A METHOD, ARRANGEMENT AND A USER INTERFACE FOR CONTROLLING COLLECTING FLUID FROM A PATIENT

Abstract

A method and graphical user interface are disclosed for controlling collecting fluid from a patient. A graphical user interface in at least one first user interface element displays on a display unit information related to at least one first collection container connected to a first suction channel, and in at least one second user interface element displays information related to at least one second collection container connected to a second suction channel. Also information regarding fluid collected from a patient to at least one of the collection containers may be displayed in a third user interface element.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to collecting fluid from a patient using an apparatus for collecting fluid from a patient, and more particularly to a method, arrangement and user interface for controlling collecting fluid from a patient.

Typically, large volumes of fluid, such as liquid(s), have been collected from a patient by connecting multiple containers in series by using tubes to connect them. Such systems take a lot of time to assemble and disassemble. The user may also be exposed to infectious fluid while disassembling the system. Furthermore, the way fluid tends to flow causes all the collection containers of the system to become contaminated regardless of how many containers have actually been filled with the fluid to be collected. Due to a risk of some residuals of the collected fluid drifting to the unused containers by suction, it is thus necessary to change all the containers to clean the system. Also controlling the collection of fluid from a patient has been problematic and prone to error. Due to the type of arrangement typically used for such collection of fluid from a patient, there has been a limited possibility to control the process and usually very basic user interfaces, if any, have been used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

An object of the present invention is thus to provide a new method, arrangement and user interface for controlling collecting fluid from a patient. The objects of the invention are achieved by a method, an arrangement and a user interface, which are characterized by what is stated in the independent claims. Some embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

The invention is based on the idea of providing a user interface enabling control of collecting fluid from a patient using an apparatus, especially in connection with a fluid collection apparatus comprising more than one suction channel(s).

An advantage of the method, arrangement and user interface of the invention is that it enables control of an apparatus for collecting fluid from a patient, wherein each collection container can be used separately, such that the apparatus can be used safely, securely and effectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following the invention will be described in greater detail by means of preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, in which

FIGS. 1a and 1b show an apparatus for collecting fluid from a patient in a perspective view;

FIGS. 2a and 2b show embodiments of a manifold in a perspective view;

FIGS. 2c and 2d show partial magnifications of the manifold of FIG. 2b;

FIG. 3 schematically shows an arrangement for controlling collecting fluid from a patient;

FIG. 4 illustrates schematically a graphical user interface for collecting fluid from a patient;

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the graphical user interface; and

FIG. 6 schematically shows a method for controlling collecting fluid from a patient.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1a and 1b show embodiments of an apparatus 1 for collecting fluid, such as liquid(s), aerosol(s), gas(es) or a combination thereof, from a patient. The main use of the apparatus may be collecting fluid from a patient but, in some embodiments, the apparatus may also be used to collect fluid from other sources in an operating site, such as from a floor of an operating theatre. FIGS. 2a and 2b show embodiments of a manifold of such an apparatus for collecting fluid from a patient and FIGS. 2c and 2d show magnifications of the manifold of FIG. 2b. An apparatus for collecting fluid from a patient, such as the apparatus explained in connection with FIGS. 1a-2d, may be controlled by an arrangement for controlling collecting fluid from a patient, such as an arrangement described in connection with FIG. 3, and/or a graphical user interface for controlling collecting fluid from a patient, such as a graphical user interface described in connection with FIGS. 4 and/or 5.

The apparatus 1 may comprise a one-piece structure or a two-piece structure comprising a control unit 2 and a movable cart 3. The two-piece structure, such as the one shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, enable attaching the control unit 2 and the movable cart 3 to each other for instance when a surgical operation is going on and fluid is collected from a patient. The control unit and the cart may be attached together by a locking means, for example. After and before the operation the control unit and the movable cart may then be used as separate units. Preferably, the cart 3 may be movable and may have moving means, such as wheels. According to an embodiment, also the control unit may be movable and it may have moving means, such as wheels, as well. As the cart may be provided with parts that are in contact with the collected fluid, the two-piece structure and the movability of the cart 3 improve the workflow between patients as, for instance, only the movable cart 3 may be transferred to a point where the used collection containers 9, 104a-104f may be cleaned or disposed and/or more than one movable carts 3 may be provided and the used movable cart 3 may be replaced by a cleaned/emptied movable cart 3 before a new patient or once the collection containers 9, 104a-104f of the first movable cart 3 are full, for example.

The movable cart may comprise positions for collection containers inside which the fluid flows. The collection containers may comprise disposable collection liners, possibly provided inside canisters, or receptacles, such as canisters, into which the fluid flows directly, whereby no liners are used. The collection containers may be connected to one or more independent suction channels A, B, such that each collection container is in each case connected to one suction channels A, B. Preferably, the apparatus comprises at least two independent suction channels.

In an embodiment, the collection container comprises a liner and a hydrophobic filter is provided in a vacuum interface of the liner to prevent fluid from accessing the vacuum tubing of the apparatus 1.

According to an embodiment, the apparatus for collecting fluid from a patient may be connectable to an external vacuum source. In such embodiments, the apparatus may exploit a vacuum system of a hospital, for example. According to another embodiment, the apparatus may have an internal vacuum source. In other words, the apparatus may comprise a vacuum source of its own, such as a vacuum pump. The internal vacuum source is preferably located in the control unit. The internal vacuum regulators preferably located in the control unit may regulate the vacuum of the collection containers.

The control unit 2 may comprise a display unit 4 and a processing unit 120 (not shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b). The display unit 4 may comprise a conventional display for displaying user interface information, objects and elements only or a touch screen acting both for displaying and for entering control parameters. In an embodiment, other selection means for providing user input may be provided instead of or in addition to the touch screen. According to an embodiment, selection means for providing user input for the control unit 2 may comprise at least one of the following: one or more buttons, a mouse, a keyboard, a joystick and a touch screen.

According to an embodiment, the apparatus 1 may comprise an arm 5 and the display unit 4 may be provided on the arm 5. According to an embodiment, the arm 5 may comprise connecting means 60 for attaching the display unit 4 to the arm 5 and, thus, to the body of the control unit 2 in a pivoted manner.

According to an embodiment, the display unit 4 may be pivoted about a substantially horizontal axis and/or about a substantially vertical axis. In other words, the display unit 4 may be attached to the arm 5 pivotally about the horizontal axis such that the display unit has at least two positions, wherein a first position of the display unit places the display in a substantially horizontal position and a second position of the display unit places the display in a position angled when compared to a horizontal position, for example in a vertical position, and the display unit 4 may be tilted between these positions.

On the other hand, the display unit 4 may be arrangeable to the apparatus 1 pivotally about a vertical axis instead of or in addition to the pivoting about the horizontal axis, such that the direction of the display may be turned about the vertical axis. This may be implemented by attaching the display unit 4 to the arm 5 pivotally about the vertical axis or by arranging the arm pivotally about the vertical axis to the apparatus 1, such as to the control unit 2, for example.

The arm 5 may, thus, enable tilting display unit 4 in a tilting direction C and/or turning the display unit 4 in a turning direction D. Thereby, the display unit 4 may, in such embodiments, be tilted upwards to a vertical or at least angled second position from the horizontal first position and/or turned around the vertical axis.

According to a further embodiment, the display unit 4 may be attached to the arm 5 pivotally about a third axis perpendicular to the plane of the display unit 4 and extending through the middle point of the display of the display unit such that the display unit 4 may be rotated in a rotating direction E about the middle point of its display, for example.

According to a further embodiment, the angle of the display unit 4 in one, two or several of the directions C, D, E, for instance between the first position of the display unit and the second position of the display unit, may be selected in a stepwise or continuous manner.

According to an embodiment, the control unit 2 may further comprise valves 53, such as proportional valves, to control vacuum in collection containers 9, 104a-104f and valves 54 provided for collection container vacuum interfaces.

According to an embodiment, the movable cart 3 may comprise manifolds 6. Valves of the manifold(s) 6 may be operated by suitable actuators, such as motors 7. The movable cart 3 may further comprise collection containers 9, such as canisters, for collecting fluid, and/or a cartridge 8a and a reservoir 8b for a solidifying agent.

An apparatus 1 for collecting fluid from a patient, such as an apparatus of FIG. 1a and/or FIG. 1b for example, may comprise at least one manifold comprising ports for patient tubes and ports for collection container tubes. Collection container tubes may lead from the manifold to the collection containers. The manifold 6 may comprise valves that can be controlled individually in such a manner that the fluid flow from the patient can be led directly into any one of the collection containers, more particularly to a selected collection container.

FIG. 2a shows an embodiment of a manifold 6 for the apparatus 1. The manifold 6 may comprise a housing 10, patient ports 11 for connecting a patient tube and ports 12 for collection containers 9, 104a-104f. In FIG. 2a, one of the ports 12 is provided with a coupling 13 for a collection container tube in order to illustrate the use of the coupling 13. The manifold 6 may also comprise caps 14 for closing the patient ports 11. Each patient port 11 may be provided with a non-return valve. According to an embodiment, a thin plastic tube may be provided surrounding the patient port 11 inside the housing 10 such that the plastic tube is only open when the pressure inside the thin plastic tube is higher than around it.

Each port 12 may be provided with a valve 15. The valve 15 may comprise a cylinder 16 provided with a hole and a rotatable bar having a U shaped notch in its head provided in the cylinder 16. In such an embodiment, rotating the bar closes or opens the valve 15 depending mutual position of the hole and the notch. In other words, the port 12 opens when the notch is aligned with the hole and the port shuts off when the notch does not overlap with the hole. According to another embodiment, the valve 15 may comprise two cylinders provided within each other and each provided with hole(s) such that the valve is open when the holes are aligned.

The rotatable bar may comprise a form 17, to which an axle of an actuator, such as a motor 7, may grip. Each valve 15 may have an actuator that rotates the valves 15 according to parameters received from the control unit 2 or processing unit 120, such as parameters entered by an end user.

To collect fluid from the patient, a tube may be connected to the patient port 11 and the collection container tube may be connected to the port 12 by a coupling 13. The fluid may then enter first to the housing 10 and after that flow through the port 12 that is open to a collection container.

After the suction is interrupted, some fluid may remain in the collection container tube. Further, there still is a negative pressure in the tube and in the collection container. In order to remove the fluid in the tube and to return the atmospheric pressure in the collection container, the manifold 6 may comprise by-pass channels 18 in the ports 12 for the collection container tubes. The channel 18 may only be opened when the port 12 is closed by the valve 15.

The manifold 6 may also comprise a by-pass channel 19 in the housing 10 of the manifold 6. A gasket may be provided between the housing 10 and the channel 19. The negative pressure in the manifold 6 may be measured from the channel 19 by connecting the channel 19 to a pressure sensor. An advantage of such a measuring system is that liquid or aerosol in the housing of the manifold cannot penetrate into the channel. A non-return valve may secure that liquid or aerosol is kept away from the channel in the case when pressure inside the manifold is higher than pressure in the by-pass channel. The measured negative pressure shows the pressure exerted to the patient. Further, the measured negative pressure may indicate, together with flow measurement, if there is a blockage in the system.

FIG. 2b shows another embodiment of a manifold 6 for the apparatus 1. The manifold 6 may otherwise have the same structure as the manifold in FIG. 2a, but each port 12 for the collection container tube may comprise a valve 15 comprising two cylinders provided within each other and each provided with holes. When the holes are aligned, the valve is open, and when the holes are not aligned, the valve is closed. The manifold 6 may be provided with a backpressure valve 31 in the beginning of the channel 19, which prevents fluid from entering into the channel 19. The downstream end of the coupling 13 can be closed by a cap 20 after the collection container tube is released from the coupling 13.

FIG. 2c shows a partial magnification of a manifold of FIG. 2b. The valve 15 is closed and air flows in the by-pass channel 18. The airflow in the bypass channel 18 is denoted by arrow F.

FIG. 2d shows a partial magnification of a manifold of FIG. 2b. The inner cylinder 33 of the valve 15 is shown as an exploded view. The inner cylinder 33 comprises the holes 37 and a first groove 38, which forms the first part of the by-pass channel 18. The second part of the by-pass channel 18 is a second groove 39.

As explained above, the flow of the fluid from the patient to the collection containers 9, 104a-104f may, thus, be controlled by opening and closing the valves 15.

According to an embodiment, the processing unit 120 may be arranged to detect the degree of filling of at least one collection container 9, 104a-104f, preferably all of the collection containers. According to an embodiment, the valves 15 may be controlled according to the degree of filling such that when one collection container is full, the suction is automatically changed to a collection container having space available. In such embodiments, the full capacity of the apparatus 1 may be utilized without any actions from the end user. In other words, the processing unit 120 may be configured to control the opening and closing of the valves 15 in response to receiving an indication of the active collection container, in other words the collection container being currently connected to collect fluid from the patient, reaching a predetermined degree of filling such that the valve 15 of the active collection container is closed and the valve 15 of a collection container that has a lower degree of filling than the predetermined degree of filling is opened. The predetermined degree of filling may be coded and stored in the memory or it may be given by the end user using the graphical user interface 100, for example. According to an embodiment, the processing unit 120 may be configured to detect and utilize an amount of fluid instead of the degree of filling. The processing unit 120 may be configured to close the valve(s) 15, when the predetermined degree of filling or the predetermined amount of fluid has been reached, to stop the suction of the fluid to the collection containers.

According to an embodiment, the processing unit 120 may be configured to control the opening and closing of the valves 15 in response to receiving manual input from an end user via the graphical user interface 100. This may take place even though the active collection container was not full. In other words, the graphical user interface 100, the processing unit 120 and/or the arrangement 300 may be arranged to control opening and closing of the valves 15 in response to the end user controlling the apparatus 1 via the graphical user interface 100 in addition to or despite of any automatic controls based on predetermined rules and/or control values. Such a procedure may be necessitated by a current operation, for example.

According to an embodiment, the processing unit 120 may be configured to control the opening and closing of the valves 15 in according to a predetermined plan. Such a plan may be configured in the processing unit 120 and it may comprise implemented by saving computer code in a memory of the apparatus 1, the control unit 2 or the processing unit 120 or in an external memory. In some situation, it might be beneficial to use the same collection container for several patients so that the full volume of the collection containers can be utilized, while in other situations a collection container may be changed between patients, which gives an opportunity to visually check the fluid, for example. One or several predetermined plans stored in the memory enable flexible use of the apparatus 1 in different use situations.

According to an embodiment, the manifold 6 may be provided with an electronic identification system, such as an RFID tag comprising identification information related to the manifold. The RFID tag may comprise an integrated circuit containing the identification information and an antenna. The RFID tag may then be read with a reader and the information obtained. The processing unit 120 may be configured to receive this identification information from the reader and to control the apparatus 1 in response to the identification information. According to an embodiment, the processing unit 120 may be configured to determine, on the bases of the identification information of the manifold received in the processing unit, whether the manifold is new or already used. If the manifold is determined to be new, the processing unit 120 may determine the operation of the apparatus allowable. If the manifold is determined to have been used in the same operation, the processing unit 120 may also determine the operation of the apparatus allowable or prevent the use depending on the embodiment, for instance based on predetermined rules stored in the memory. A situation where the manifold is found to be already used in the same operation is possible in cases where the manifold has been unintentionally disconnected, or the manifold is transferred from one collection container to the other in order to increase capacity, for example. If the manifold is determined to have been used before but not in the same operation, the processing unit 120 may prevent the operation of the apparatus. In embodiment, where there are more than one suction channel each having a separate manifold, the processing unit 120 may be configured to allow the use of the other suction channel(s) and only prevent the use of the suction channel having the unacceptable manifold.

According to an embodiment, fluid volume in a collection container 9, 104a-104f may be detected by measuring the weight of the collection container. The processing unit 120 may be configured to determining at least one of the following on the basis of the weight of one, several or all of the collection containers: the amount of fluid in at least one of the collection containers, the amount of fluid in all of the collection container in the apparatus, total amount of fluid collected during an operation, and the degree of filling of each one of the collection containers in the apparatus 1. In normal use, the liquid volume is detected by measuring the weight of the collection container. As the system detects the weight of the container, the container is not filled up to the level of vacuum inlet inside the liner preventing the hydrophobic filter getting in contact with liquid and therefore, the collection liner and the canister have essentially the same pressure level. The measuring of the weight may be implemented by using strain gauge transducers installed under the positions of the collection containers, for example. The electrical resistance of the strain gauge transducer varies in response to the load exerted to the transducer. The weight of the collection container may be determined on the basis of the resistance.

In an embodiment, the collection container comprising a liner may engage to the negative pressure through a port in the canister. In other words, there may be a connection provided with a gasket through the canister wall. The port may be provided with a flow meter. The processing unit 120 may receive information about the pressure measured from the manifold 6 and the flow meter to determine whether there is a blockage or a leak in the system. If there is no flow and the pressure measured from the manifold is higher than a regulated pressure, there is a blockage in the apparatus. Accordingly, if there is a high flow and no negative pressure in the manifold there is a leak in the apparatus. The processing unit 120 may be further be configured to initiate an alarm indicating a blockage and/or a leak in the apparatus and/or displaying instructions for removing the blockage or blocking the leak. The alarm may comprise for instance a visual alarm or audio alarm and it may be provided via the graphical user interface 100 or by a separate alarm user interface, such as a light, a display or a loudspeaker. The instructions may be provided on the display of the graphical user interface 100, for example. According to an embodiment, different type of indications may be provided for different severity levels of alarms. For instance, a different appearance of the alarm may be provided for low priority, medium priority and high priority alarms shown in the graphical user interface 100 and/or different types of alarm indications, such as visual and audio alarms, may be combined in case of higher priority alarms. The alarm indications shown on the graphical user interface 100 may comprise additional information related to the alarm, and the graphical user interface may be configured to display this additional information in response to the end user affecting the alarm indication on the graphical user interface 100.

According to an embodiment, the collection container or the cart may be provided with an optical indication means. The optical indication means maybe controlled by the processing unit 120, for example. According to an embodiment, the optical indication means may comprise illumination of the canister. The illumination may be turned on in response to the canister being in use, for example. According to another embodiment, the optical indication means may comprise a film whose transparency can be changed, thereby showing the fluid only when desired.

According to an embodiment, an irrigation pole integrated to the control unit 2 and a weighing unit measuring a weight loss of an irrigation bag or bags, if there are more than one bag hanging from the irrigation pole. Thereby, information about the amount of fluid that has been transferred to the operating site may be determined by the processing unit 120, for example. Fluid deficit may then be determined, for instance by the processing unit 120, on the basis of the determined amount of fluid transferred to the operating site and the determined amount of fluid collected. This information may have a clinical value. The graphical user interface 100 may be configured to display the amount of fluid deficit. According to an embodiment, the graphical user interface 100 may comprise a selection element for determining an alarm limit for the amount of fluid deficit and an alarm for indicating exceeding of this alarm limit.

According to an embodiment, the cart 3 may comprise a position for a cartridge and a reservoir containing solidifying agent. The vacuum in the collection container may be used to move the solidifying agent from the reservoir to the collection container.

According to an embodiment, the solidifying agent may be fed in small doses into a collection container during the suction process. The feeding process may be automatic and controlled by the processing unit 120. The feeding process may for instance be programmed so that a portion of the solidifying agent is fed, after suction of a predetermined amount of fluid, such as every half a litre, on the surface of the fluid in the collection container. This is useful for instance in that that the fluid in the collection container solidifies as it flows inside the container. Further, the use of the solidifying agent is more precise and more effective compared to the known systems, because the amount of the solidifying agent can be fed in proportion with the amount of the collected fluid. According to another embodiment, the graphical user interface 100, the processing unit 120 and/or the arrangement 300 may be arranged to control feeding of the solidifying agent in response to the end user controlling the apparatus 1 via the graphical user interface 100 in addition to or despite of any automatic controls based on predetermined rules and/or control values.

According to an embodiment, the processing unit 120 may be configured to monitor the amount of the solidifying agent dosages given from the cartridge and to indicate a need for a new cartridge on the graphical user interface 100 or in a different visual indicator when required. The processing unit 120 may, thereby, detect a misuse of the apparatus. According to an embodiment, the cartridges may have radio frequency identification tags (RFID tags) on their surface and the processing unit 120 may identify the cartridges according to the identification information of the tags of the cartridges.

According to an embodiment, the processing unit 120 may be configured to determine a condition of the hydrophobic filter can be checked before the operation by using known parameters, such as pressure, air volume inside the collection container and response time to pressure changes.

FIG. 3 schematically shows an arrangement 300 for controlling collecting fluid from a patient. According to an embodiment, the apparatus 1 for collecting fluid from a patient, such as an apparatus of FIG. 1a and/or FIG. 1b for example, may comprise such an arrangement 300. According to an embodiment, the arrangement 300 may form a part of a control unit 2 of an apparatus 1 for collecting fluid from a patient. According to an embodiment, the arrangement 300 may be formed as a separate unit instead of forming a part of a control unit 2. For instance, the arrangement may be provided a s a part of a display unit 4.

The graphical user interface 100, the processing unit 120 and/or the arrangement 300 may be arranged to control the functions of the apparatus 1 in response to the end user controlling the apparatus 1 via the graphical user interface 100 in addition to or despite of any automatic controls based on predetermined rules and/or control values. In other words, the graphical user interface 100, the processing unit 120 and/or the arrangement 300 may be arranged to control the functions of the apparatus 1 described in this description in response to the detecting input from an end user entered via the graphical user interface 100 and/or selection means associated with the graphical user interface.

The arrangement 300 for controlling collecting fluid from a patient may comprise a graphical user interface 100 and a processing unit 120. The arrangement 300 may be arranged to control an apparatus 1 for collecting fluid from a patient.

FIG. 4 illustrates schematically a graphical user interface 100 for an apparatus for collecting fluid from a patient. The graphical user interface may comprise a display unit 4 for providing a display and/or selection means, such as buttons, mouse, joystick and/or touch screen, with which the user may enter input through the graphical user interface 100 for the processing unit 120. Naturally, the touch screen may also be integrated to the display unit 4. The display unit 4 may comprise one or several display screens.

The graphical user interface 100, the processing unit 120 and/or the arrangement 300 for controlling collecting fluid from a patient may be arranged to provide at least one function described in this description in the apparatus 1 or a combination of such functions.

The graphical user interface 100 for an apparatus for collecting fluid from a patient may comprise at least one first user interface element 101 configured to display on a display unit 4 information related to at least one, preferably at least two, first collection containers 9 connected to a first suction channel, at least one second user interface element 102 configured to display on the display unit 4 information related to at least one, preferably at least two, second collection containers 9 connected to a second suction channel, and a third user interface element 103 configured to display on the display unit 4 information regarding fluid collected from the patient to at least one of the collection container 9 such as the amount of fluid collected from the patient to at least one of the collection containers. According to an embodiment, the third user interface element 103 is configured to display on the display unit 4 the total amount of fluid collected from the patient to the collection containers 9. According to an embodiment, the third user interface element 103 is further configured to display on the display unit 4 information regarding the fluid provided to the patient, such as the amount of fluid provided to the patient; and/or the difference between the amount of fluid provided to the patient and the amount of fluid collected from the patient.

According to an embodiment, the first interface element 101 and the second interface element 102 may be configured to display a graphical representation 104a-104f of each one of the collection containers 9. Thus, one graphical representation of a collection container 104a-104f may in each case represent one of the collection containers 9, respectively.

According to an embodiment, the graphical user interface 100 may be configured to receive input from a user in the form of the user affecting any one of the graphical representations 104a-104f of the collection containers 9. The affecting may comprise pointing a graphical representation 104a-104f, touching a graphical representations 104a-104f, hovering over a graphical representation 104a-104f and/or any other manner of affecting a graphical user interface known as such.

The graphical user interface 100 may be configured to select the collection container 9, the graphical representation 104a-104f of which the user has affected, for collecting fluid from the patient, in response to the input from the user. In other words, the graphical user interface 100 may send a request for the processing unit 120 to connect the selected collection container 9 to a corresponding suction channel in response to the user affecting the graphical representation 104a-104f of the collection container 9.

According to an embodiment, the graphical user interface 100 may be configured to select the appearance of each one of the graphic representations 104a-104f of the collection containers 9 in such a manner that a difference appearance is selected for a collection container currently selected, a collection container selectable for collecting fluid from the patient, and a collection container not ready for collecting fluid from the patient. For example, a different color, different thickness and/or transparency of lines and filling used for showing a collection container 9 on the display unit 4 may be selected by the graphical user interface 100 and/or the processing unit 120 based on whether the collection container 9 is a collection container currently selected, a collection container selectable for collecting fluid from the patient, and a collection container not ready for collecting fluid from the patient.

According to an embodiment, the processing unit 120 may be configured to determine a collection container to be ready for collecting fluid from the patient on the basis of at least one of the following criteria: the manifold the collection container is connected to is determined to be new, the manifold the collection container is connected to is determined to have been used in the same operation, the collection container is not full, and the collection container has a lower degree of filling than the predetermined degree of filling. According to an embodiment, the processing unit 120 may be configured to determine a collection container to be ready for collecting fluid from the patient in response to the manifold the collection container is connected to being determined to be new or the manifold the collection container is connected to being determined to have been used in the same operation, and the collection container has a lower degree of filling than the predetermined degree of filling.

According to an embodiment, the processing unit 120 may be configured to determine that a collection container is not ready for collecting fluid from the patient on the basis of at least one of the following criteria not being fulfilled: the manifold the collection container is connected to is determined to be new, the manifold the collection container is connected to is determined to have been used in the same operation, the collection container is not full, and the collection container has a lower degree of filling than the predetermined degree of filling. According to an embodiment, the processing unit 120 may be configured to determine that a collection container is not ready for collecting fluid from the patient on the basis of the manifold the collection container is connected to being determined not to be new and the manifold the collection container is connected to being determined to have been used in another operation, or the collection container being full, or the collection container having a higher degree of filling than the predetermined degree of filling.

According to an embodiment, the graphical user interface 100 may be configured to select the appearance of each one of the graphic representations 104a-104f of the collection containers 9 to visually show the degree of filling of the collection container 9 in question. For example, the graphical representation 104a-104f may display an illustration of a collection container filled to a degree of filling corresponding to the degree of filling of the actual, corresponding collection container 9.

According to an embodiment, the graphical user interface 100 may be configured to display an indication of an automatic changing of the collection container 9 the fluid is collected to in response to the processing unit 120 controlling collection of fluid from a patient to a collection container according to the degree of filling such that when one collection container is full, the suction is automatically changed to a collection container having space available. This indication may comprise a message shown on the graphical user interface for a predetermined time or until the end user affects the graphical user interface to confirm acknowledging this information, or simply indicating the new collection container the fluid is collected to as the active collection container, possibly with an appearance different from other collection containers.

According to an embodiment, the graphical user interface 100 may further comprise a selection element 105 for starting collection of fluid from the patient to one of said collection containers 9. The graphical user interface 100 may then be configured to receive input from a user in the form of the user affecting the selection element 105 for starting collection of fluid. The graphical user interface 100 may be configured to send a request for starting the collection of fluid from the patient to the selected collection container 9 to a processing unit 120 in response to the user affecting the selection element 105 for starting collection of fluid on the graphical user interface 100. The graphical user interface 100 may be configured to only process the input from the user affecting the selection element 105 and to send the request to the processing unit 120 if at least one of the collection containers 9 is ready for collecting fluid from the patient.

According to an embodiment, the graphical user interface 100 may comprise at least one selection element 105 related to the first user interface element 101 and at least one selection element 105 related to the second user interface element 102, whereby each selection element 105 may be configured to send the request to the processing unit 120 to start collecting fluid from the patient through the corresponding suction channel to one of the collection containers 9 that are related to the corresponding user interface element 101, 102.

According to an embodiment, the same selection element 105 for starting collection of fluid may be used to receive input from the end user to stop the collection of fluid. The processing unit 120 may be configured to stop the collection of fluid for instance by stopping the suction in response to the end user affecting the selection element 105 for starting collection of fluid again while the collection of fluid is ongoing. Stopping the suction may be implemented by disconnecting the collection containers from the suction, such as from the internal or external vacuum source, or by shutting down the internal vacuum source.

In other words, the same selection element 105 may be used to change the state of suction: to start the suction and collection of fluid when the collection is currently stopped and to stop the suction and collection of fluid when the collection is currently ongoing. Preferably, the selection element 105 may have different appearances associated to the current state of suction, such as suction on or suction off, or the action implemented in response to affecting the selection element 105, such as stop (suction/collecting) or start (suction/collecting).

According to an embodiment, the appearance of the selection element 105 may further have different appearances associated to the selection element 105 being currently affected by the end user and the selection element 105 currently not being affected by the end user. According to an embodiment, the selection element 105 may, thus, comprise at least four different appearances: one for starting suction when the suction is stopped and the selection element is not affected, one for starting suction when the suction is stopped and the selection element is affected, one for stopping the suction when the suction is ongoing and the selection element is not affected and one for stopping the suction when the suction is ongoing and the selection element is affected.

Furthermore, the selection element 105 may comprise additional appearances. The selection element 105 may, for instance, have a separate appearance for the selection element being disabled, in other words for situations where the end user is not allowed to give input using the selection element 105. The selection element 105 may also, for instance, have a separate appearance for an action initiated by the selection element being pending, in other words for situations where the end user has affected the selection element, but the initiated action has not been completed yet and further affecting on the selection element is not allowed until the previous action has been completed.

In embodiments, where the selection element 105 comprises alternative appearances as indicated above, the appearances may differ from one another by comprising appearance specific characteristics different from alternative appearances, such as color(s), level of transparency, text(s), symbol(s), form(s), frame(s), line(s) and similar associated with the specific appearance. Similarly, also other elements of the graphical user interface may comprise several alternative appearances.

According to an embodiment, the graphical user interface 100 may further comprise a further selection element (not shown) for resetting values shown in the graphical user interface 100. This may be useful in connection with ending one operation and starting a new one and resetting the values of the previous operation before starting the next one, for example. According to another embodiment, the processing unit 120 may be configured to reset the values shown in the graphical user interface 100 in response to detecting a change or detachment of the collection container(s) related to the value(s).

According to an aspect, a method in connection with a graphical user interface for an apparatus for collecting fluid from a patient comprises steps needed for executing at least one of the functions described in connection with the graphical user interface 100. Preferably, the method comprises a combination of steps needed for executing at least two of the functions described in connection with the graphical user interface 100.

The processing unit 120 may comprise at least one computer, programmable logic or programmable microprocessor, for example. The processing unit 120 may be configured to cause display of at least one graphical user interface 100 as described above, as well as other function(s) described in this description or a combination thereof. The processing unit 120 may comprise a single unit that may be provided in the control unit 2, in the cart 3, in the display unit 4 or remotely to the apparatus 1, for example. The processing unit 120 may comprise a single structure or it may be distributed such that parts of the processing unit 120 are provided in at least one of the following: the control unit 2, the cart 3, the display unit 4 and a remote location spaced from the apparatus 1. The connections between the parts of the processing unit 120, the graphical user interface 100 and/or the apparatus may comprise wired and/or wireless communication connections known as such.

The apparatus for collecting fluid from a patient may further comprise at least one memory 130 comprising program code comprising one or more modules, programs or sets of instructions stored in the memory for running operations. In different embodiments, the program code may comprise e.g. a system program, an installable application, an application plugin, an Internet browser or any other piece of computer program code.

According to an aspect, computer code for carrying out at least some of the above-illustrated features may be provided. According to another aspect, the memory and computer program code may be configured to cause the apparatus for collecting fluid from a patient to carry out at least some of the graphical user interface elements 101, 102, 103, 104 and 105, and related features illustrated in connection with FIGS. 1a to 4 and FIG. 6. The computer program may be stored on a machine-readable storage medium, such as a memory 130 or a separate memory means, from which the computer program may be fetched for execution on the processing unit 120 and/or other processor of the apparatus 1. According to an embodiment, the computer program comprises program instructions which, when loaded into a processing unit 120 for controlling collecting of fluid from a patent and executed in the processing unit, causes an arrangement 300 described in this description to perform a method described in this description.

According to another aspect there is provided a computer program product comprising program instructions which, when loaded into a processor, such as into the processing unit 120 and/or other processor of the apparatus 1, cause the processor to perform a method described in this description.

According to an embodiment, the graphical user interface 100 may further comprise a graphical user interface element for displaying a remaining fluid collection capacity for a suction channel. The graphical user interface 100 may comprise such graphical user interface elements for each one of the suction channels. This enables effective use of the suction channels and fluid collecting containers and optimization of the use of the collection containers as well as changing of the suction channel and/or collection container used at a suitable phase of the operation.

The graphical user interface 100 may comprise one or more other views and/or graphical user interface elements in addition to those shown in FIG. 4. The graphical user interface 100 may further comprise views and/or graphical user interface elements for indicating a cart 3 being or not being connected to the control unit 2, indicating a lid of the apparatus being open, indicating a handle of the apparatus being open, indicating a general technical error and/or indicating the apparatus 1 being or not being connected to an external vacuum source in response to the processing unit 120 detecting such a connection or an absence thereof.

According to an embodiment, the elements, such as graphical user interface elements, associated with equipment, functions or other features that are not installed in the specific application are configured to be hidden from the graphical user interface 100. According to an embodiment, such elements may have a different appearance, such as different level of transparency, a different color or similar when compared to the equipment, functions or other features that are installed in the specific application/system.

According to an embodiment, the elements, such as graphical user interface elements, associated with equipment, functions or other features that have currently error states or error messages related to the features are configured to have a different appearance on the graphical user interface 100. According to an embodiment, such elements may have a different appearance, such as different level of transparency, a different color, a different text or similar when compared to the equipment, functions or other features that have no related error states or error messages, or a separate error message or error icon may be shown on the graphical user interface 100.

According to an embodiment, the processing unit 120 may be configured to store current settings, current state and/or other apparatus related information in the memory 130. The processing unit 120 may further be configured to detect an unexpected event, such as shutting down and/or restarting of the apparatus 1 and/or the processing unit 120 itself. The processing unit 120 may be configured to cause, in response to detecting such an unexpected event, the graphical user interface 100 to ask for confirmation from the end user regarding the way of continuing the use of the apparatus, such as continuing with the previous settings. The processing unit 120 may be configured to then retrieve, in response to a confirmation received from the end user via the graphical user interface 100 and/or selection means associated with it, the previously used settings, state and/or other apparatus related information from the memory 130 and to use the retrieved settings, retrieved state or other retrieved information to control the apparatus 1.

According to an embodiment, at least a part of the processing unit 120 may be provided as part of the display unit 4. According to another embodiment, the processing unit 120 as a whole or at least a majority of its features including computer program code configured to cause functions described in this description is provided as a part of the display unit 4 or fixedly attached to the display unit 4. The control unit 2, the cart 3 and/or a possible irrigation pole may comprise processing equipment forming a part of the processing unit 120 and/or communicating with the processing unit 120 via wired or wireless communication connections known as such to control at least one function of the apparatus 1.

The processing unit 120 may be configured to control the display of the display unit 4 and/or the graphical user interface 100 and to receive user input from the graphical user interface 100 and/or selection means associated with the graphical user interface 100. According to an embodiment, the processing unit 120 may also be configured to control an audio circuit controlling audio alarms and audio indications.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the graphical user interface 100. The first user interface element 101 shows information about the first suction channel and the second user interface element 102 shows information about the second suction channel. The collection containers 104a-104c that are joined to the first suction channel are illustrated on the first interface element 101 and the collection containers 104d-104f that are joined to the second suction channel are illustrated on the first interface element 102. The vacuum level of the first suction channel can be read from a scale 106 and the vacuum level of the second suction channel can be read from a scale 107. According to an embodiment, the scales 106 and 107 may be provided with selection functionality, such that the end user may adjust the maximum vacuum level, more particularly the maximum absolute value or maximum magnitude of the vacuum, in the related vacuum channel by affecting one of the scales 106, 107. The processing unit 120 may be configured to adjust the maximum vacuum level, more particularly the maximum absolute value or maximum magnitude of the vacuum, in the respective vacuum channel in response to the end user affecting the scale 106, 107 on the graphical user interface 100. Thereby, the end user may limit the level of vacuum in the suction channel, such as in the first suction channel or the second suction channel, to a magnitude that may not be exceeded.

The third user interface element 103 may show in the section 108 the amount of fluid used for irrigation. The section 109 may show the amount of fluid that has been collected from the operation site. The section 110 may show the balance between the readings on the sections 108 and 109, for example.

FIG. 6 schematically shows a method for controlling collecting fluid from a patient. The method for controlling collecting fluid from the patient may be implemented using an embodiment of the apparatus 1 as described in FIGS. 1a-2d and related description, an embodiment of the arrangement 300 as described in FIG. 3 and related description and/or an embodiment of the graphical user interface 100 as described in FIGS. 4-5 and related description or a combination thereof. An embodiment of the arrangement 300 as described in FIG. 3 and related description and/or an embodiment of the graphical user interface 100 as described in FIGS. 4-5 may be configured to implement at least one function of the method.

The method of controlling collecting fluid from a patient may comprise displaying 61 by a graphical user interface 100 in at least one first user interface element 101 on a display unit 4 information related to at least one first collection container 9, such as at least one of the first collection containers associated with the graphical representations 104a-104c, connected to a first suction channel. The method may also comprise displaying 62 by a graphical user interface 100 in at least one second user interface element 102 on the display unit 4 information related to at least one second collection container 9, such as at least one of the second collection containers associated with the graphical representations 104ds 104f, connected to a second suction channel. The method may further comprise displaying 63 by a graphical user interface 100 in a third user interface element 103 on the display unit 4 information regarding fluid collected from the patient to at least one of said collection containers 104a-104f. According to an embodiment, the method may comprise displaying by the graphical user interface in the at least one first user interface element on the display unit information related to at least two first collection containers connected to a first suction channel, and displaying by the graphical user interface in the at least one second user interface element on the display unit information related to at least two second collection containers connected to a second suction channel. According to a further embodiment, more than two collection containers 9, 104a-104f may be connected to at least one of the suction channels or to each one of the suction channels.

According to an embodiment, the method may comprise receiving in the graphical user interface 100 input from a user in the form of the user affecting any one of the graphical representations 104a-104f of the collection containers 9, selecting by the graphical user interface 100 the collection container 9, the graphical representation 104a-104f of which the user has affected, for collecting fluid from the patient, in response to the input from the user, and sending the request to collect fluid from the patient to the selected collection container by the graphical user interface 100 to a processing unit 120.

According to an embodiment, the method may comprise providing a selection element 105 for starting collection of fluid from the patient to one of said collection containers 9 on the graphical user interface 100; receiving in the graphical user interface 100 input from a user in the form of the user affecting the selection element 105 for starting collection of fluid, sending by the graphical user interface 100 a request for starting the collection of fluid from the patient to the selected collection container to a processing unit 120 in response to the user affecting the selection element 105 for starting collection of fluid. According to an embodiment, the method may further comprise processing by the graphical user interface 100 the input from the user affecting the selection element and sending the request to the processing unit 120 only if at least one of the collection containers is ready for collecting fluid from the patient.

According to an embodiment, the method may comprise sending by the graphical user interface 100 a request for stopping the collection of fluid from the patient to the selected collection container 9 to the processing unit 120 in response to the user affecting the selection element 105 for starting collection of fluid while the collection of fluid is ongoing, processing by the graphical user interface 100 the input from the user affecting the selection element 105 and sending the request to the processing unit 120. In other words, the same selection element 105 may be used for both starting and stopping the suction, for instance depending on the suction currently being ongoing or stopped. According to an embodiment, the appearance of the selection element 105 may depend on the suction being ongoing or stopped.

According to an embodiment, the apparatus for collecting fluid from a patient comprising positions for collection containers 9 and a manifold 6, at least one port 11 for connecting a patient and more than one port 12 for collection container tubes extending from the manifold 6 to a collection container 9, the ports 11, 12 comprising valves which are individually operable. According to an embodiment, the apparatus 1 may comprise an embodiment described in connection with FIGS. 1-2d.

According to an embodiment, the method may comprise controlling by the processing unit 120 the fluid flow from a patient into a collection container 9 in response to the end user selecting the collection container 9 using the graphical user interface 100 or selection means associated with the graphical user interface 100. Different functions related to controlling the fluid flow by the graphical user interface 100 and/or the processing unit 120 are described in this description.

According to an embodiment, the method may comprise controlling by the processing unit 120 the fluid flow from a patient into a collection container 9 in response to receiving from the graphical user interface 100 input from a user in the form of the user affecting the selection element 105 for starting collection of fluid by connecting suction to the collection container 9 or disconnecting suction from the collection container 9. The connecting or disconnecting of the suction may depend on whether the suction is currently ongoing or stopped, such that the suction is disconnected from the collection container if the suction is currently ongoing, and the suction is connected to the collection container if the suction is currently stopped. In other words, the same selection element may be used for starting and stopping suction. However, the appearance of the selection element may depend on the suction being ongoing or stopped and, thus, the function the selection element is currently associated with and/or the selection element being currently affected or not, such that a difference appearance is related to starting and stopping suction and/or to selection element being affected or not being affected by the end user.

According to an embodiment, the method may further comprise controlling collection of fluid from a patient by the processing unit according to the degree of filling such that when one collection container 9 is full, the suction is automatically changed to a collection container having space available, and displaying in the graphical user interface 100 the automatic changing of the collection container the fluid is collected to. Displaying in the graphical user interface 100 the automatic changing of the collection container may comprise an indication, such as a message shown on the graphical user interface for a predetermined time or until the end user affects the graphical user interface to confirm acknowledging this information, or simply indicating the new collection container the fluid is collected to as the active collection container, possibly with an appearance different from other collection containers. Automatic change refers here to a change controlled by the processing unit 120 and implemented without related actions required from the end user.

According to an embodiment, a main part of the processing unit 120 may be integrated in the display unit 4 and it may be configured to control the display, audio system and touch screen. The part of the processing unit 120 integrated to the display unit 4 may communicate with the control unit 2 over a wired communication connection, such as a USB bus. A part of the processing unit 120 may be provided in the cart and/or the cart 3 may comprise a controller of its own. The parts of the processing unit 120 provided in the cart 3 and/or the controller of the cart 3 may be configured to communicate with the processing equipment, such as parts of the processing unit 120 and/or separate processors, of for instance the display unit 4 and/or the control unit 2. According to an embodiment, a main processor forming a main part of the processing unit 120, a control unit controller and a cart controller may each have their own software, memories and peripherals.

It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that, as the technology advances, the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are not limited to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1.-16. (canceled)

17. A method of controlling collecting fluid from a patient, the method comprising: displaying by a graphical user interface in at least one first user interface element on a display unit, information related to at least one first collection container connected to a first suction channel;displaying by the graphical user interface in at least one second user interface element on the display unit, information related to at least one second collection container connected to a second suction channel;displaying by the graphical user interface in a third user interface element on the display unit, information regarding fluid collected from a patient to at least one of said collection containers;configuring each of the first interface element and the second interface element to display a graphical representation of the collection containers;receiving an input from a user for affecting any one of the graphical representations of the first or second collection containers;selecting, based on the input, the collection container whose graphical representation was affected by the user, for collecting fluid from the patient; andsending a request to collect fluid from a patient to the selected collection container, the request being sent by the graphical user interface to a processing unit.

18. A method according to claim 17, comprising: displaying by the graphical user interface in the at least one first user interface element on the display unit, information related to at least two first collection containers connected to a first suction channel; anddisplaying by the graphical user interface in the at least one second user interface element on the display unit, information related to at least two second collection containers connected to a second suction channel.

19. A method according to claim 17, comprising: providing a selection element for starting collection of fluid from a patient to one of said collection containers on the graphical user interface;receiving in the graphical user interface an input from a user for affecting the selection element for starting a collection of fluid;sending by the graphical user interface a request, for starting the collection of fluid from a patient to the selected collection container, to a processing unit in response to the user affecting the selection element for starting collection of fluid; andwherein the input from the user affecting the selection element is processed by the graphical user interface and the request is sent to the processing unit only if at least one of the collection containers is ready for collecting fluid from a patient.

20. A method according to claim 19, comprising: sending by the graphical user interface, a request for stopping the collection of fluid from the patient to the selected collection container, to the processing unit in response to the user affecting the selection element for starting collection of fluid while the collection of fluid is ongoing.

21. A method according to any one of claim 17, comprising: collecting the fluid by an apparatus having positions for collection containers and a manifold, at least one port for connecting to a patient, and more than one port for collection container tubes extending from the manifold to a collection container, the ports having valves which are individually operable.

22. A method according to claim 21, comprising: controlling by the processing unit the fluid flow from a patient into a collection container in response to an end user selecting the collection container using the graphical user interface or selection means associated with the graphical user interface.

23. A method according to claim 17, comprising: controlling by the processing unit the fluid flow from a patient into a collection container in response to receiving a graphical user interface input from a user for affecting the selection element for starting collection of fluid by connecting suction to the collection container or disconnecting suction from the collection container.

24. A method according to claim 17, comprising: controlling collection of fluid from a patient by the processing unit according to a degree of filling such that when one collection container is full, the suction is automatically changed to a collection container having space available; anddisplaying in the graphical user interface an automatic changing of the collection container fluid is collected to.

25. A graphical user interface for controlling collecting of fluid from a patient, wherein the graphical user interface comprises: at least one first user interface element configured to display on a display unit information related to at least one first collection container connected to a first suction channel;at least one second user interface element configured to display on the display unit information related to at least one second collection container connected to a second suction channel; anda third user interface element configured to display on the display unit information regarding fluid collected from a patient to at least one of said collection containers;wherein the first interface element and the second interface element are configured to display a graphical representation of each one of the collection containers; andwherein the graphical user interface is configured to receive an input from a user for affecting any one of the graphical representations of the collection containers, and wherein the graphical user interface is configured to select the collection container, the graphical representation of which the user has affected, for collecting fluid from a patient, in response to the input from the user.

26. A graphical user interface according to claim 25, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to select an appearance of each one of the graphic representations of the collection containers in such a manner that a difference in appearance is shown for a collection container currently selected, a collection container selectable for collecting fluid from a patient, and a collection container not ready for collecting fluid from the patient.

27. A graphical user interface according to claim 25, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to select an appearance of each one of the graphic representations of the collection containers to visually show a degree of filling of a collection container in question.

28. A graphical user interface according claim 25, wherein the graphical user interface comprises: a selection element for starting collection of fluid from a patient to one of said collection containers;wherein the graphical user interface is configured to receive an input from a user for affecting the selection element for starting collection of fluid;wherein the graphical user interface is configured to send a request, for starting the collection of fluid from the patient to the selected collection container, to a processing unit in response to the user affecting the selection element for starting collection of fluid; andwherein the graphical user interface is configured to process the input from the user affecting the selection element and to send the request to the processing unit only if at least one of the collection containers is ready for collecting fluid from the patient.

29. A graphical user interface according to claim 25, wherein: the graphical user interface is configured to display an indication of an automatic changing of the collection container the fluid is collected to in response to the processing unit controlling collection of fluid from a patient to a collection container according to a degree of filling, such that when one collection container is full, the suction is automatically changed to a collection container having space available.

30. An arrangement for controlling collecting fluid from a patient, wherein the arrangement comprises: a processing unit; anda graphical user interface according claim 25.

31. The arrangement according to claim 30, comprising: an apparatus for collecting fluid from a patient and having positions for collection containers and a manifold, at least one port for connecting a patient, and more than one port for collection container tubes extending from the manifold to a collection container, the ports having valves that are individually operable.

32. A computer program embodied in tangible form on a machine-readable storage medium, the computer program comprising: program instructions which, when loaded into a processing unit for controlling collecting of fluid from a patent and executed in the processing unit, will cause the processing unit to perform the method of claim 17.

33. A method according to claim 18, comprising: providing a selection element for starting collection of fluid from a patient to one of said collection containers on the graphical user interface;receiving in the graphical user interface an input from a user in the form of the user for affecting the selection element for starting a collection of fluid;sending by the graphical user interface a request, for starting the collection of fluid from a patient to the selected collection container, to a processing unit in response to the user affecting the selection element for starting collection of fluid; andwherein the input from the user affecting the selection element is processed by the graphical user interface and the request is sent to the processing unit only if at least one of the collection containers is ready for collecting fluid from a patient.

34. A method according to any one of claim 33, comprising: collecting the fluid by an apparatus having positions for collection containers and a manifold, at least one port for connecting to a patient, and more than one port for collection container tubes extending from the manifold to a collection container, the ports having valves which are individually operable.

35. A method according to claim 34, comprising: controlling by the processing unit the fluid flow from a patient into a collection container in response to receiving a graphical user interface input from a user for affecting the selection element for starting collection of fluid by connecting suction to the collection container or disconnecting suction from the collection container.

36. A method according to claim 35, comprising: controlling collection of fluid from a patient by the processing unit according to a degree of filling such that when one collection container is full, the suction is automatically changed to a collection container having space available; anddisplaying in the graphical user interface an automatic changing of the collection container fluid is collected to.