Patent Application
20110032192
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a touch screen control system and method.
Anesthesia systems administer anesthesia for purposes such as blocking the conscious perception of pain, producing unconsciousness, preventing memory formation, and/or preventing unwanted movement. Anesthesia systems commonly implement touch screen input devices for controlling the manner in which anesthesia is administered.
Conventional touch screen devices comprise a display that can detect the location of points of contact within the display area. Touch screen devices are commonly menu driven such that a user establishes contact with specific regions of the display area in order to select a menu item. In this manner, the display can function as a device adapted to visually convey data as well as an input device.
One problem with touch screen devices is that they can complicate the process of regulating specific control parameters within their range of operation. As an example, consider a control parameter such as volume having a relatively wide operational range. The process of selecting a specific volume level can be less intuitive and more complicated with a touch screen than with a conventional analog dial. This problem becomes increasingly significant in the context of touch screen devices implemented to regulate anesthesia system operational parameters with a high degree of precision.
The above-mentioned shortcomings, disadvantages and problems are addressed herein which will be understood by reading and understanding the following specification.
In an embodiment, a method includes identifying a first position at which a touch screen is contacted, and identifying a control parameter of an anesthesia machine based on the first position. The method also includes identifying a second position at which the touch screen is contacted, and identifying a contact range comprising a generally continuous sequence of contact points including and extending in a direction away from the second position at which the touch screen is contacted. The method also includes regulating the control parameter of the anesthesia machine based on the contact range.
In another embodiment, a system includes an anesthesia machine, and a control system operatively connected to the anesthesia machine. The control system includes a touch screen, and a computer operatively connected to the touch screen. The computer is configured to identify a first position at which the touch screen is contacted, identify a control parameter of the anesthesia machine based on the first position, and identify a second position at which the touch screen is contacted. The computer is further configured to identify a contact range comprising a generally continuous sequence of contact points including and extending in a direction away from the second position at which the touch screen is contacted. The computer is further configured to regulate the control parameter of the anesthesia machine based on the contact range.
Various other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be made apparent to those skilled in the art from the accompanying drawings and detailed description thereof.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments that may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical, electrical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken as limiting the scope of the invention.
Referring to
Referring to
The gas storage devices 34a, 34b and 34c will hereinafter be described for illustrative purposes as comprising an air tank 34a, an oxygen (O2) tank 34b, and a nitrous oxide (N2O) tank 34c. The gas storage tanks 34a, 34b and 34c are each connected to one of the gas selector valves 36a, 36b, and 36c. The gas selector valves 36a, 36b. and 36c may be implemented to shut off the flow of medical gas from the storage tanks 34a, 34b and 34c when the anesthesia machine 32 is not operational. When one of the gas selector valves 36a, 36b, and 36c is opened, gas from a respective storage tank 34a, 34b and 34c is transferred under pressure to the anesthesia machine 32.
The anesthesia machine 32 includes a gas mixer 38 adapted to receive medical gas from the storage tanks 34a, 34b and 34c. The gas mixer 38 includes a plurality of control valves 40a, 40b and 40c that are respectively connected to one of the gas selector valves 36a, 36b, and 36c. The gas mixer 38 also includes a plurality of flow sensors 42a, 42b and 42c that are each disposed downstream from a respective control valve 40a, 40b, and 40c. After passing through one of the control valves 40a, 40b, and 40c, and passing by one of the flow sensors 42a, 42b and 42c, the air, O2 and N2O are combined to form a mixed gas at the mixed gas outlet 44.
The control valves 40a, 40b and 40c and the flow sensors 42a, 42b and 42c are each connected to the control system 10. The control system 10 is configured to operate the control valves 40a, 40b and 40c in response to user input and/or gas flow rate feedback from the sensors 42a, 42b and 42c. According to one embodiment, a user can specify air, O2 and N2O concentrations via the touch screen display 14 (shown in
The mixed gas from the mixed gas outlet 44 is transferred to the vaporizer 50. The vaporizer 50 is configured to vaporize an anesthetic agent 52, and to combine the vaporized anesthetic agent with the mixed gas from the mixed gas outlet 44. The vaporized anesthetic agent and mixed gas combination passes through a breathing tube 54 and is delivered to the patient 56.
Referring to
Referring to
For purposes of illustrating steps 62-64, assume the touch screen display 14 comprises a user interface graphically identifying a plurality of adjustable parameters. At step 62 a user can establish position P1 by contacting or touching the specified region of the touch screen display 14 corresponding to the parameter to be adjusted. Thereafter, at step 64, the computer 12 can identify the control parameter to be adjusted based on the position P1 and its location relative to the user interface.
At step 66 the algorithm 60 is configured to identify a position P2 at which touch screen contact is subsequently established. It is envisioned that position P2 may be established while the user maintains touch screen contact at position P1, and that the positions P1 and P2 may be established with separate fingers/digits. As an example, a user may initially contact the touch screen display 14 at position P1 using their right-hand thumb. Thereafter, while maintaining touch screen/thumb contact at position P1, the user may contact the touch screen display 14 at position P2 using their right-hand index finger.
At step 68 the algorithm 60 is configured to establish a displacement between the position P1 and the position P2. For purposes of this disclosure, the term displacement should be defined to include linear displacement and/or angular displacement. At step 70 the algorithm 60 is configured to identify a contact range R comprising a generally continuous sequence of contact points including and extending in a direction away from the position P2. The solid line extending from the position P2 in
At step 72, the algorithm 60 is configured to regulate the previously identified control parameter based on the displacement D and/or the contact range R. According to one embodiment, at step 72 the magnitude of the control parameter is regulated based on the length of the contact range R and the direction of the control parameter is regulated based on the direction of the contact range R. As an example, the control parameter may remain constant or unchanged upon initial touch screen engagement at position P2. Thereafter, the control parameter can be regulated based on the length of the contact range R such that a short contact range R changes the control parameter by a small amount and a long contact range R changes the control parameter by a large amount. Additionally, the direction of the control parameter is regulated based on the direction of the contact range R such that, for example, a contact range extending upward or to the right will increase the control parameter while a contact range extending downward or to the left will decrease the control parameter.
According to another embodiment, at step 72 the control parameter is regulated by an amount based on the proportional length of the contact range R as measured relative to the displacement D. More precisely, the control parameter may be adjusted by the ratio R/D of its current or unadjusted magnitude. As an example, assume the displacement D is 100 millimeters, the length of the range R is 10 millimeters, and the current unadjusted magnitude of the control parameter is 6.0 milliliters/second. According to this example, the magnitude of the control parameter would be increased or decreased by the ratio of R/D or 1/10th of the current control parameter magnitude. Since the current magnitude of the control parameter is 6.0 milliliters/second, the control parameter would be increased or decreased by the amount 1/10*(6.0)=0.6 militers/second.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.
