Dual orientation display for a medical device

1. Technical Field

The present invention generally relates to a medical device such as an infusion pump, and in particular, to an infusion pump with a dual orientation display having both portrait and landscape modes of viewing.

2. Background of the Invention

It is typical for a medical device to have a display screen that displays data such as operating parameters. One type of medical device is an infusion pump. Infusion pumps as used in the field of health care are electromechanical devices that control the flow rate of medical fluids. The pumps can deliver drugs at a precise rate that maintains the drug concentration within a therapeutic margin and out of an unnecessary or possibly toxic range. Basically, the medical pumps provide appropriate drug delivery to the patient at a controllable rate that does not require frequent attention. Types of infusion pumps include syringe pumps, volumetric pumps, and ambulatory pumps.

A syringe pump operates a medical syringe to deliver a drug to a patient at a controlled rate. This pump employs an active fluid pumping mechanism, i.e., positive displacement of the syringe plunger, to expel fluid from the syringe.

A volumetric pump is used with an intravenous fluid administration set having a fluid source and an intravenous (IV) line connecting the fluid source to the patient. The pump is operatively associated with the intravenous line to influence the rate of fluid flow to the patient. For instance, the pump may have a plurality of actuators or fingers for massaging the intravenous line, thus controlling the flow rate of fluid through the line.

Ambulatory pumps typically include a pump control unit and drive mechanism including a variety of operating controllers adapted to accept a disposable pump chamber assembly. The pumping mechanism can include, for example, inlet and outlet valves and a liquid displacement plunger. Each pumping cycle in this type of pump begins with the outlet valve closed and the inlet valve open. Fluid flows from a source container into the section of tubing disposed between the inlet and outlet valve. After this section of tubing has filled with liquid, the inlet valve closes and the outlet valve opens. The plunger then compresses the short section of tubing between the valves, displacing the liquid contained therein and forcing it though the pump.

Medical devices and pumps are sometimes capable of being mounted to another medical device, machine, apparatus, bed, stretcher, wall, shelf, desk, etc. Many of these mountable medical devices and pumps are adaptable for mounting in various positions, e.g., vertically, horizontally, laterally, etc. Some of these mountable medical devices and pumps utilize a display for providing information. Often times the display is only readily viewable in one specific orientation. For instance, a vertically positioned medical device cooperating with a vertically orientated display, or a horizontally positioned medical device with a horizontally viewable display. Although various mounting options are available for the medical device, a display being readily viewable in only one orientation severely limits the flexibility of the device, e.g., a variably mountable medical device with a vertically oriented display. Use of a medical device or pump having a sole oriented display can require a viewer to expend unnecessary effort to position oneself for viewing the information displayed. Regardless of the type of mounting options available to a medical device having a display, it is desirable that the display be adaptable for easy viewing.

The present invention is provided to solve these and other problems.

Generally, the present invention is directed to a display for a medical device. The device is capable of being configured in various orientations. In one embodiment, the device comprises an infusion pump for dispensing a medical fluid to a patient. A controller is operably connected to the infusion pump. The controller controls the infusion pump. The display is operably connected to the controller and attached to the pump. The display is operably responsive to the orientation of the apparatus.

Another embodiment of the present invention is an infusion pump capable of being configured for mounting in various positions. The infusion pump comprises a controller being operably connected to the pump. A display is connected to the controller and attached to the infusion pump. The display is responsive to the orientation of the infusion pump.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an infusion pump is capable of being configured in several orientations. The pump has a display wherein the orientation of the display is rotated to accommodate viewing of the display in response to the orientation of the apparatus. The display provides graphics to facilitate a user's interaction with the apparatus, i.e., control, monitoring, operating, etc.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the specific embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 a illustrates an apparatus of the present invention in a generally vertical mounting configuration;

FIG. 2 b illustrates an apparatus of the present invention in a generally horizontal mounting configuration;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram depicting one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention; and,

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention. The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

As shown in FIGS. 1–5 , in a preferred embodiment, the apparatus 10 of the present invention includes an infusion pump 12 for dispensing a fluid. Preferably, the apparatus 10 is utilized for dispensing a medical fluid to a person. While the pump 12 can take many different forms, in a most preferred embodiment, the pump 12 is generally in the form as described in commonly-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/172,807 entitled, “Infusion Pump,” filed concurrently herewith and incorporated by reference herein, and commonly-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/172,808 entitled, “System And Method For Operating An Infusion Pump,” filed concurrently herewith and incorporated by reference herein. It is further understood that the apparatus 10 of the present invention can include other devices such as monitors including blood pressure monitors, EKG monitors and ECG monitors.

The apparatus 10 generally comprises a pump 12 having among other things, a controller 14 and a display 16 . The controller 14 is operably connected to the pump 12 . The controller 14 can be a micro-processor or a programmable logic controller. The controller 14 provides a means for controlling the pump 12 . A display 16 is connected to the controller 14 and is preferably attached to the apparatus 10 . The orientation of the display 16 is capable of being positioned in response to the various mounting configurations of the pump 12 .

The pump 12 is capable of being mounted in several configurations. Generally, the pump 12 is mounted in either a vertical position ( FIG. 2 a ) or a horizontal position ( FIG. 2 b ). The display screen 16 displays any of the monitoring, controlling, and operating information related to the pump 12 . A switch 18 can be manually actuated to change the orientation of the graphical information displayed on the screen 16 . Actuation of the switch 18 can rotate the information displayed on the screen 16 in 1° increments between 0° and 360°. Preferably, a single actuation of the switch 18 will rotate the orientation of the display 90°.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the display screen 16 can also include a touch-sensitive transparent panel or data entry device, e.g., graphical button 18 ′, covering a monochrome or color liquid crystal display 16 for actuation by the operator. The soft-key switch 18 ′ defined on the display 16 provides a natural interface for selecting objects or buttons presented on the display. The switch 18 ′ is responsive to the touch of a finger or a stylus (not shown) on the screen panel over the object or button to be selected. Similar to the manual switch 18 , actuation of the touch screen switch 18 ′ will rotate the graphic displayed on the screen 16 , preferably in 90° increments. Although the manual switch 18 is shown as being integrated within the apparatus 10 or the display 16 , it is to be understood that the switch is operably connected to the display and can be remote from the apparatus, e.g., remote wired connection or wireless interaction.

As mentioned earlier, the pump 12 is preferably mounted in either a generally vertical position ( FIG. 2 a ) or a generally horizontal position ( FIG. 2 b ). A software program executes the operations of the pump 12 and includes a section directed to the display screen 16 , e.g., user interface. The display screen 16 provides for the display of information on the screen. Preferably, the information is displayed in either a landscape orientation or a portrait orientation. When the apparatus 10 is mounted in the vertical configuration as shown in FIG. 2 a , information is displayed on the display screen 16 in a portrait configuration. Alternatively, when the apparatus 10 is mounted in the horizontal configuration as shown in FIG. 2 b , information is displayed on the display screen 16 in a landscape configuration. Thus, in response to the mounting configuration of the apparatus 10 , the information displayed on the screen 16 can be positioned in an orientation in cooperation with the apparatus so that the displayed information can be viewed by a user without the need to adjust one's viewing position, i.e., tilting one's head.

The apparatus 10 may also include a memory 20 . As discussed, the apparatus 10 includes a controller 14 , e.g., a central processing unit. The controller 14 is operably connected to the memory 20 . Loaded onto the memory 20 of the apparatus 10 is an application or program. When the application is executed by the central processing unit 14 , the pump 12 performs at the direction of the user. These tasks can include displaying a graphic related the control, monitor, and operation of the pump 12 on the touch screen 16 .

Upon initial execution of the application by the controller 14 , the apparatus 10 provides a switch 18 on the touch screen 16 for allowing the user the ability to rotate the information displayed on the screen 16 , preferably in 90° increments.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention includes a sensor 24 being operably connected to the switch 18 . It is to be understood that the switch 18 can be a hardware switch or a software switch wherein the execution of an event, i.e., the actuation of the sensor 24 , triggers the switch 18 . One embodiment of the present invention is directed to a sensor 24 being responsive to gravitation wherein movement of the pump 12 , i.e., from a generally vertical position to a generally horizontal position, and vice-versa, affects the sensor 24 and thus, affects the switch wherein the display 16 is automatically adjusted accordingly.

The orientation of the display shown on the screen 16 is selectable by a user. Preferably, the user can select and/or edit the information displayed on the screen 16 , i.e., actuating soft-key buttons on the apparatus 10 or the touch screen. The user can selectively view a variety of information stored within the apparatus 10 by actuating the button associated with the topic. Furthermore, the user is capable of selecting the type of information displayed by editing the program executed by the apparatus.

While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims.