User Interface Processing Device

• US 20130091191A1
• Filed: 11/29/2012
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Incorporated (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Original Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Incorporated (Fresenius Medical Care AG)
• Inventors: Levin, Roland, Crnkovich, Martin Joseph, Wang, Fei, Kotsos, Michael Emmanuel, Fuhriman, Gregg Eric
• Granted Patent: US 8,924,458 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/201
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/16 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/17 with redundant control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/00 Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications user-to-user messaging H04L51/00; network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/00

Abstract

This patent application relates generally to processing devices in the medical device area.

Claims

1. A method performed by one or more user interface processing devices comprising:

switching focus from a first processing device to a second processing device or from the second processing device to a first processing device,

wherein the first processing device is configured to monitor medical functions of a medical device;

wherein, when the first processing device has focus;

managing first communications between one or more user interface devices and the first processing device; and

permitting the one or more user interface devices to affect operation of the first processing device;

wherein, when the second processing device has focus;

managing second communications between the one or more user interface devices and the second processing device; and

permitting the one or more user interface devices to affect operation of the second processing device; and

isolating the second processing device from the first processing device so that if the second processing device experiences a condition, the first processing device and the medical functions of the medical device are not affected by the condition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises a dialysis device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical device further comprises the one or more user interface devices, the first processing device, and the second processing device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request from the first processing device; and

switching focus from the second processing device to the first processing device responsively to the request;

wherein the request is based on monitoring of the medical device by the first processing device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein switching focus comprises:

switching focus from the first processing device to the second processing device or from the second processing device to the first processing device responsively to a switch command received from one user interface device of the one or more user interface devices.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending first and second protocol data to the first and second processing devices, respectively, so that the first and second processing devices are configured to maintain one or more respective connections with the one or more user interface devices, irrespective of which processing device of the first and second processing devices has focus.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the condition comprises at least one of a shut down of the second processing device or a computer virus.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

restarting the second processing device without affecting the first processing device and the medical functions of the medical device.

9. One or more machine-readable media storing instructions for causing one or more user interface processing devices to:

switch focus from a first processing device to a second processing device or from the second processing device to the first processing device,

wherein the first processing device is configured to monitor medical functions of a medical device;

wherein, when the first processing device has focus;

manage first communications between one or more user interface devices and the first processing device, and

permit the one or more user interface devices to affect operation of the first processing device;

wherein, when the second processing device has focus;

manage second communications between the one or more user interface devices and the second processing device, and

permit the one or more user interface devices to affect operation of the second processing device; and

isolating the second processing device from the first processing device so that if the second processing device experiences a condition, the first processing device and the medical functions of the medical device are not affected by the condition.

10. The one or more machine-readable media of claim 9, the instructions further comprising:

receiving a request from the first processing device; and

switching focus from the second processing device to the first processing device responsively to the request;

wherein the request is based on monitoring of the medical device by the first processing device.

11. The one or more machine-readable media of claim 9, the instructions to switch focus comprising:

switching focus from the first processing device to the second processing device or from the second processing device to the first processing device responsively to a switch command received from one user interface device of the one or more user interface devices.

12. The one or more machine-readable media of claim 9, the instructions further comprising:

sending first and second protocol data to the first and second processing devices, respectively, so that the first and second processing devices are configured to maintain one or more respective connections with the one or more user interface devices, irrespective of which processing device of the first and second processing devices has focus.

13. The one or more machine-readable media of claim 9, wherein the condition comprises at least one of a shut down of the second processing device or a computer virus.

14. The one or more machine-readable media of claim 9, the instructions further comprising:

restarting the second processing device without affecting the first processing device and the medical functions of the medical device.

15. A medical device comprising:

a first processing device;

a second processing device;

memory configured to store instructions for execution; and

one or more user interface processing devices configured to execute the instructions, the instructions for causing the one or more user interface processing devices to;

switch focus from the first processing device to the second processing device or from the second processing device to the first processing device,

wherein the first processing device is configured to monitor medical functions of the medical device;

wherein, when the first processing device has focus;

manage first communications between the one or more user interface devices and the first processing device, and

permit the one or more user interface devices to affect operation of the first processing device; and

wherein, when the second processing device has focus;

manage second communications between the one or more user interface devices and the second processing device and,

permit the one or more user interface devices to affect operation of the second processing device; and

isolate the second processing device from the first processing device so that if the second processing device experiences a condition, the first processing device and the medical functions of the medical device are not affected by the condition.

16. The medical device of claim 15, wherein the medical device comprises a dialysis device.

17. The medical device of claim 15, wherein the medical device further comprises the one or more user interface devices, the first processing device, and the second processing device.

18. The medical device of claim 15, the instructions further comprising:

sending first and second protocol data to the first and second processing devices, respectively, so that the first and second processing devices are configured to maintain one or more respective connections with the one or more user interface devices, irrespective of which processing device of the first and second processing devices has focus.

19. The medical device of claim 15, wherein the condition comprises at least one of a shut down of the second processing device or a computer virus.

20. The medical device of claim 15, the instructions further comprising:

restarting the second processing device without affecting the first processing device and the medical functions of the medical device.