Dialysis machine with control panel

• US 6,143,181 A
• Filed: 09/29/1998
• Issued: 11/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Althin Medical AB (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Falkvall, Thore, Carlsson, Per-Olov, Sandberg, Lars-Olof, Gillerfalk, Bjorn
• Primary Examiner(s): Drodge, Joseph W.
• Application Number:
  US09/117,887
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 210/85, 210/86, 210/143, 210/257.1, 210/541, 210/542, 210/646, 210/647, 210/739, 345/173, 604/4-6, 604/4.01, 604/5.01, 604/6.01, 604/6.09, 361/680, 361/681, 361/682, 348/917, 348/918, 348/919
• US Class Current: 210/646
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/16 with membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/082 Mounting brackets, arm supports for equipment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 248/918 Ancillary device support associated with a video display screen

Abstract

Dialysis machine for alternatively hospital care and self-care having a touch screen (16) which can be adjusted universally and to a desired vertical position on the dialysis machine and can be locked in the desired adjusted position. As a consequence thereof, the touch screen can be arrested in a position in relation to the position of the person controlling the dialysis machine which allows the touch screen to be comfortably reached irrespective of the position of said person.

Claims

1. A dialysis machine for hospital care and self-care with a control panel provided as a touch screen, the dialysis machine comprising a chassis having connectors for connecting a patient to the machine and wherein the touch screen is coupled to the chassis so that it can be adjusted to different desired vertical and horizontal positions with respect to the chassis and can be locked in a desired vertical and horizontal position with respect to the chassis.

2. The dialysis machine according to claim 1 wherein the adjustable touch screen is supported by a bracket which can be displaced and on a vertical guide provided on the machine, and can be locked in a desired displaced position.

3. The dialysis machine according to claim 2 wherein the bracket can be rotated on the guide and can be locked in a desired rotated position.

4. The dialysis machine according to claim 3 wherein the touch screen is provided on a holder which is mounted for rotation about a first vertical axis and a horizontal axis at a free end of an arm carried on the bracket at an other end thereof for rotation about a second vertical axis.

5. The dialysis machine according to claim 4 wherein the means for locking the touch screen in the desired displaced position comprises an electricl servo device.

6. The dialysis machine according to claim 1 wherein the weight of the touch screen is counterbalanced.

7. A dialysis machine comprising:

a chassis including at least one member for connecting at least one hose for allowing a patient to be connected to the dialysis machine; and

a touch screen that is coupled to the chassis so as to be adjustable in a vertical and a horizontal direction with respect to the chassis and rotated about an axis parallel to a plane of the chassis.

8. The dialysis machine of claim 7 wherein the screen is coupled to the chassis by a vertical guide that allows the touch screen to move vertically with respect to the chassis.

9. The dialysis machine of claim 7 wherein the screen is coupled to an arm that can move vertically and horizontally with respect to the chassis.

10. The dialysis machine of claim 7 wherein the screen is received within a bracket that is coupled to an arm that allows the screen and bracket to rotate about an axis of the arm.

11. The dialysis machine of claim 7 including means for locking the screen in a specific orientation with respect to the chassis.

12. A dialysis machine comprising:

a body member having a front face and at least one connection for allowing the connection of a patient to the dialysis machine;

an arm coupled to the body that is moveable in a horizontal and vertical direction with respect to the front face; and

a touch screen for controlling the dialysis machine that is coupled to the arm, the touch screen being rotatable about an axis of the arm.

13. The dialysis machine of claim 12 including a member for locking the arm in a position relative to the body member.

14. The dialysis machine of claim 12 including a member for locking the touch screen in a position relative to the arm.

15. The dialysis machine of claim 12 wherein the touch screen is secured to a bracket and the arm is connected to the bracket.

16. The dialysis machine of claim 12 including a vertical guide connected to the body and wherein the arm is connected to the vertical guide.

17. A dialysis machine comprising:

a body including connections for allowing a patient to be coupled to the body member;

an arm coupled to the body in such a manner as to allow the arm to move in a horizontal and vertical direction with respect to the body;

a touch screen that is coupled to the arm in such a manner that the touch screen can move vertically and horizontally with respect to the body, the touch screen including means for controlling at least certain operations of the dialysis machine; and

a locking member for locking the screen in a specific position with respect to the body.

18. The dialysis machine of claim 17 wherein the touch screen can rotate about an axis of the arm.

19. The dialysis member of claim 17 wherein the locking member locks the arm in a specific position.

20. A method for providing dialysis comprising:

providing a dialysis machine having a body that includes connections for connecting a patient to the dialysis machine and a touch screen that controls functions of the dialysis machine;

connecting the patent to the dialysis machine; and

allowing the patient to adjust the touch screen along three separate axis with respect to the body.

21. The method of claim 20 including the steps of:

allowing the patient to adjust the screen to a specific position; and

locking the screen in the position.