Display device for medical apparatus

Abstract

A display device for a medical apparatus including a projection surface arranged on the medical apparatus and configured to present a predetermined display content in a way visible to a user of the medical apparatus, and a projection device arranged on the medical apparatus and configured to project the predetermined display content from a rear side of the projection surface onto the projection surface. The projection surface and the projection device are configured as a head-up display unit for visual field presentation of the display content, and the medical apparatus may be an apparatus for carrying out extracorporeal blood treatment including the display device.

Claims

1. A display device of a medical apparatus, comprising: a projection surface mounted to the medical apparatus and configured to present a predetermined display content to a user of the medical apparatus on a front side of the projection surface; and a projection device mounted on the medical apparatus and configured to project the predetermined display content from a rear side of the projection surface onto the projection surface; wherein a predetermined portion of the projection surface is provided for displaying at least one predetermined operating condition of the medical apparatus, and in at least a first and a second operating condition at least one of a predetermined first portion or a predetermined second portion of the projection surface is controllably configured to display the first and second operating conditions in different colors; and wherein the display device further comprises at least one of: at least one interactive element which is arranged on the projection surface and is configured to detect an interaction of the user in a touch-sensitive manner, or at least one manually-operable key, actuator or switch integrated in the projection surface.

2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the projection surface is a translucent projection surface made from semi-opaque material.

3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein at least the projection surface is arranged to be at least one of tiltable, rotatable or height-adjustable.

4. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of an imaging means or an optical sensor means configured to detect interaction of the user in a contactless manner.

5. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device is configured to carry out at least one of two-dimensional (2D) and/or three dimensional (3D) detection on a projection plane.

6. The display device according to claim 5, wherein the detection includes at least one of gesture detection or position detection.

7. The display device according to claim 1, wherein in the first operating condition the predetermined first portion of the projection surface is controllably configured to display the first operating condition, and in the second operating condition the predetermined second portion of the projection surface is controllably configured to display the second operating condition, and wherein in a third operating condition, a predetermined third portion of the projection surface is controllably configured to display the third operating condition in a color other than the colors of the first operating condition and the second operating condition, and wherein the predetermined third portion is larger than the predetermined first portion and the predetermined second portion.

8. The display device according to claim 1, wherein a first and a second position detecting system are provided for an at least two-channel input evaluation of the interaction of the user.

9. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the projection surface and the projection device are configured as a head-up display unit for visual field presentation of the display content.

10. An apparatus for carrying out extracorporeal blood treatment comprising a display device according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. Included in the drawings are the following figures:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a medical apparatus comprising a display device and a projection device according to an embodiment;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of the medical apparatus according to FIG. 1 with activated projection of a display content onto a projection surface of the display device; and

(4) FIG. 3A shows a schematic representation of the projection surface comprising operating or interactive elements exemplified as keys or switches;

(5) FIG. 3B shows a schematic representation of the projection surface comprising an operating condition display for normal or indicating operating condition of the medical apparatus; and

(6) FIG. 3C shows a schematic representation of the projection surface comprising an operating condition of the medical apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(7) As is shown in a simplified and schematic form in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a medical apparatus 10, for example a device for extracorporeal blood treatment such as a dialysis machine, comprises a housing 12 in or at which components required by the system are received on the inside and on the outside. The components required by the system of a respective actual medical apparatus 10 are known per se and in so far will neither be explicitly shown nor described in detail. The medical apparatus 10 may be arranged to be movable via rollers 17 on a base 18.

(8) A projection surface 14 and a projector or projection device 16 arranged at a predetermined distance from the projection surface 14 in this embodiment form a display device for the medical apparatus 10 in which the projection surface 14 is arranged on the medical apparatus 10 and is configured so as to present a predetermined display content 13 in a way visible to a user of the medical apparatus 10, and the projection device 16 is equally arranged on the medical apparatus 10 and is configured so as to project the predetermined display content 13 from a rear side of the projection surface 14 onto the projection surface and, respectively, a projection plane located preferably on or at the projection surface 14.

(9) The display device for the medical apparatus 10 comprising the projection surface 14 and the projection device 16 thus operates based on the principle of an information display means including a visual field presentation which is also referred to as head-up display (HUD).

(10) More precisely, the display device in the present embodiment may include, for example, an information procurement unit and an image display control unit. The image display control unit may include a light source and a movable reflective element. The light source is arranged to emit a light beam. The display device and, respectively, the projection device 16 thereof are configured to project the light beam onto the projection surface 14, i.e. focused on a plane located in the projection surface 14, so as to display the display information. The information procurement unit may be coupled to one or more sensors and/or to a control unit and may collect measuring values or data detected by the one sensor or the plural sensors and/or parameters and/or information generated internally by the control unit, for example referring to a course of treatment or an apparatus condition, may process the collected data and/or the collected information according to a predetermined processing and may output the processed information in image form and/or text form, for example, without being limited thereto, to the image display control unit. The information procurement unit may further make available display control signals on the basis of the data for the image display control unit. The image display control unit may receive the processed information and project the latter onto the projection surface 14 and moreover may receive the display control signals to determine or adjust a position of the display information on the projection surface 14 with the movable reflective element, for instance.

(11) In this embodiment, the projection surface 14 is a translucent projection surface made from a material having appropriate opacity, for example in the manner of a diffusion disc or the like. For example, the projection surface 14 may consist of glass or plastic material of predetermined size and thickness that is shaped in a planar manner and rigid, but at least warp resistant, into which the display information projection of the projection device 16 can be variable in size and fitted or irradiated onto a plane within the projection surface 14 so that the display content 13 is focused and presented to be legible for an operator or user.

(12) Furthermore, in this embodiment the projection surface 14 and, where appropriate, also the projection device 16 are arranged to be tiltable, rotatable and/or height-adjustable.

(13) For example, the projection surface 14 may be articulated to be swiveling with a hinge-type joint arrangement at a surface portion of the medical apparatus 10, e.g. at a table-shaped molding or elevation 15, such as to be foldable or tiltable in a direction forward and/or rearward relative to an end face of the medical apparatus 10, and/or to be rotatable about a height direction. An angle of rotation range and/or angle of inclination range may be provided, for example, within a range which, on the one hand, still enables readability of the display content 13 by a person standing in front of the medical apparatus 10 and, on the other hand, permits folding into a protective lying or idle position, e.g. into a softly sheathing recess at the table-shaped molding or elevation.

(14) Furthermore, by way of example the projection surface 14 can be adjustable in its absolute height above ground e.g. by height adjustability of an arrangement articulating the projection surface 14 to the medical apparatus 10 at a predetermined inclined position in a direction upward and/or downward relative to an upper surface of the medical apparatus 10. Alternatively, for example the projection surface 14 can be guided within a frame arrangement and can be movable within the same, the frame arrangement being fixed at least in the height direction with respect to the medical apparatus 10. In a modification, the articulating device mentioned afore by way of example and/or a frame arrangement may be altogether configured to be movable in height such that the projection surface 14 can be immersed or inserted at least partially into a recess of the medical apparatus 10.

(15) Electric conductor connections to be provided where necessary may be covered for this purpose in the articulating device and/or the frame arrangement and may be guided in appropriate overlength. In another modification, such electric conductor connections can be guided via a separable plug contact arrangement and the projection surface 14 can be formed to be removable as a whole so that in the case of break of the projection surface 14 easy replacement is possible and for example in a non-operating condition of the medical apparatus 10 the projection surface 14 can be stored at a place safely protecting the latter.

(16) In this embodiment, furthermore an operating or interactive element 32 (see FIG. 3A) may be arranged on the projection surface 14 and may be configured to detect interaction of the user in a touch-sensitive, e.g. capacitive or resistive, manner. The interactive element 32 may be e.g. a software switch which is projected into the display content 13 by software control with the projection device 16 and the condition or actuation of which is detected via a preferably multi-point or multi-touch capable touch-sensitive layer on the projection surface 14 and which permits e.g. varying a parameter of the medical apparatus or makes control functions of the medical apparatus 10, such as start, stop and pausing of an operating cycle, recording of a time course and the like, accessible to the operator or user.

(17) Alternatively or additionally, an imaging means and/or optical sensor means may be arranged which is configured for contactless detecting interaction of the user. In this case, a touch-sensitive layer may be omitted and interaction e.g. by a camera arrangement known per se as picture-taking and/or imaging means may detect the position of a finger of the operator or user and may guide the same for input evaluation to a downstream processing or control means, for example the microcontroller.

(18) In this embodiment, it is possible with the afore-mentioned detecting means for detecting and evaluating interaction or input of an operator or user to perform 2D and/or 3D gesture and/or position detection on a projection plane of the projection device. In particular, an at least two-channel input evaluation of interaction of the user with at least first and second position detecting systems may be provided, wherein the first position detecting system may comprise e.g. an ultrasonic means and a touch-sensitive means and the second position detecting system may comprise, for example, a 3D camera and infrared scanning.

(19) As a further alternative or in addition, at least one operating key 34 manually operable by the user can be integrated on the projection surface 14 and/or on the projection device 16 (see FIG. 3A). The at least one operating key 34 may be provided in the form of a hardware key (hard key), for example, which is configured to be functionally hard-wired, i.e. constantly triggers a predetermined function at the medical apparatus 10 or the projection device 16, for example, or in a comparable sense can be functionally freely configured, for example by program-dependent or operating cycle-dependent assignment by software in the manner of a function key.

(20) Furthermore, in this embodiment a predetermined portion of the projection surface 14 is provided for display of a predetermined operating condition of the medical apparatus 10 which is configured, for example, to emphasize different operating conditions on the projection surface 14 in different colors and, in this way, to attract respective attention of the operator or user.

(21) In a modification, for this purpose the projection device 16 may include an operating condition display portion (not shown) which may be adapted to form a second or secondary (sub)projection device, may be provided separately from or additionally to a display information projection portion in charge of the projection of the display information and, when controlled by e.g. a microcontroller, may be configured to display, to insert or to superimpose to the display information a preferably flat element in at least one area of the projection surface 14 clearly distinguishable by color from the display information, wherein light intensity, flash frequency (flashing light presentation), size, shape and/or position of the flat element can be variable depending on an associated operating condition and/or an urgency of the operating condition information to be transmitted thereby (see FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C).

(22) For example, a configuration making use of so called traffic light colors may be such that a first operating condition display 36 which informs about trouble-free and regular operating condition (normal operating condition) is represented in green color, in a first size and/or shape and at a first position which may be a rather unobtrusive position within the projection surface, a second operating condition display 37 which informs about a second operating condition (indicating operating condition) or process during a treatment cycle which although being uncritical requires at least attention and/or possibly interaction by the operator or user is represented in yellow color, in a second size equal to or larger than the first size, and/or a second shape adapted to be distinguishable from the first shape and at a second position which may be a more noticeable position within the projection surface, and a third operating condition display 38 which informs about a third operating condition (alarm condition) or process during a treatment cycle which is critical and requires at least prompt interaction by the operator or user, is represented in red color, in a second size larger than the first and second sizes and/or a second shape adapted to be distinguishable from the first and second shapes and at a second position which may be a more noticeable position within the projection surface. In this embodiment, for example the first operating condition display 36 is represented by a round green point (FIG. 3A), the second operating condition display 37 is represented by a yellow rectangle larger than the round green point and the third operating condition display 38 is represented by a red frame surrounding the projection surface 14.

(23) In other words, in this embodiment in at least the first and second operating conditions a predetermined first portion of the projection surface 14 is controllably configured to display the first and second operating conditions in different colors, and in a third operating condition a predetermined second portion of the projection surface 14 is controllably configured to display the third operating condition as compared to the first and second operating conditions in different color, the predetermined second portion preferably being larger than the predetermined first portion, wherein the predetermined first portion may be a first partial area of the projection surface 14, the first operating condition may be a normal operating condition of the medical apparatus 10 and the second operating condition may be an indicating operating condition of the medical apparatus 10, and the predetermined second portion may be a framing partial area or a total area of the projection surface 14 and the third operating condition may be an alarm condition of the medical apparatus 10, with the display of the operating conditions being adapted to be superimposed to the display of the predetermined display content 13.

(24) In another modification of this embodiment, touch-sensitive interactive elements 32 (see FIG. 3A) may be combined with the first, second and/or third portions such that, for example, the operating condition display portion of the projection device or another control means of the medical apparatus 10 arranged for this purpose, when generating or carrying out an operating condition display, at the same time establishes a touch-sensitive interactive element 32 at an appropriate location on the projection surface 14 and activates the same for user input.

(25) In this way, an operator or user may directly react to the operating condition display, for example reset an indicating or warning message (yellow) or trigger emergency stop in an alarm condition (red). In the latter case, it may be sufficient to touch any point within the (red) third portion of the third operating condition display for emergency stop or transition to a safe operating cycle of the medical apparatus 10, whereby, in this case a reaction time of an operator or user may be advantageously reduced.

(26) As an alternative or in addition, particular gestures may be predefined which can be activated when outputting an associated operating condition display and upon activation are detected by the 2D and/or 3D position and/or gesture detection as a reaction of an operator or user to an operating condition that has occurred. In this case, for example a predetermined hand movement or position of two hands relative to each other in an alarm condition may trigger the emergency stop or the transition to the safe operating condition of the medical apparatus 10, whereas in a non-alarm condition the same hand movement or position of hands will not cause any reaction of the medical apparatus 10.

(27) Hence, in total in this embodiment the projection surface 14 and the projection device 16 are thus configured, as afore-described, as a HUD unit for visual field presentation of display information (display content 13) to be projected onto the projection surface 14 and as such may form (passively and/or interactively) functional parts or components of a device for carrying out an extracorporeal blood treatment such as a dialysis machine.

(28) As has been described in the foregoing, a display device for a medical apparatus 10 contains a projection surface 14 which is arranged on the medical apparatus 10 and is configured to present a predetermined display content 13 in a way visible to a user of the medical apparatus 10, and a projection device 16 which is arranged on the medical apparatus 10 and is configured to project the predetermined display content 13 from a rear side of the projection surface 14 onto the projection surface 14. The projection surface 14 and the projection device 16 are configured as HUD unit for the visual field presentation of the display content 13 and the medical apparatus 10 may be an apparatus for carrying out extracorporeal blood treatment comprising such display device.

(29) In the foregoing, the invention has been described by way of a preferred embodiment. It is understood that details of the described preferred embodiment do not restrict the invention as such and in an obvious manner for those skilled in the art various changes, modifications and/or equivalents may result all of which as such come within the scope of protection of the invention defined by the enclosed claims.