Claims
- 1. A method of generating revenues through the supply of dialysis apparatuses comprising:
providing an apparatus for dialyzing to a consumer, the apparatus including a controller for controlling a dialysate parameter, a delivery system for delivering the dialysate to a dialysate compartment of a dialyzer, and a user/machine interface comprising a touch screen adapted to display an indicium corresponding to a parameter pertinent to operation of the apparatus for use in dialysis and to enable a user though touching the indicium to effect a change in the parameter; and providing supplies that are useable with the apparatus to the consumer.
- 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the touch screen interface is operable to allow the consumer to view operating parameters of the apparatus.
- 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
repeatedly providing the supplies to the consumer during an operational life of the apparatus.
- 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the dialysate parameter comprises one of dialysate temperature and dialysate concentration.
- 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the supplies comprise at least one of a dialyzer, a blood line, a syringe for withdrawing samples of dialysis solution from a dialysate line sample port; a syringe for a heparin pump, a hydrophobic transducer protector to place on pressure fittings, saline solution, a dialysate filter, dialysate, an arterial drip chamber, a container for concentrate, a dialysate meter for testing dialysate, and disinfectants.
- 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the supplies are provided to the consumer separately.
- 7. The method according to 1, wherein more than one of the supplies are provided to the consumer at a time.
- 8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
providing the apparatus with a memory card interface operable to read and write data from and to a memory card; and providing at least one memory card to the consumer for use with the apparatus.
- 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is used for hemodialysis.
- 10. A method for supplying dialysis equipment comprising:
providing a dialysis machine to a consumer, the dialysis machine comprising a touch screen interface that is operable to allow the consumer to at least one of modify and view operating parameters of the dialysis machine and configured to operate with one or more consumable supplies that are consumed during a prescribed number of dialysis processes; and providing, repeatedly, at least one of the one or more consumable supplies to the consumer in order to allow the customer to repeat a number of dialysis processes.
- 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the consumable supplies comprise at least one of a dialyzer, a blood line, a syringe for withdrawing samples of dialysis solution from a dialysate line sample port; a syringe for a heparin pump, a hydrophobic transducer protector to place on pressure fittings, saline solution, a dialysate filter, dialysate solution, an arterial drip chamber, a container for concentrate, a dialysate meter for testing dialysate, and disinfectants.
- 12. The method according to claim 10, wherein each of the consumable supplies are provided separately.
- 13. The method according to 10, wherein more than one of the consumable supplies are provided to the consumer at a time.
- 14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the dialysis machine is used for hemodialysis.
- 15. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:
providing the dialysis machine with a memory card interface operable to read and write data from and to a memory card; providing and distributing at least one memory card to the consumer for use with the dialysis machine.
- 16. A method of providing a dialysis machine and auxiliary supplies for the dialysis machine to a consumer, the method comprising:
providing a dialysis machine for use in dialysis, the dialysis machine including a touch screen interface adapted to display an indicium corresponding to a parameter pertinent to operation of the dialysis machine and to effect a change in the parameter after a touch input at the indicium; providing the dialysis machine to a consumer; and providing auxiliary supplies that are useable with the dialysis machine to the consumer.
- 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the touch screen interface is operable to allow the consumer to at least one of modify and view operating parameters of the dialysis machine.
- 18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the touch screen interface is added to allow the consumer to view and modify operating parameters chosen from the group consisting of an ultrafiltration profile, a sodium profile, a bicarbonate profile, a blood pump flow rate, a treatment time, a desired ultrafiltration removal volume, a dialysate flow rate, a dialysate temperature, a blood pressure measurement schedule and alarms, and a heparin prescription.
- 19. The method according to claim 16, further comprising repeatedly providing the auxiliary supplies to the consumer during an operational life of the dialysis machine.
- 20. The method according to claim 16, wherein the auxiliary supplies comprise at least one of a dialyzer, a blood line, a syringe for withdrawing samples of dialysis solution from a dialysate line sample port; a syringe for a heparin pump, a hydrophobic transducer protector to place on pressure fittings, saline solution, a dialysate filter, dialysate solution, an arterial drip chamber, a container for concentrate, a dialysate meter for testing dialysate, and disinfectants.
- 21. The method according to claim 16, wherein the auxiliary supplies are provided separately to the consumer.
- 22. The method according to 16, wherein groups of the auxiliary supplies are provided to the consumer.
- 23. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:
providing the apparatus with a memory card interface operable to read and write data from and to a memory card; and providing at least one memory card to the consumer for use with the apparatus.
- 24. The method according to claim 16, wherein the dialysis is hemodialysis.
- 25. A method for providing consumable supplies comprising:
providing one or more disposable supplies configured for use with a dialysis machine comprising a controller for controlling a dialysate parameter, a delivery apparatus for delivering the dialysate to a dialysate compartment of a dialyzer, and a user/machine interface operably coupled to the delivery apparatus, the user/machine interface comprising a touch screen adapted to display an indicium corresponding to a parameter pertinent to operation of the dialysis machine and to receive a touch initiated signal to effect a change in the parameter.
- 26. The method according to claim 25, wherein at least one of the one or more consumable supplies is replaced after a predetermined number of operation cycles of the dialysis machine.
- 27. The method according to claim 25, further comprising:
repeatedly providing the one or more consumable supplies to the consumer over an operating lifetime of the dialysis machine.
- 28. The method according to claim 25, further comprising distributing the one or more consumable supplies to the consumer.
- 29. The method according to claim 25, wherein the consumable supplies are chosen from the group consisting of a dialyzer, a blood line, a syringe for withdrawing samples of dialysis solution from a dialysate line sample port; a syringe for a heparin pump, a hydrophobic transducer protector to place on pressure fittings, saline solution, a dialysate filter, dialysate solution, an arterial drip chamber, a container for concentrate, a dialysate meter for testing dialysate, and disinfectants.
- 30. The method according to claim 25, wherein the dialysis machine is configured with a memory card interface operable to read and write data from and to a memory card, the method further comprising:
providing at least one memory card to the consumer for use with the dialysis machine.
- 31. The method according to claim 30, further comprising providing the at least one memory card to the consumer.
- 32. The method according to claim 25, wherein the dialysis is hemodialysis.
- 33. A method of supplying dialyzers comprising:
providing a dialysis machine to a consumer, the machine comprising a controller for controlling a dialysate parameter, a delivery apparatus for delivering the dialysate to a dialysate compartment of a replaceable dialyzer, and a user/machine interface operably coupled to the delivery apparatus, the user/machine interface comprising a touch screen adapted to display an indicium corresponding to a parameter pertinent to operation of the dialysis machine and to receive a touch initiated signal to effect a change in the parameter; and providing at least one dialyzer to the consumer for use with the dialysis machine.
- 34. A method of supplying a dialysate solution comprising:
providing a dialysis machine to a consumer, the machine comprising a controller for controlling a dialysate parameter, a delivery apparatus for delivering the dialysate to a dialysate compartment of a replaceable dialyzer, and a user/machine interface operably coupled to the delivery apparatus, the user/machine interface comprising a touch screen adapted to display an indicium corresponding to a parameter pertinent to operation of the dialysis machine and to receive a touch initiated signal to effect a change in the parameter; providing dialysate solution to the consumer for use with the dialysis machine.
- 35. A method of dialysis comprising:
providing a dialysis machine to a consumer, the machine comprising a controller for controlling a dialysate parameter, a delivery apparatus for delivering the dialysate to a dialysate compartment of a replaceable dialyzer, and a user/machine interface operably coupled to the delivery apparatus, the user/machine interface comprising a touch screen adapted to display an indicium corresponding to a parameter pertinent to operation of the dialysis machine and to receive a touch initiated signal to effect a change in the parameter; repeatedly providing to a consumer for use with the dialysis machine a dialyzer and a dialysate solution.
- 36. A method of using a dialyzer and a dialysis solution comprising:
providing a dialysis machine to a consumer, the machine comprising a controller for controlling a dialysate parameter, a delivery apparatus for delivering the dialysate to a dialysate compartment of a replaceable dialyzer, and a user/machine interface operably coupled to the delivery apparatus, the user/machine interface comprising a touch screen adapted to display an indicium corresponding to a parameter pertinent to operation of the dialysis machine and to receive a touch initiated signal to effect a change in the parameter; providing to a patient using the dialysis machine, a dialyzer and dialysate solution for use with the dialysis machine.
- 37. A method for the use of a dialysis apparatus comprising:
providing a dialysis apparatus for use in dialysis to a consumer, the dialysis apparatus comprising a dialysate-delivery system for supplying dialysate to a dialyzer, the dialysate-delivery system comprising at least one unit selected from the group consisting of (i) a dialysate-preparation unit, (ii) a dialysate-circulation unit, (iii) an ultrafiltrate-removal unit, and (iv) a dialysate-monitoring unit; and a user/machine interface operably connected to the dialysate-delivery system, the user/machine interface comprising a touch screen that displays information corresponding to a setting of a parameter pertinent to operation of the dialysis apparatus, the touch screen being operable to display an indicium permitting the user to perform, using the touch screen, at least one step of a procedure for changing the setting of the parameter, and to display a time-variable profile of the operational parameter, the profile being representable as a plot of coordinates, the plot being with respect to an ordinate of values of the operational parameter and a time-based abscissa; and providing supplies that are useable with the dialysis apparatus to the consumer.
- 38. A method for the use of a dialysis apparatus comprising:
providing a dialysis apparatus for use in dialysis to a consumer, the dialysis apparatus comprising a dialysate pump for circulating dialysate at a dialysate conductivity through a dialysate circuit including a dialysate compartment for a dialyzer, and a controller operable to receive non-conductivity data concerning a particular selection of dialysate to be circulated and to calculate from the data an expected conductivity reading of the dialysate; and providing supplies that are useable with the apparatus to the consumer.
- 39. The method according to claim 38, wherein the supplies comprise at least one of the dialyzer and the dialysate.
- 40. The method according to claim 39, wherein the supplies include at least one of a blood line, a syringe for withdrawing samples of dialysis solution from a dialysate line sample port; a syringe for a heparin pump, a hydrophobic transducer protector to place on pressure fittings, saline solution, a dialysate filter, an arterial drip chamber, a container for concentrate, a dialysate meter for testing dialysate, and disinfectants.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/711,240 filed on Nov. 13, 2000, now pending, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/067,922 filed on Apr. 28, 1998, now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/479,688, filed on Jun. 7, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,744,027, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/122,047, filed on Sep. 14, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,486,286, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/688,174, filed on Apr. 19, 1991, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,434.
Divisions (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08122047 |
Sep 1993 |
US |
Child |
08479688 |
Jun 1995 |
US |
Parent |
07688174 |
Apr 1991 |
US |
Child |
08122047 |
Sep 1993 |
US |
Continuations (3)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09711240 |
Nov 2000 |
US |
Child |
10461322 |
Jun 2003 |
US |
Parent |
09067922 |
Apr 1998 |
US |
Child |
09711240 |
Nov 2000 |
US |
Parent |
08479688 |
Jun 1995 |
US |
Child |
09067922 |
Apr 1998 |
US |