Touch Screen User Interface for Monitor Defibrillator ECG Review

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current monitor defibrillators face challenges with user interface inefficiencies, including difficulty in entering patient information, complex menu structures, limited ECG waveform review capabilities, and reliance on mechanical controls that are less reliable and inconvenient for therapy settings.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a touch screen user interface with single-touch and multi-touch controls, enabling intuitive navigation, easy data entry, and eliminating the need for mechanical controls by providing a graphical user interface for monitoring and therapy functions, including ECG waveform manipulation and patient care record management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If mechanical controls (buttons, scroll wheels, membrane keypads) are used for user interface, then device reliability is reduced and ease of operation deteriorates, but device complexity is maintained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidreliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical controls (buttons, scroll wheels, membrane keypads) with a touch screen display that responds to finger touches and gestures. This substitution eliminates mechanical failure points while providing more intuitive and easier operation for ECG waveform review and device control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If full keyboards are used for data entry, then ease of operation improves, but device size and bulk increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata entry efficiencyVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a virtual on-screen keyboard that segments the data entry function from the physical device structure. The keyboard appears only when needed on the touch screen, allowing efficient data entry without permanently increasing device size or bulk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a two-dimensional physical keyboard layout to a virtual keyboard displayed on the touch screen, allowing flexible arrangement and scaling of keys without physical space constraints. This enables efficient data entry while maintaining a compact device form factor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Loss of time

If menu structures with multiple button presses are used, then device complexity is maintained, but ease of operation deteriorates and time to access functions increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime to access functionsVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a search function that allows users to directly search for and access desired functions by name, eliminating the need to navigate through multiple menu levels. This preliminary action of searching directly retrieves the needed function, saving time and simplifying operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent allows users to skip through menu structures by directly typing function names or using gesture-based navigation to jump to desired locations in the menu hierarchy, rather than sequentially pressing buttons through each menu level.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

4Ease of operation

If mechanical controls are used for ECG waveform review, then device complexity is maintained, but ease of operation deteriorates and convenience decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the ECG waveform display and control functions into a single integrated touch screen interface. Users can directly touch and gesture on the displayed waveform to zoom, pan, and adjust settings, combining what were previously separate mechanical controls with the visual display.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The touch screen serves as an intermediary between the user and the ECG waveform data, allowing direct manipulation of the displayed waveform through finger touches and gestures. This intermediary layer provides intuitive control without requiring separate mechanical controls.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11684792B2Monitor defibrillator with touch screen U/I for ECG review and therapy

Publication Date: 2023.06.27 EVEREST ACQUISITION ENTITY LLC

AI summary

A device (200) which includes a monitoring unit (210), a therapy unit (220), and a display (100) that includes a touch screen (110). The monitoring unit (210) can be configured to monitor a person's vital signs, such as a person's electrocardiogram (ECG). The therapy unit (220) can be configured to administer an electric shock. The display (100) can be configured to display the ECG and enable a user to scroll the displayed ECG back and forth and/or to zoom in and zoom out the displayed ECG by touching the touch screen (110). The display (100) can also be configured to enable the user to select two or more separate segments of the ECG to view together at the same time on the display (100), which segments can be separated by intervening segments of the ECG that can be hidden from being viewed on the display (100). The display (100) can have multiple user-interface windows (120, 130). One window (120) can be configured to only display functions related to the monitor unit (210) and/or the therapy unit (220), while another window (130) can be configured to display software applications, including an electronic patient care record (ePCR) application.