DIALYSIS SYSTEM HAVING DISPLAY WITH ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPLIANCE ("EMC") SEAL

• US 20080200867A1
• Filed: 02/15/2007
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baxter Healthcare SA (Baxter International Inc.), Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: Bedingfield, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,558,964 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/29
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/0094 being light-transmitting, e.g. transparent, translucent
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 9/0096 for television displays, e.g. plasma display panel

Abstract

A medical machine includes: an enclosure defining an opening, at least a portion of the enclosure being electrically conductive and acting as a first capacitor plate; a medical device component located inside the enclosure; a window placed adjacent to the opening; a video display with an at least partially conductive case acting as a second capacitor plate; and a dielectric member placed between the first and second capacitor plates, the plates and dielectric member forming a capacitor configured to prevent leakage of electromagnetic energy from the enclosure.

Claims

1. A medical machine comprising:

an enclosure defining an opening, at least a portion of the enclosure being electrically conductive;

an electrically operated component located inside the enclosure;

a window placed adjacent to the opening;

a conductive border abutting the conductive portion of the enclosure;

an insulating border abutting the conductive border; and

a video display including a case having an electrically conductive surface abutting the insulating border.

2. The medical machine of claim 1, wherein the electrically operated component includes at least one apparatus selected from the group consisting of:

a pump, a heater, a valve, a sensor, a pneumatic source, a disposable cassette, an activator, and an occluder.

3. The medical machine of claim 1, wherein the window includes at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of:

(i) being at least substantially optically transparent;

(ii) being electrically insulative;

(iii) being at least substantially sealed to the enclosure; and

(iv) being at least substantially impact resistant.

4. The medical machine of claim 1, wherein the conductive border includes at least one characteristic selected for the group consisting of:

(i) being a conductive film;

(ii) being in contact with the conductive portion of the enclosure;

(iii) being compressible; and

(iv) being in contact with a ridge extending from the enclosure at least partially around the and overlapping the window.

5. The medical machine of claim 1, wherein the enclosure includes at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of:

(i) the conductive portion thereof including an electrically conductive coating applied to the enclosure;

(ii) being isolated electrically from the display;

(iii) being sized to house components of a peritoneal dialysis machine;

(iv) the opening thereof being shaped at least generally the same as the window; and

(v) the conductive portion thereof contacting the conductive border to form a first capacitor plate, the conductive surface of the case forming a second capacitor plate, the insulating border forming a dielectric between the first and second capacitor plates.

6. The medical machine of claim 1, wherein the insulative border includes at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of:

(i) being made of a dielectric material;

(ii) being made of a plastic;

(iii) being made of mylar, (iv) being sized at least substantially the same as the conductive border;

(v) being shaped at least substantially the same as the conductive border; and

(vi) being sandwiched between conductive portions of the enclosure and the display to form a capacitor configured to prevent leakage of electromagnetic energy from the enclosure.

7. The medical machine of claim 1, wherein the video display includes at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of:

(i) being a color display;

(ii) being a monochrome display;

(iii) being operable with a touch screen;

(iv) the at least partially conductive case forming a first capacitor plate, the conductive border and conductive portion of the enclosure forming a second capacitor plate; and

(v) having a portion configured to be in positive engagement with a force providing member so that the display is pushed against the insulative border.

8. The medical machine of claim 1, which is a dialysis machine.

9. A medical machine comprising:

an enclosure defining an opening, at least a portion of the enclosure being electrically conductive and acting as a first capacitor plate;

a medical device component located inside the enclosure;

a window placed adjacent to the opening;

a video display with an at least partially conductive case acting as a second capacitor plate; and

a dielectric member placed between the first and second capacitor plates, the plates and dielectric member forming a capacitor for preventing leakage of electromagnetic energy from the enclosure.

10. The medical machine of claim 9, where the first and second capacitor plates contact the dielectric member.

11. The medical machine of claim 9, wherein the dielectric member forms a border having an opening enabling information displayed by the video display to be seen through the window.

12. The medical machine in claim 9, which includes a conductive border contacting edges of the window and the conductive portion of the enclosure, the conductive border and the conductive portion of the enclosure acting as the first capacitor plate.

13. The medical machine of claim 9, which includes at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of:

(i) the medical device component including a fluid pump;

(ii) the window being plastic;

(iii) the conductive portion of the enclosure including a conductive metal coating applied to the enclosure;

(iv) the conductive portion of the enclosure being a conductive ridge;

(v) the dielectric member being made of plastic; and

(vi) the display configured to display at least one of text and indicia relating to a therapy provided by the medical machine.

14. The medical machine of claim 9, wherein the window includes at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of:

(i) being at least substantially optically transparent;

(ii) being electrically insulative;

(iii) being at least substantially sealed to the enclosure; and

(iv) being at least substantially impact resistant.

15. The medical machine of claim 9, which is a dialysis machine.

16. A medical machine comprising:

an enclosure including an electrically conductive portion forming a first capacitor plate;

a medical device component located inside the enclosure capable of generating electromagnetic energy (“

EMI”

);

a video display with an at least partially conductive case forming a second capacitor plate; and

a dielectric member placed between the first and second capacitor plates, the plates and dielectric member forming a capacitor for preventing leakage of EMI from the medical device component through the enclosure.

17. The medical machine in claim 16, wherein the capacitor is also configured to prevent EMI from outside the medical device from leaking into the medical device.

18. The medical machine in claim 16, which includes a conductive border contacting edges of the window and the conductive portion of the enclosure, the conductive border and the conductive portion of the enclosure acting as the first capacitor plate.

19. The medical machine of claim 16, which includes at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of:

(i) the medical device component including a fluid pump;

(ii) the window being plastic;

(iii) the conductive portion of the enclosure including a conductive metal coating applied to the enclosure;

(iv) the conductive portion of the enclosure being a conductive ridge;

(v) the dielectric member being made of plastic; and

(vi) the display configured to display at least one of text and indicia relating to a therapy provided by the medical machine.

20. The medical machine in claim 16, which includes a window placed adjacent to the opening.