Automated Display Dimness Control for a Medical Device

• US 20170092227A1
• Filed: 09/25/2015
• Published: 03/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2015
• 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: Yik, Kelly, Doyle, Matthew, Wang, Aiyuan, Merics, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 10,332,482 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/14 Dialysis systems; Artificial kidneys; Blood oxygenators semi-permeable membranes characterised by the material, manufacturing processes therefor B01D71/00 ; Reciprocating systems for treatment of body fluids, e.g. single needle systems for hemofiltration or pheresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/159 specially adapted for peritoneal dialysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/08 Biomedical applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/10 Intensity circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A medical device, such as a peritoneal dialysis machine, includes a sensor for sensing motion and/or user proximity in the vicinity of the medical device for the purpose of automated dimming a display of the medical device. In the event of a lack of user-activity on a machine interface and a lack of movement detected by the proximity sensor, the machine display is automatically dimmed to minimize power-consumption and provide an enhanced medical device for night therapies in a home or clinic environment. The machine display may be dimmed in the event of an alarm-free machine condition, where no machine activity is detected and/or where no movement is detected by the sensor over one or more time periods. When machine activity is detected, when movement is detected by the proximity sensor, and/or in the event of a machine alarm or warning, the machine display may be automatically undimmed.

Claims

1. A medical system, comprising:

a medical device having a display; and

a display dimness control device for controlling a dimness of the display, wherein the display dimness control device includes;

at least one sensor that includes a motion sensor and/or a proximity sensor; and

a control unit coupled to the medical device and the at least one sensor, wherein the control unit automatically controls dimness of the display based on a state of the medical device and input received from the at least one sensor.

2. The medical system according to claim 1, wherein the state of the medical device includes an alarm-free condition of the medical device.

3. The medical system according to claim 1, wherein the state of the medical device includes a condition of manual interaction with a machine interface of the medical device.

4. The medical system according to claim 1, wherein the medical device is a peritoneal dialysis machine.

5. The medical system according to claim 1, wherein the medical device is a hemodialysis machine.

6. The medical system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit also controls operations of the medical device.

7. The medical system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes the display to automatically enter a dimmed state when:

the medical device is in an alarm-free condition for a first time period,

no activity occurs on a machine interface of the medical device for a second time period, and

no movement and/or user proximity is detected in a vicinity of the medical device by the at least one sensor for a third time period.

8. The medical system according to claim 7, wherein the first time period, the second time period, and the third time period are independent of each other.

9. The medical system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes the display to automatically exit a dimmed state according to at least one of the following:

(i) when an alarm occurs on the medical device, (ii) when user activity occurs on the machine interface, and/or (iii) when movement and/or user proximity is detected by the at least one sensor in the vicinity of the medical device.

12. The medical system according to claim 1, wherein, during a dimmed state of the display, the control unit controls presentation of treatment status information on the display.

10. The medical system according 1, wherein, during a dimmed state of the display, the control unit controls presentation of a clock on the display.

11. The medical system according to claim 10, wherein the clock is a therapy clock showing a duration of a therapy performed by the medical device.

13. A method for automated dimness control of a medical device, comprising:

monitoring for movement in proximity of the medical device using at least one sensor;

monitoring for an alarm on the medical device;

monitoring for activity on a machine interface of the medical device; and

automatically causing a display of the medical device to enter a dimmed state when;

the medical device is in an alarm-free condition for a first time period,

no activity on the machine interface occurs for a second time period, and

no movement and/or no user proximity is detected in a vicinity of the medical device by at least one sensor for a third time period.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

causing the display to automatically exit the dimmed state according to at least one of the following;

(i) when an alarm occurs on the medical device, (ii) when user activity occurs on the machine interface, and/or (iii) when movement and/or user proximity is detected by the at least one sensor in the vicinity of the medical device.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the medical device is a peritoneal dialysis machine.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the dialysis machine is a hemodialysis machine.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the first time period, the second time period, and the third time period are independent of each other.

20. The method according to claim 13, wherein, during the dimmed state of the display, treatment status information is presented on the display.

18. The method according 13, wherein, during the dimmed state of the display, a clock is presented on the display.

19. The medical system according to claim 18, wherein the clock is a therapy clock showing a duration of a therapy performed by the medical device.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing software for automated dimness control of a medical device, the software comprising:

executable code that controls monitoring for movement in proximity of the medical device using at least one sensor;

executable code that controls monitoring for an alarm on the medical device;

executable code that controls monitoring for activity on a machine interface of the medical device; and

executable code that automatically causes a display of the medical device to enter a dimmed state when;

the medical device is in an alarm-free condition for a first time period,

no activity on the machine interface occurs for a second time period, and

no movement and/or no user proximity is detected in a vicinity of the medical device by at least one sensor for a third time period.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 21, wherein the software further comprises:

executable code that causes the display to automatically exit the dimmed state according to at least one of the following;

(i) when an alarm occurs on the medical device, (ii) when user activity occurs on the machine interface, and/or (iii) when movement and/or user proximity is detected by the at least one sensor in the vicinity of the medical device.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 21, wherein the medical device is a dialysis machine.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 21, wherein the first time period, the second time period, and the third time period are independent of each other.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 21, wherein the software further comprises:

executable code that, during the dimmed state of the display, presents treatment status information on the display.