FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of medical instruments and their user interfaces, and more particularly to a user interface and control method for a medical instrument such as a dialysis machine.

STATE OF THE ART

Dialysis machine are used for treating patients with inadequate kidney function.

Dialysis machines typically include, among other things, a dialysate circuit comprising a pump. When used for so-called peritoneal dialysis, said dialysate circuit is fluidly connected to the peritoneal cavity of a patient so that the dialysis machine infuses the dialysate into the patient's peritoneal cavity during a phase called fill phase, then the dialysate stays for a predetermined duration called dwell time during the so-called dwell phase, and after said predetermined duration the machine removes the dialysate from the peritoneal cavity during the so-called drain phase. Some machines are automatic in a manner to perform (during the night for example) an ADP (Automated Peritoneal Dialysis).

Dialysis machines typically have a display device on which a plurality of so-call screens are displayed. By screen we understand a combination which may contain for example texts, images, graphs, graphics, movies, animations... Some of these screens are used for programming the operation of the machine. Such screens in the past were a rather unattractive and hard to use, thus required complex manipulations and trained medical professionals to be used properly. The contemporary machines have a user interface allowing a patient or medical practitioner to interact with the machine and adjust machine operation or treatment parameters. But, most of these machines propose a complex programming sequence. Indeed, the user has to manually enter each parameter such as for example the volume of dialysate infused at each fill phase, the total volume of dialysate infused during the treatment, etc... And after each such entry, the user has to check and validate the entered parameter. Thus, it is fastidious and very long. Furthermore, in case where the user makes a mistake, the machine of the art prompts the user to check, but the machine cannot adjust itself the data for such parameter.

The European Patent (EP1 1951 71 B1 , which is incorporated herein by reference) discloses a dialysis device comprising a display on a touch panel. Said device displays a still image and motion image so as to inform the patient about the dialysis treatment which is in progress. Said display arranges the information in such a way as to bring an inventive technical effect. But said technical effect is different from the present invention. Indeed, the data (more particular, the medical treatment parameters) are disposed in an ingenious way and/or are automatically adjusted in such a way as to prevent any mistake when the user programs the medical treatment.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a graphical user interface used in screens which is intuitive so that the user can program the dialysis machine more easily, without risk of error.

A first aspect of the invention provides a graphical user interface (GUI) for a medical system which comprises a display device, an electronic processor that operates with the display device to display a plurality of screens including a programming screen by which a user can enter or modify medical treatment parameters employed by a machine to perform a medical treatment. Said GUI is designed in such a way as, when a user modifies a first medical treatment parameter, the processor is programmed to adjust automatically at least another medical treatment parameters depending on the first medical treatment parameters.

A second aspect of the invention provides a graphical user interface for a dialysis system which comprises a display device, an electronic processor that operates with the display device to display a plurality of screens including a cycle set programming screen by which a user can program a cycle set of a dialysis treatment comprising a fill phase, a dwell phase and an optional drain phase. Said cycle set programming screen may display a set of adjustable parameters used by the dialysis system in a dialysis treatment. When one of said adjustable parameters is changed by a user, the electronic processor automatically adjusts at least another adjustable parameter.

A third aspect of the invention provides a dialysis machine, which comprises a dialysate pump, a graphical user interface (GUI) and an electronic processor coupled to the pump and/or the GUI. The GUI allows a user to program a treatment comprising at least one cycle including at least one fill phase performed by the pump, at least one dwell phase and at least one drain phase performed by the pump. Preferentially, the GUI displays a graphic illustrating the three phases of one cycle and a set of adjustable parameters corresponding to the treatment. Advantageously, the processor and the GUI are adapted to adjust (and display said adjustment) at least one of said adjustable parameters when the user changes one of said adjustable parameters so that the dialysis machine offer an intuitive GUI.

A fourth aspect of the invention provides a graphical user interface (GUI) for a peritoneal dialysis system which comprises a display device, an electronic processor that operates with the display device to display a programming screen adapted to program a treatment comprising a cycle including a fill phase, a dwell phase and an optional drain phase. Preferentially, said programming screen comprises three distinct areas:

a first area dedicated to the parameters of the fill phase,

a second area dedicated to the parameters of the dwell phase, a third area dedicated to the parameters of the optional drain phase. Optionally, one additional distinct area dedicated to other parameters of the treatment. Said other parameters may be the number of cycles to be conducted during the treatment and/or the total duration of the treatment and/or the total volume of dialysate used for the treatment. When one of said parameters is changed by a user, the electronic processor adjusts automatically at least one other parameters.

A fifth aspect of the invention provides a dialysis machine which has a graphical operator machine interface ("OMI") by which an operator is able to establish machine operating and dialysis treatment parameters employed by the dialysis machine in a dialysis treatment. Advantageously, the graphical OMI comprises:

a graphical screen by which to access, select, display and enter data; a first area displaying a first predetermined group of dialysis treatment parameters used by the dialysis machine in a dialysis treatment;

a second area displaying a second predetermined group of dialysis treatment parameters used by the dialysis machine in a dialysis treatment;

a third area displaying a third predetermined group of dialysis treatment parameters used by the dialysis machine in a dialysis treatment;

an optional fourth area displaying a fourth predetermined group of dialysis treatment parameters used by the dialysis machine in a dialysis treatment.

Preferentially, at least one of the dialysis treatment parameters may be changed by the user. The dialysis machine may comprise an electronic processor and at least one mathematical model used by the processor. When the user changes one parameter, said mathematical model will be used to adjust at least one other parameter used by the dialysis machine in a dialysis treatment. Thanks to this mathematical model, the user has to validate only some dialysis treatment parameters and not each parameters.

A sixth aspect of the invention provides a method to assist a user in adjusting medical treatment parameters used by a medical device to perform a medical treatment, said method being employed by a device comprising a graphical user interface (GUI) connected to a processor, wherein said method comprising the following steps:

displaying on the GUI at least one of said medical treatment parameters, modifying one of said medical treatment parameters, adjusting automatically at least one another of said medical treatment parameters so that all parameters are consistent with the medical treatment. A seventh aspect of the invention provides a computer-implemented method adapted to assist a user in adjusting a medical treatment parameters which will be employed by a machine to perform a medical treatment, the computer- implemented method comprising:

Displaying a programming screen on a display device adapted to display visual information to the user,

Detecting that the user has modified one of the medical treatment parameters,

Adjusting automatically at least another medical treatment parameters so that all parameters are consistent with the treatment.

LIST OF FIGURES

The present invention will be better understood at the light of the following detailed description which contains non-limiting examples illustrated by the following figures:

Figure 1 illustrates a system which comprises a cycler

Figure 2 illustrates a system without cycler

Figure 3, 4 and 6 showthree cycle set programming screens

Figure 5 shows a full treatment screen

LIST OF ELEMENTS

1 patient / user / caregiver...

2 cycler

3 cassette

4 supply bag

5 waste bag 6 processor

7 pumping mechanism

8 sensor

9,12 input means

10 display device

1 1 mathematical model

13 other means

20 cycle set programming screen

21 cycle which may be repeated in a manner as to form a cycle set 22 fill phase

23 dwell phase

24 drain phase

25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 adjustable parameters

31 first area of the cycle set programming screen

32 second area of the cycle set programming screen

33 third area of the cycle set programming screen

34 fourth area of the cycle set programming screen

35 fifth area of the cycle set programming screen

36 sixth area of the cycle set programming screen

40 full treatment screen

41 a cycle

42 a first cycle set

43 a second cycle set

44 the tab of the full treatment screen

45 the tab of the first cycle set programming screen

46 the tab of the second cycle set programming screen

47 a validation icon

48 a setting icon

49 icon

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration several embodiments of devices, systems and methods. It is to be understood that other embodiments are contemplated and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the present disclosure. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense.

All scientific and technical terms used herein have meanings commonly used in the art unless otherwise specified. The definitions provided herein are to facilitate understanding of certain terms used frequently herein and are not meant to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" encompass embodiments having plural referents, unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

As used in this specification and the appended claims, any direction referred to herein, such as "top", "bottom", "left", "right", "upper", "lower", and other directions or orientations are described herein for clarity in reference to the figures and are not intended to be limiting of an actual device or system. Devices and systems described herein may be used in a number of directions and orientations.

As used herein, "have", "having", "include", "including", "comprise", "comprising" or the like are used in their open ended sense, and generally mean "including, but not limited to.

As used in this specification and the appended claims, the term "or" is generally employed in its sense including "and/or" unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

The invention discloses an intuitive setting means for a medical system. The medical system may be a machine by which a user can program all or parts of the parameters required to the medical treatment. Thus, said system may be a computer using software adapted to program the parameters required to the treatment and said system may comprises a medical device adapted to perform the medical treatment. The system comprises a display device, input means and an electronic processor which controls the display device and the input means. Said inputs means may be a touch screen or a keypad, or a mouse or at least one button. Said input means may be adapted to access, select, activate, enter and/or modify a data which may be a parameter of the medical treatment.

This invention describes, among other things, an inventive graphical user interface which is an interface between the system and the user. Said interface displays some visual information to the user and allows the user to enter some data to the system. The GUI may comprise input means, a display device and a processor which cooperates with said elements. Said input means may be distinct from the display device. In other terms, the GUI is a device including several elements which may be distinct. In other case, if the GUI comprises a touch screen, then the user can enter some data through the display device. In the case where the system is a dialysis treatment system including a cycler, the system furthermore comprises a dialysate circuit, a pump and a bag which may store fresh dialysate. The electronic processor may control also the pump. The dialysate circuit, the pump and the bag may be fluidly connected. The figure 1 illustrates such a system. In one embodiment, the system comprises a cycler (2) and a cassette (3) which is fluidly connected to at least one optional supply bag (4) and/or at least one waste bag (5). The system may comprise a pumping mechanism (7), at least one sensor (8), a display device (10) (which may be a touch screen) and other means (9), for example input means. Said system may comprise a mathematical model (1 1 ) as described hereafter. All of these elements may be connected to, and/or used and/or controlled by a processor (6).

In another embodiment as disclosed by the figure 2, the system does not comprise a cycler but comprises a display device (10) (for example a touch screen), inputs means (9, 12) (for example: keypad, mouse, button...), a mathematical model (1 1 ), a processor (6) and other means (13).

The display device (10) may display several screens by which the system informs the user of the treatment parameters and by which the user may enter or change at least one parameter.

A peritoneal dialysis treatment may comprise one or several cycles. Each cycle comprises a fill phase and a dwell phase. Preferentially, a cycle further comprises a drain phase. An APD may comprise a cycle which is repeated a determined number of times. Thus, in the document, a cycle set comprises a cycle which is repeated a determined number of times. A treatment may comprise:

only one cycle set, thus the treatment comprises a single type of cycle which is repeated a determined number of times.

· Several cycle sets, thus the treatment comprises several distinct types of cycles and each of these type of cycles may be repeated a determined number of times.

In one embodiment, a cycle set may comprise at the end of the treatment a specific drain. In particular, when the cycle set is set up to perform a Tidal Therapy, the drain of each cycle of the cycle set is partial but the last drain may be a full drain.

In this document, the parameters of the treatment may be changed by the user, preferentially a caregiver. But the caregiver should not need a specific training to use the system in particular to program the parameter of the treatment. Said parameter may be: the volume of dialysate infused during a fill phase of a cycle and/or the number of the cycle included in the cycle set and/or the percentage of the dialysate drained during a drain phase of a cycle and/or the duration of the cycle set and/or the dwell time of a dwell phase of a cycle and/or the total volume of dialysate infused during the cycle set. Preferentially, the user does not have to determine a specific drain mode of the cycle set (tidal mode, full drain mode,...), the user can change the percentage of the dialysate drained during a drain phase so that to have a tidal treatment or full drain or no drain. Unlike the machine of the art which prompts to select a tidal mode or a full drain mode before to enter the other parameters. Thus, the user sequentially enters the parameters of the treatment and it is complex or impossible to change a previous parameter. Furthermore, when the user enters the next parameters, the user cannot change the drain mode (tidal or full drain mode). While thanks to the intuitive setting of the invention, the user can change the drain mode even if the user enters other parameters.

In one embodiment, the system of the invention comprises a graphical user interface (GUI) for a dialysis system. Said GUI comprises a display device (10) and an electronic processor (6) that operates with the display device to display a plurality of screens.

As shown by the figure 3, one of said screens is a cycle set programming screen (20) by which a user can program a cycle set comprising a type of cycle which may be repeated a determined numbers of times. Said type of cycle includes a fill phase (22), a dwell phase (23) and an optional drain phase (24). In one embodiment, the user may program at least one cycle for a treatment.

The cycle set programming screen (shown by the figure 3) displays a set of adjustable parameters (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30,...) employed by the dialysis system in a dialysis treatment. Thanks to the intuitive system of the invention, when one of said adjustable parameters (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30,...) is changed by a user, the processor (6) automatically adjusts at least one other adjustable parameter (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30,...). Preferentially, as disclosed by the figure 4, the cycle set programming screen (20) comprises three distinct areas:

a first area (31 ) dedicated to the parameters of the fill phase, a second area (32) dedicated to the parameters of the dwell phase, a third area (33) dedicated to the parameters of the optional drain phase.

In one embodiment, cycle set programming screen (20) further comprises at least one additional distinct area (34, 35, 36) dedicated to other parameters of the cycle set which may be the number of cycles included in the cycle set (35) and/or the duration of the cycle set (34) and/or the total volume of dialysate infused during the cycle set (36). In one embodiment (figure 6), if the user wants to change or enter a treatment parameter, then the user selects or touches the corresponding area. A specific area (37) may be dedicated for displaying of the parameter and optional input means (digital touch on the screen, for example arrows). The selected parameter may be highlighted (see the parameter "Fill").

Advantageously, the cycle set programming screen may graphically illustrate a full cycle (21 ) comprising a fill phase (22), a dwell phase (23) and optionally a drain phase (24).

Furthermore, the display device (10) may display a full treatment screen (40) as shown by the figure 5. This screen graphically illustrates a full treatment comprising one or more cycle sets. For example, the full treatment screen shown in the figure 5 comprises two distinct cycle set (42, 43) in which the first cycle set

(42) includes a cycle (41 ) which is repeated five times and the second cycle set

(43) has only one cycle (said cycle does not have a drain phase). A specific colour is assigned to each cycle set, for example the first cycle set has a red indicator and the second cycle set has a yellow indicator.

The user can select, activate or touch a cycle set (32, 33) displayed by the full treatment screen (40) so that the cycle set programming screen (20) of said cycle set is displayed on the display device. Optionally, the full treatment screen and/or the cycle set programming screen comprise tabs (44, 45, 46) allowing the user to select a specific screen to display. For example, if the user selects, activates, touches:

• the first tab (44), the display device displays the full treatment screen · the second tab (45), the display device displays the first cycle set programming screen.

• the third tab (46), the display device displays the second cycle set programming screen.

When a tab is selected or displays the corresponding screen, this tab may be highlighted.

The tab may comprise the same indicator as the cycle set, for example, the tab has the same colour of the corresponding cycle set. The display device may use other distinction means such as digital, shape, ...

The full treatment screen and/or the cycle set programming screen comprise a validation icon (47) adapted to display a specific other screen. In one embodiment, said validation icon allowing the user to validate all of adjustable parameters. Unlike the system of the art where the user has to validate each steps.

In one embodiment, the cycle set programming screen and the full treatment screen comprise a same icon (47) which displays a same screen when said icon is activated or touched by the user.

The adjustable parameters (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30,...) may be the volume of dialysate infused during a fill phase of a cycle (25) and/or the number of cycles included in the cycle set (26) and/or the percentage of the dialysate drained during a drain phase of a cycle (27) and/or the duration of the cycle set (28) and/or the dwell time of a dwell phase of a cycle (29) and/or the total volume of dialysate infused during the cycle set (30). In one embodiment, the user can change at least one of said adjustable parameters and the cycle set programming screen may allow programming all of said adjustable parameters within only one screen.

In one embodiment, the percentage of the dialysate drained during a drain phase of a cycle (27) allows performing a tidal therapy or full drain or no drain. Thus, if said percentage is 100%, the system will perform a full drain at each cycle of the cycle set. If the percentage is comprised between 1 % and 99%, the system will perform a tidal therapy and the last drain may be a full drain. If the percentage is 0%, the system will not perform any drain.

The cycle set programming screen displays a setting icon (48) which allows the user to program other parameters, for instance: the dialysate type, the glucose concentration of the dialysate, the dialysate fluid concentration and/or the breakpoint operating mode.

As disclosed above, the system is adapted to adjust a set of parameter when the user changes one of said parameters. Preferentially, the processor is programmed to adjust the parameters depending on a priority set by the user, the manufacturer or other. Said priority forces the processor to adjust a medical treatment parameter rather than another and/or defines the dependency between the medical treatment parameters. Said priority may be changed.

Furthermore, a parameter may depend on other parameter(s). For example:

the number of the cycle included in the cycle set depends on the total volume of dialysate infused during the cycle set; and/or

the duration of the cycle set depends on the volume of dialysate infused during a fill phase of a cycle and/or the number of cycles included in the cycle set and/or the percentage of the dialysate drained during a drain phase of a cycle and/or the dwell time of a dwell phase of a cycle and/or the total volume of dialysate infused during the cycle set; and/or

the total volume of dialysate infused during the cycle set depends on the volume of dialysate infused during a fill phase of a cycle and/or the number of cycles included in the cycle set and/or the percentage of the dialysate drained during a drain phase of a cycle; and/or the dwell time of a dwell phase of a cycle depends on the duration of the cycle set.

Preferentially, the electronic processor (6) uses a mathematical model (1 1 ) to compute at least one new adjustable parameter when the user has changed an adjustable parameter. Thus, when the user changes:

the volume of dialysate infused during a fill phase of a cycle, the processor may adjust the total volume of dialysate infused during the cycle set and/or the duration of the cycle set; and/or

the total volume of dialysate infused during the cycle set, the processor may adjust number of cycles included in the cycle set and/or the duration of the cycle set; Advantageously, the increment of said total volume depends on the volume of dialysate infused during a fill phase of a cycle. And/or

the number of cycles included in the cycle set, the processor may adjust the total volume of dialysate infused during the cycle set and/or the duration of the cycle set; and/or

the percentage of the dialysate drained during a drain phase of a cycle, the processor may adjust the total volume of dialysate infused during the cycle set and/or the duration of the cycle set; and/or the dwell time of a dwell phase of a cycle, the processor may adjust the duration of the cycle set; and/or

the duration of the cycle set, the processor may adjust dwell time of a dwell phase of a cycle.

In one embodiment, the display device (10) is a touch screen allowing the user to select the adjustable parameter or the cycle which must be changed.

In one embodiment, the cycle set programming screen comprises an icon (49) to parameter another cycle set of the treatment or add a new cycle set.