DEVICE FOR WASHING, DISINFECTING AND/OR STERILIZING MEDICAL, DENTAL, LABORATORY AND/OR PHARMACEUTICAL GOODS AND METHODS AND PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR USE THEREIN

• US 20160250369A1
• Filed: 10/03/2013
• Published: 09/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Getinge Sterilization AB (Getinge AB)
• Original Assignee: Getinge Sterilization AB (Getinge AB)
• Inventors: Ljungstrm, Hanna, Norlin, Per
• Granted Patent: US 10,117,957 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/0005 for pharmaceuticals, biologicals or living parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/24 Apparatus using programmed or automatic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2202/24 Medical instruments, e.g. endoscopes, catheters, sharps
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/409 characterised by using manual data input [MDI] or by using control panel, e.g. controlling functions with the panel; characterised by control panel details or by setting parameters G05B19/408, G05B19/4093 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2644 Sterilizer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45169 Medical, rontgen, x ray
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence

Abstract

A method performed by a device for washing, disinfecting and/or sterilizing medical, dental, laboratory and/or pharmaceutical goods in order to guide a user of the device (100) through a process of operating the device (100) is provided. The device (100) comprises at least one display (130) for displaying a predetermined number of graphical interactive user interface objects (310A-420A, 310B-420B) and a chamber (140) for receiving said goods. The device (100) detects a current first process state of the device (100), and indicates on the display (130) a first set of said graphical interactive user interface objects (310A) associated with the detected current first process state visually differentiated from the other graphical interactive user interface objects of said graphical interactive user interface objects (320A-420A, 310B-420B), with which first set of graphical interactive user interface objects (310A) the user interacts in order to cause the process of operating the device (100) to change from the detected current first process state to a second process state. A device (110) for washing, disinfecting and/or sterilizing medical, dental, laboratory and/or pharmaceutical goods configured to guide a user of the device (100) through a process of operating the device (100), and a computer program product for guiding a user of a device (100) for washing, disinfecting and/or sterilizing medical, dental, laboratory and/or pharmaceutical goods through a process of operating the device (100), are also provided.

Claims

1. A method performed by a device for washing, disinfecting and/or sterilizing medical, dental, laboratory and/or pharmaceutical goods in order to guide a user of the device through a process of operating the device, which device comprises at least one display for displaying a predetermined number of graphical interactive user interface objects and a chamber for receiving said goods, the method comprising:

detecting a current first process state of the device;

indicating limited ways of operating the device to the user by indicating on the display a first set of said graphical interactive user interface objects associated with the detected current first process state which first set of said graphical interactive user interface objects are allowed in the detected current first process state, visually differentiated from the other graphical interactive user interface objects of said graphical interactive user interface objects which other graphical interactive user interface objects are irrelevant for the detected current first process state, with which first set of graphical interactive user interface objects the user interacts in order to cause the process of operating the device to change from the detected current first process state to a second process state;

detecting that the process of operating the device has changed to a second process state; and

in response to said change, indicating on the display a second set of graphical interactive user interface objects associated with the detected second process state visually differentiated from the other graphical interactive user interface objects of said graphical interactive user interface objects, with which second set of graphical interactive user interface objects the user interacts with in order to cause the process of operating the device to change from the detected second process state to a further process state;

wherein the detecting is performed by the device in response to a user interaction with the device via the first or the second set of graphical interactive user interface objects, respectively, and/or in response to a detected change in the operation of the device by the device itself.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and the at least one second set of graphical interactive user interface objects are visually differentiated from other graphical interactive user interface objects during the detected first and the at least one second process state, respectively, by one or more of the following:

displaying versus not displaying;

coloring versus non-coloring;

a first coloring versus at least one second coloring;

shading versus non-shading; and

/or

a first display intensity versus a second display intensity;

frames versus no frames; and

/or

a first font versus at least one second font.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the process of operating the device comprises a number of process states in each of which only a limited set of operations are allowed and relevant in the context of leading a user of the device in transitioning the device from one process state into another process state, wherein each of the limited sets of operations of each process state is associated with a corresponding set of graphical interactive user interface objects.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second set of graphical interactive user interface objects are visually differentiated from other graphical, user interface objects during the detected first and the at least one second process state, respectively, by at least partly having a blue color.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the blue color, when represented by an RGB color code, comprises the color values of on or about 0:

170;

255.

8. The method according to claim 4, wherein the blue color further comprises a gradient comprising the color values of on or about 37:

59;

126, when represented by an RGB color code.

10. The device according to claim 7, wherein the device is or comprises an autoclave, a washer, a washer disinfector or a drying cabinet for medical, dental, laboratory and/or pharmaceutical goods.

11. The device according to claim 7, wherein the display is a touch sensitive display or touch screen.

12. The device according to claim 7, wherein the display is a physically connected and mounted to the device.

13. The device according to claim 7, wherein the display is remotely connected to the device.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

9. A device for washing, disinfecting and/or sterilizing medical, dental, laboratory and/or pharmaceutical goods configured to guide a user of the device through a process of operating the device, which device comprises:

a chamber for receiving said goods;

at least one display for displaying a predetermined number of graphical interactive user interface objects; and

processing circuitry configured to detect a current first process state of the device, and to indicate limited ways of operating the device to the user by indicating on the display a first set of said graphical interactive user interface objects associated with the detected current first process state which first set of said graphical interactive user interface objects are allowed in the detected current first process state, visually differentiated from the other graphical interactive user interface objects of said graphical interactive user interface objects which other graphical interactive user interface objects are irrelevant for the detected current first process state, with which first set of graphical interactive user interface objects the user interacts in order to cause the process of operating the device to change from the detected current first process state to a second process state which processing circuitry further is configured to detect a change in the process of operating the device, to a second process state; and

in response to said change, to indicate on the display a second set of graphical interactive user interface objects associated with the detected second process state visually differentiated from the other graphical interactive user interface objects of said graphical interactive user interface objects, with which second set of graphical interactive user interface objects the user interacts with in order to cause the process of operating the device to change from the detected second process state to a further process state;

wherein the detecting is performed by the device in response to a user interaction with the device via the first or the second set of graphical interactive user interface objects, respectively, and/or in response to a detected change in the operation of the device by the device itself.

14. A computer program product for guiding a user of a device for washing, disinfecting and/or sterilizing medical, dental, laboratory and/or pharmaceutical goods through a process of operating the device, which device comprises a chamber for receiving said goods, a display for displaying a predetermined number of graphical interactive user interface objects and processing circuitry, wherein the computer program product comprises code instructions configured for execution by the processing circuitry and which code instructions, when executed in the device, cause the device to:

detect a current first process state of the device, and to indicate limited ways of operating the device to the user by indicating on the display a first set of said graphical interactive user interface objects associated with the detected current first process state which first set of said graphical interactive user interface objects are allowed in the detected current first process state, visually differentiated from the other graphical interactive user interface objects of said graphical interactive user interface objects which other graphical interactive user interface objects are irrelevant for the detected current first process state, with which first set of graphical interactive user interface objects the user interacts in order to cause the process of operating the device to change from the detected current first process state to a second process state;

detect that the process of operating the device has changed to a second process state; and

in response to said change, indicate on the display a second set of graphical interactive user interface objects associated with the detected second process state visually differentiated from the other graphical interactive user interface objects of said graphical interactive user interface objects, with which second set of graphical interactive user interface objects the user interacts with in order to cause the process of operating the device to change from the detected second process state to a further process state;

wherein the detecting is performed by the device in response to a user interaction with the device via the first or the second set of graphical interactive user interface objects, respectively, and/or in response to a detected change in the operation of the device by the device itself.