Optical Medical Interface for Fail-Safe Dialysis Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical devices, particularly extracorporeal blood treatment and dialysis machines, face issues with operating safety, disinfection capabilities, and durability due to faulty touch displays and mechanical push buttons, which can lead to complicated and patient-unfriendly therapy completion.
Innovation Solution
An interface with an optical actuation sensor that detects user interactions on a display and adjacent base operating elements, allowing for adaptive activation and deactivation of input surfaces, preventing mechanical wear and ensuring fail-safe operation, easy cleaning, and robustness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a touch display is used for the interface, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to faulty displays and mechanical wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical push buttons and resistive touch displays with an optical sensor system that detects user interactions through optical fields. The optical actuation sensor detects changes in optical properties (such as reflection, absorption, or scattering) when a user touches or approaches the display surface, eliminating mechanical contact and associated wear while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an optical field as an intermediary between the user and the display system. Instead of direct mechanical contact, the user's touch or proximity modifies the optical field, which is then detected by sensors. This intermediary layer protects the underlying display and electronic components from direct contact, damage, and contamination while preserving user interaction capabilities.
2Reliability
If push buttons are sealed against contamination, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates due to complex assembly requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates mechanical push buttons entirely, replacing them with an optical sensing system that requires no sealed enclosures or complex mechanical assemblies. The optical sensor can be integrated directly into the display structure or positioned behind a simple protective surface, dramatically simplifying manufacturing while maintaining reliability through contactless operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical sensor system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it detects user input, provides feedback through optical changes, and can operate through various protective surfaces or coatings. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate sealed button assemblies and simplifies the overall interface structure.
3Ease of operation
If the display is protected by a disinfectable film, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to leakages that may damage components
Solution Approach 1:
The optical field acts as an intermediary that allows user interaction through the protective film without requiring direct contact. The optical sensor detects changes in the optical field caused by user touch or proximity, enabling operation through the disinfectable film while eliminating the risk of liquid leakage damaging internal components, since no penetrations or seals are required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical contact systems that require seals and penetrations with an optical detection system that can sense user input through non-contact means. This substitution eliminates the need for sealed button openings or film penetrations, allowing the use of simple, continuous disinfectable surfaces without compromising reliability.
4Reliability
If mechanical push buttons are used, then the reliability is improved through fail-safe operation, but the duration of action deteriorates due to mechanical wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical push buttons with an optical sensing system that has no moving parts or mechanical contact points. The optical sensor detects user input through changes in light interaction with the display surface or user's finger, eliminating mechanical wear entirely while maintaining reliable detection. This extends the operational lifetime indefinitely without the degradation associated with mechanical components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The optical actuation sensor provides robust and fail-safe touch recognition, allowing for continued operability even if the display fails, reducing the risk of misuse, and ensuring safe completion of therapy by deactivating non-functional display regions and activating redundant safety features.
Implementation Method 1
an optical actuation sensor or actuation sensor technology which is designed to detect a user interaction with, in particular a touching of, the display operating elements of the display and the base operating elements disposed in the same plane
Data Source
AI summary
An interface for a medical device, in particular an extracorporeal blood treatment machine or a dialysis machine, includes a display for displaying display operating elements, base operating elements provided next to the display, and an optical actuation sensor. The optical actuation sensor detects a user interaction with, in particular a touching of, the display operating elements of the display and the base operating elements disposed in the same plane. The optical actuation sensor can be partially activated or deactivated.