Reservoir Change Display for Extracorporeal Blood Treatment Fluids
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing extracorporeal blood treatment systems lack effective user interfaces for displaying status information related to fluids, making it difficult for users to track fluid levels and schedule reservoir changes efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The development of graphical user interfaces that include a fluid region depicting status information, such as fluid levels and next reservoir change notifications, allowing users to easily monitor and manage fluid supplies during extracorporeal blood treatments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional extracorporeal blood treatment systems are used without enhanced user interfaces, then the system structure remains simple, but users cannot efficiently track fluid levels or schedule reservoir changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a visual copy of the physical reservoir and fluid pathway on the display device. The graphical user interface shows a representation of the reservoir container and fluid pathway, with visual indicators that mirror the actual fluid level and status. This allows users to monitor fluid status by viewing the graphical representation rather than physically inspecting the reservoir, resolving the contradiction by providing efficient monitoring without adding complex physical interface components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual visual inspection and mechanical fluid level indicators with an electronic display system. The microprocessor-controlled display device substitutes for traditional mechanical gauges or manual checking methods, providing automated visual feedback about fluid levels and reservoir status. This substitution improves ease of operation while the electronic implementation keeps the added complexity manageable.
2Reliability
If real-time fluid level monitoring is implemented, then treatment continuity is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback system where the microprocessor continuously monitors fluid level indicators and updates the graphical display in real-time. Visual indicators on the display change to reflect current fluid status, providing continuous feedback to users about reservoir levels. This automated feedback loop ensures treatment continuity by alerting users before fluid depletion occurs, while the feedback mechanism is achieved through relatively simple electronic components rather than complex monitoring systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides advance warning by displaying fluid level information before the reservoir is actually depleted. The graphical user interface shows declining fluid levels proactively, allowing users to prepare for reservoir replacement before treatment is interrupted. This preliminary action approach improves reliability by preventing treatment discontinuity, while the implementation remains simple through basic display updates rather than complex predictive algorithms.
3Loss of information
If visual indicators for reservoir change timing are added, then user awareness of fluid status is improved, but the interface becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs color changes in the graphical user interface to convey different fluid status information. The display can show different colors or shading levels to indicate varying fluid levels, reservoir status, or time remaining before replacement is needed. This use of color coding efficiently communicates multiple pieces of information through a single visual element, reducing information loss without requiring a proportionally complex interface with multiple separate indicators.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a temporal dimension to the visual display by showing not just current fluid level but also projected time remaining before reservoir replacement is needed. The graphical interface can display time-based information alongside fluid level indicators, providing users with both immediate status and future planning information. This multi-dimensional information presentation reduces information loss by combining multiple data types in a unified display rather than requiring separate complex indicators for each parameter.
Data Source
AI summary
Extracorporeal blood treatment systems and methods to display status information for one or more fluids used in extracorporeal blood treatments. For example, a graphical user interface may include a fluids region depicting one or more fluid areas. Each fluid area may include pump and reservoir elements that depict flow rate information, reservoir volume information, and/or a notification related thereto.