAM (40) did not arrive within a time-out at the supervisor unit (40) after the parameter setting acceptance operation; or - controlling processes (50) of the medical apparatus by means of the control unit (30) at least based on the data regarding the new parameter received by the control unit (30) and communicating data regarding the running processes (50) to the supervisor unit (40), if the data regarding the new parameter communicated from the user interface (21) does not differ from the data regarding the new parameter communicated from the video RAM (14), and checking the processes (50) by means of the supervisor unit (40).