Cobe Laboratories, Inc.

Eric Zimmerman

Steve Love

Jim Rosa

Catherine DiMuzio

Scott Martin

A technique for automatically cleaning, disinfecting and otherwise preparing a dialysis machine includes a method and apparatus for programming the dialysis machine to awaken from a reduced power mode at a predetermined time and perform one of several wake-up procedures (e.g., rinsing, dialysate preparation, or hot water or chemical disinfection). A wake-up time and a corresponding wake-up procedure is preferably programmed for each day of the week. If disinfection is programmed, the machine wakes up at the predetermined time to heat the water or mix the chemicals before pumping the cleaning/disinfecting liquid through the dialysis machine. The machine then rinses the cleaning/disinfecting liquid down a waste drain. If a chemical solution is utilized, the dialysis machine may be programmed to allow the chemical solution to dwell within the dialysis machine for a predetermined period before rinsing it down the drain. The apparatus includes an input/output device, a microprocessor and a non-volatile memory system for programing and storing the desired wake-up times and cleaning/disinfecting procedures. The automatic nature of the method and apparatus allow a dialysis machine operator to prepare the dialysis machine prior to leaving at the end of the day so that the machine automatically cleans and disinfects itself or starts to prepare dialysate before the start of the next day. Sensors within the dialysis machine may determine whether the machine is properly configured for the desired wake-up procedure before the operator leaves at the end of the day.

Technique for automatically preparing a dialysis machine at a

Information is entered and validated by the operator of a dialysis machine by converting the entered information into a first form using a first conversion relationship such as ASCII. The information in the first form is next converted into a second form using a second conversion relationship, such as floating point numeric. Thereafter the information in the second form is converted back to the first form using the first conversion relationship. The information in the first form which resulted from the third conversion is displayed for acceptance for rejection by the operator. The multiple sequential conversions indicate the proper functionality of a safety system of the dialysis machine. Displaying the information resulting from sequential multiple conversions assures an opportunity for the operator to evaluate the entries for accuracy. Re-display of the previously entered information repeatedly presents the operator with an opportunity to recognize human-induced errors.

Information entry validation system and method for a dialysis machine

A graphical operator machine interface for a dialysis machine and a method of graphically programming the dialysis machine involves graphically accessing substantially all typical machine operating and dialysis treatment parameters employed in a typical dialysis treatment, and graphically entering selections with respect to each of the selected parameters. The selections of the individual parameters establish display screens which individually present the selected parameters. The selections of the individual parameters also allow the operator to establish values for those selected parameters. The parameters include those involved for setup of the machine for dialysis treatment, those monitored during treatment, the alarm limits established during the treatment, and parameters which allow the automatic initiation of machine functionality prior to the use of the machine for treatments.

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Littleton, CO, United States of America

Eric Zimmerman