Patent Description:
During hemodialysis ("HD"), the patient's blood is passed through a dialyzer of a dialysis machine while also passing a dialysis solution or dialysate through the dialyzer. A semi-permeable membrane in the dialyzer separates the blood from the dialysate within the dialyzer and allows diffusion and osmosis exchanges to take place between the dialysate and the blood stream. These exchanges across the membrane result in the removal of waste products, including solutes like urea and creatinine, from the blood. These exchanges also regulate the levels of other substances, such as sodium and water, in the blood. In this way, the dialysis machine acts as an artificial kidney for cleansing the blood.

During peritoneal dialysis ("PD"), a patient's peritoneal cavity is periodically infused with dialysis solution or dialysate. The membranous lining of the patient's peritoneum acts as a natural semi-permeable membrane that allows diffusion and osmosis exchanges to take place between the solution and the blood stream. These exchanges across the patient's peritoneum, like the continuous exchange across the dialyzer in HD, result in the removal waste products, including solutes like urea and creatinine, from the blood, and regulate the levels of other substances, such as sodium and water, in the blood.

Many PD machines are designed to automatically infuse, dwell, and drain dialysate to and from the patient's peritoneal cavity. The treatment typically lasts for several hours, often beginning with an initial drain cycle to empty the peritoneal cavity of used or spent dialysate. The sequence then proceeds through the succession of fill, dwell, and drain phases that follow one after the other. Each phase is called a cycle. Data can be input into HD and PD machines in various ways. In some cases, a keyboard or laptop computer is connected to the machine and used to input data into the machine.

<CIT> describes a medical fluid treatment machine comprising: a pump configured to pump medical fluid to and from a patient; an input device configured to: display touch buttons, at least some of the touch buttons each representing a grapheme, and detect haptic interactions between a user and the touch buttons, wherein an interaction causes information related to the touch button to be received by the medical fluid treatment machine; and a control unit configured to control the input device, wherein controlling the input device includes causing the input device to switch between displaying i) a first set of touch buttons that correspond to a first language, and ii) a second set of touch buttons that correspond to a second language.

<CIT> describes processing devices in the medical device area.

<CIT> describes a dialysis machine that includes a processing unit configured to transmit control data; a pump configured to pump medical fluid to and from a patient based at least in part on control data received from the processing unit; an electronic panel comprising: a display surface, and at least one panel control unit configured to cause the electronic panel to display at least one user interface element that can be invoked by a user; at least one projector; and at least one camera; wherein the one or more processing units are configured to: process input received by the camera, determine a location of a physical object in a field of view of the camera based on the processed input, determine, based on processed input received on at least one occasion, that the location of the physical object represents an invocation of the at least one user interface element displayed on the electronic panel, and determine the control data based on the processed input.

<CIT> describes a method performed on a dialysis machine that includes receiving a first value that represents a pre-dialysis body weight of a patient and receiving a second value that represents a volume of liquid inside a body of the patient. The method also includes administering dialysis to the patient, calculating an instantaneous body weight of the patient based at least in part on the first value, determining a length of time for which the dialysis was administered to the patient, determining a dialyzer clearance associated with the dialysis, and calculating, based at least in part on the length of time, the instantaneous body weight, the volume, and the dialyzer clearance, a urea reduction ratio associated with the dialysis.

In some aspects, a blood treatment machine includes a user interface configured to display information, a transceiver configured to send and receive signals, a controller configured to process input signals received by the transceiver and display information on the user interface, one or more pumps, and a first door. The first door has a closed configuration in which the door covers the one or more pumps and an open configuration in which the one or more pumps are accessible by a user. The blood treatment machine further includes at least a portion of a keyboard mounted on the door, the keyboard being configured to transmit signals to the transceiver of the machine.

In some embodiments, the blood treatment machine comprises a surface on which the one or more pumps are disposed.

In some embodiments, the door covers the surface.

In some embodiments, the door is a first door and the blood treatment machine further comprises a second door.

In some embodiments, the portion of the keyboard mounted on the door is a first portion mounted on the first door and the keyboard has a second portion mounted on the second door.

In some embodiments, the first portion of the keyboard and the second portion of the keyboard are wirelessly connected.

In some embodiments, the first portion of the keyboard comprises a signal transceiver, a battery, and a controller and the second portion of the keyboard comprises a signal transceiver and a battery.

In some embodiments, the transceiver of the first portion is configured to send signals to the transceiver of the blood treatment machine.

In some embodiments, the keyboard is bolted onto the door.

In some embodiments, the keyboard is mounted on a bracket.

In some embodiments, the door comprises a recess and a ledge that defines a portion of the recess, wherein the keyboard is mounted on the ledge.

In some embodiments, the keyboard is wirelessly connected to the machine.

In some embodiments, the keyboard is electronically connected to the machine using wired connections.

In some embodiments, signal receiver is releasably connected to the machine.

In some embodiments, the signal receiver connected to the machine by a USB port.

In some embodiments, the keyboard is configured to transmit signals to the transceiver of the machine using bluetooth.

In some embodiments, the keyboard is on a front face of the door, accessible to a user in the closed configuration.

In some aspects, a system in which a blood treatment machine is configured to communicate with a remote server. The system includes the blood treatment machine. The blood treatment machine includes a first door for covering components of the blood treatment machine, a controller for controlling the blood treatment machine, a signal receiver for receiving signals from electronically connected devices, and a user interface controlled by the controller for displaying information. The door has an open position and a closed position The blood treatment machine further includes a keyboard at least partially mounted on the first door of the blood treatment machine and electronically connected to the blood treatment machine. The keyboard is configured to send user input signals to the signal receiver of the blood treatment machine. The system further includes the remote server in connection with the blood treatment machine. The remote server contains patient information. The blood treatment machine is configured to retrieve patient information from the remote server using inputs received from the keyboard.

In some embodiments, the remote server and machine are in wireless connection and the keyboard and the machine are in wireless connection.

Embodiments can include one or more of the following advantages. Mounting or integrating a keyboard with one or more doors of the blood treatment machine can improve an operator's access to the blood pumps on the face of the machine. Operators frequently connect external keyboards to the dialysis machine to input patient data and treatment notes. To access the bloodlines, the operators must move the keyboards out of the way. In some cases, those keyboards are placed in front of the dialysis machine. In such cases, these external keyboards may be missed during routine cleaning. Mounting the keyboard on the door of the machine helps to ensure that that the keyboard is easily removed from the workspace when accessing the bloodlines and pumps on the face of the machine. Because the keyboard is mounted to or integrated in the door(s) of the machine, for example, the mere act of opening the door to access the bloodlines and pumps will move the keyboard out of the way. This is particularly advantageous during emergency events when quick action is necessary. Further, the keyboard may be cleaned more regularly, as part of the machine cleaning and will not be moved onto potentially unclean surfaces adjacent to the blood treatment machine, thus reducing cross contamination risks. The keyboard may also increase the ease of data entry as the keyboard is directly in front of the machine, thus allowing the operator to easily take notes during, before, or after blood treatment.

Other features, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

<FIG> shows a blood treatment machine <NUM> with a first door <NUM> and a second door <NUM>. The first and second doors <NUM>, <NUM> are in a closed configuration in which the doors <NUM>, <NUM> cover pumps (e.g. blood pumps, dialysate pumps, ultrafilration umps, etc.) that are used in blood treatment. <FIG> also shows a split keyboard <NUM> with a first portion <NUM> and a second portion <NUM>. The first portion <NUM> of the keyboard <NUM> is mounted on the first door <NUM>. The second portion <NUM> of the keyboard <NUM> is mounted on the second door <NUM>. The keyboard <NUM> is in wireless communication with the blood treatment machine <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the doors <NUM>, <NUM> have ledges <NUM>, <NUM> that extend towards the machine <NUM> to define the lower end of a recess. The first portion <NUM> of the keyboard <NUM> is mounted on the ledge <NUM> of the first door <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> is mounted on the ledge <NUM> of the second door <NUM>. During, before, or after blood treatment, an operator may use the split keyboard <NUM> to input information related to the treatment. The keyboard <NUM> may be used, for example, to input notes on the blood treatment, prescription data, patient ID, etc. The machine also includes a user interface <NUM> that displays information about the treatment, a controller <NUM> that controls the blood treatment, and a signal transceiver <NUM> that sends and receives signals.

Still referring to <FIG>, the first door <NUM> is connected to the machine <NUM> by hinges <NUM>, such that the door swings along a vertical axis about the hinge <NUM>. The second door <NUM> is connected to the machine <NUM> in the same manner as the first door <NUM>, using hinges <NUM>. Handle <NUM> on the first door <NUM> and handle <NUM> on the second door <NUM> aid in rotating the doors about their respective axes. The handle may be a simple knob, a rotating handle, or a sliding handle. The doors <NUM>, <NUM> can be made of a transparent material, such as a transparent plastic. Transparent doors allow an operator to view the blood pumps and blood lines when the doors are closed. The door handles <NUM>, <NUM> may include latches that secure the doors in the closed position and latch sensors (not shown) that connect to a controller on the machine <NUM>. The latch sensor with the controller can determine whether the doors <NUM>, <NUM> are in an open position or the closed position.

<FIG> shows the machine <NUM> with the doors <NUM>, <NUM> in the open position. In the open position, the pumps and other components on the face of the machine <NUM> are exposed and accessible to an operator. In the open position, the machine <NUM> will not perform blood treatment. The latch sensor, signals whether latches on the doors <NUM>, <NUM> are engaged or disengaged and in turn indicates whether the doors <NUM>, <NUM> are open or closed. In the open position the latch is disengaged and in the closed position the latch is engaged. There can be two latch sensors (not shown), one latch sensor for the first door <NUM> and one latch sensor for the second door <NUM>.

The doors move from the closed position to the open positon, as shown in <FIG>, by rotating about the hinges <NUM>. A first recess <NUM> is partially defined by the ledge <NUM> of the first door <NUM>. The second door <NUM> also has a second recess <NUM> partially defined by the ledge <NUM>. The recess is sized to at least partially receive the hands of the operator. The first portion <NUM> of the keyboard <NUM> is mounted on the ledge <NUM> of the first portion <NUM>. The second portion <NUM> of the keyboard <NUM> is mounted on the ledge <NUM> of the second door <NUM>.

The doors <NUM>, <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, are able to repeatedly move from a closed position to an open position and vice versa. As the first door <NUM> moves, the first portion <NUM> of the split keyboard <NUM> moves with it. Similarly, as the second door <NUM> moves, the second portion <NUM> of the split keyboard <NUM> moves with it. Movement of the doors <NUM>, <NUM> prevents or allows access to blood pumps <NUM> of the machine <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a side view of the machine <NUM>. The first and second doors <NUM>,<NUM> are in the closed position and the second door <NUM> is also in the closed position. As both doors <NUM>, <NUM> are closed, the machine <NUM> may begin or commence blood treatment. The second recess <NUM> at least partially defined by the ledge <NUM> can be easily observed in the side view. The recesses <NUM>, <NUM> and the ledges <NUM> align so that the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> are mounted at the same angle and height. In this way, the first and second portions <NUM>, <NUM> cooperate to function as a single keyboard when the doors <NUM>, <NUM> are closed.

The recesses <NUM>, <NUM> are sized to receive hands of the operator for typing. Typing applies repeated forces onto a keyboard, in addition to the weight of the keyboard and the weight of the hands of the operator. The keyboard <NUM> is supported by mounting the keyboard <NUM> on the ledge in the recesses <NUM>, <NUM> of the doors <NUM>, <NUM>. In such a configuration, the keyboard <NUM> does not sag over time due to the repeatedly applied forces.

<FIG> shows an enlarged view of the keyboard <NUM> mounted on the first door <NUM> and the second door <NUM>. The keyboard <NUM> is split evenly down the middle of a standard keyboard layout. The keyboard <NUM> is evenly split so that the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> generally have the same number of keys. Other keyboards may be split so that either the first portion has more keys than the second portion or the second portion has more keys than the first portion. To prevent a toothed edge, the T, G, and V keys on the first portion <NUM> of the keyboard <NUM> are slightly extended towards an edge <NUM> of the first portion <NUM>. Similarly, keys <NUM>, Y, and H are extended towards an edge <NUM> of the second portion <NUM>.

<FIG> also shows electronics housed within the split keyboard <NUM>. The first portion <NUM> of the keyboard <NUM> includes a battery <NUM> and a signal transceiver <NUM>. The second portion <NUM> of the keyboard <NUM> includes a battery <NUM>, a signal transceiver <NUM>, and a processor <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> of the first portion <NUM> is in wireless electronic communication with the transceiver <NUM> of the second portion <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> of the second portion <NUM> is also in wireless communication with the transceiver <NUM> of the machine <NUM>.

In use, an operator types information into the machine <NUM> using the keyboard <NUM>. The user may type using keys from the first portion <NUM>, second portion <NUM>, or most commonly, a combination of the keys on the first portion <NUM> and on the second portion <NUM>. When the user presses a key from the first portion <NUM>, a keystroke signal is sent from the transceiver <NUM> to the transceiver <NUM> on the second portion <NUM> of the keyboard <NUM>. The keystroke signal is then sent from the transceiver <NUM> on the second portion to the transceiver <NUM> on the machine. The controller <NUM> of the machine processes the keystroke signal and displays the character associated with the keystroke signal on the user interface <NUM>.

The processor <NUM> of the second portion <NUM> is used to ensure that the keystroke signals being sent to the machine <NUM> are sent in the correct order. For example, if the user presses "a" on the first portion <NUM> and "<NUM>" on the second portion <NUM>, after the "a" keystroke, the processor ensures that the "a" keystroke signal is sent prior to the "<NUM>" keystroke signal. One way to ensure proper order of keystrokes is to add a timestamp to the keystroke so that the processor <NUM> may put the keystroke signals in chronological order. The processor <NUM> may also be used to determine keystroke combinations, for example "shift" + "a" indicates a capitalized "A" or "ctrl"+ "c" to copy a string of characters.

Prior to a treatment, the user connects a blood line set to the pumps and other components on the face of the machine and then connects patient lines of the blood line set to the patient. The doors are in an open position to access the pumps <NUM> and other components on the face of the machine, as shown in <FIG>. In this configuration the blood treatment machine is prevented from proceeding with blood treatment. After connecting the blood line set, the operator shuts the doors <NUM>, <NUM> so that the doors <NUM>, <NUM> latch. In this configuration the blood treatment may proceed.

The operator may use the keyboard to input prescription data or patient data, such as blood pressure, patient weight, and preliminary notes. Blood treatment commences and the patient's blood is cleaned over a period of time.

During blood treatment it may be useful to add notes to the patient file. For example, the operator can input notes regarding patient complications, unusual events, etc. To do this, a user may select the notes section of the user interface <NUM> and type using the split keyboard <NUM>, easily accessible on the doors <NUM>, <NUM> of the machine <NUM>.

If an event occurs in which the operator needs to access the face of the machine <NUM>, for example, reconnecting or checking the blood lines, the operator opens the doors <NUM>, <NUM>. Opening the doors <NUM>, <NUM> moves the split keyboard <NUM> away from the pumps of the machine <NUM>, making a clear and uncluttered workspace for the operator to address the event. Because the keyboard portions <NUM>, <NUM> are attached to the doors <NUM>, <NUM>, the do not need to be moved out of the way prior to opening the doors <NUM>, <NUM>.

<FIG> shows the machine <NUM> in communication with a remote server <NUM> and in communication with the keyboard <NUM>. The remote server <NUM> contains patient data that may be used during blood treatment. Patient data may be, for example, previous treatment data, prescription data, and/or medical history data. The machine <NUM> is in wireless connection with the server <NUM> and can write notes, change data, or add data to the exiting patient file. To do this, an operator inputs characters using the keyboard <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> of the keyboard, sends the character signals to the transceiver <NUM> on the machine <NUM>. The controller <NUM> of the machine then processes the signals and generates text on the user interface <NUM>. This text on the user interface may be saved to the patient file on the server by sending the amended file from the transceiver of the machine <NUM> to the remote server <NUM>.

While the split keyboard included in the system of <FIG> includes a smooth connecting edge, other types of keyboards can be used. <FIG>, for example, shows a jagged split keyboard <NUM> that has a standard keyboard layout. The keyboard <NUM> has a first portion <NUM> with an inner edge <NUM> and a second portion <NUM> with an inner edge <NUM>. The keys of the first portion <NUM> end at the inner edge <NUM> in a toothed pattern. Similarly, the keys of the second portion <NUM> at the edge <NUM> are in a jagged or toothed pattern. The keyboard <NUM> in <FIG> differs from keyboard <NUM> because both portions <NUM>, <NUM> of the keyboard <NUM> in <FIG> have extended keys to prevent the toothed formation. The keyboard <NUM> is split so that the size of the first portion <NUM> is generally equivalent to the size of the second portion <NUM>. However, the keyboard may be split at other locations in alternative embodiments. The keyboard <NUM> includes the same electronics as the keyboard <NUM> and is configured to operate in the same manner.

Other types of keyboards can also be used with the systems described herein. <FIG>, for example, show a keyboard <NUM> with a first portion <NUM> and a second portion <NUM> that provides haptic feedback during use. <FIG> shows a top view of the keyboard <NUM>. The first portion <NUM> includes a first controller <NUM>, a first battery <NUM>, and a first transceiver <NUM>. Piezoelectric stacks <NUM> on the first portion <NUM> are disposed under each character or key on the first portion <NUM>. The second portion <NUM> includes a second controller <NUM>, a second battery <NUM>, and a second transceiver <NUM>. Piezoelectric stacks <NUM> on the second portion <NUM> are disposed under each character or key of the second portion <NUM>. Each piezoelectric stack <NUM>, <NUM> includes or is adjacent to a vibrator <NUM>.

In some embodiments the keyboard is made of glass or a transparent plastic. The transparent material improves an operator's view of the blood pumps.

<FIG> shows a side view of the keyboard <NUM>. In this side view, it is easy to see the piezoelectric stacks <NUM>, <NUM> that sense pressure and the vibrators <NUM>. The piezoelectric stacks <NUM> and vibrators <NUM> on the first portion <NUM> are in electronic communication with the controller <NUM>. The piezoelectric stacks <NUM> and vibrators <NUM> on the second portion <NUM> are in electronic communication with the second controller <NUM>.

As explained above, each character on the keyboard <NUM> has a piezoelectric stack <NUM>, <NUM> that determines if the operator has applied pressure to character. When the user presses a character on the first portion <NUM>, the stack <NUM> sends a signal to the controller <NUM>. The controller <NUM> then sends the character signal to the machine <NUM> using the transceiver <NUM> on the first portion <NUM> and sends a vibration signal to the vibrator <NUM> so that the pressed character vibrates. When the user presses a character on the second portion <NUM>, the piezoelectric stack <NUM> sends a signal to the controller <NUM>. The controller <NUM> then sends a character signal to the machine <NUM> using the transceiver <NUM> and sends a vibration signal to the vibrator <NUM> so that the pressed character vibrates.

In this embodiment, the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> operate independently. In this arrangement, if the first battery <NUM> is dead, the second portion <NUM> may operate as normal. In other embodiments, the transceiver <NUM> of the second portion <NUM> may only be in wireless communication with the transceiver <NUM> of the first portion <NUM>. In such a case, all character signals are sent to the transceiver on the machine <NUM> from the transceiver <NUM> on the first portion <NUM>. In this embodiment, the first portion <NUM> may operate independent from the second portion <NUM>, but the second portion <NUM> may not operate independently from the first portion <NUM>. Independently operating first and second positions may also be used in any other embodiment discussed previously or hereafter.

<FIG> shows an alternate embodiment of a keyboard <NUM> mounted on the first door <NUM> and the second door <NUM> of the machine <NUM>. The keyboard <NUM> has a first portion <NUM> and a second portion <NUM>. The second portion <NUM> includes a trackpad <NUM> that can be used as a mouse for selecting items on the user interface <NUM>. In <FIG>, the trackpad <NUM> shares the electronics of the second portion <NUM> of the keyboard <NUM>. Both the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> house the electronics described with regard to <FIG>. Similarly, the inputs of the trackpad <NUM>, (e. g, moving the mouse, left click, right click, tapping, etc.) are sent from the transceiver <NUM> of the second portion <NUM> to the transceiver <NUM> of the machine.

While the keyboard <NUM> has been described as including a trackpad <NUM> to control movement of a cursor or other object on the user interface <NUM>, other methods of moving such a cursor or other object may alternatively or additionally be included in the keyboard <NUM>. For example, the keyboard <NUM> could use a joystick, roller ball, computer mouse, touch gesturing or trackpoint.

<FIG> show a blood treatment system <NUM>, including the machine <NUM> with an alternate embodiment of a first door <NUM> and a second door <NUM>. Doors <NUM>, <NUM> are flat and do not contain a recess, as shown in the doors <NUM>, <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>. Rather, at least two brackets <NUM> are attached to the system <NUM>, one bracket <NUM> on the first door <NUM> and one bracket <NUM> on the second door <NUM>. In <FIG>, a keyboard <NUM> has a first portion <NUM> and a second portion <NUM>. The first portion <NUM> is mounted on the bracket <NUM> attached to the first door <NUM>. The second portion <NUM> is mounted on the bracket <NUM> attached to the second door <NUM>. The brackets <NUM> are attached to the doors <NUM>, <NUM> using bolts <NUM>. In other embodiments, the brackets <NUM> are attached to the doors <NUM>, <NUM> using any other fastener, such as screws, adhesive, or any other mating connector.

<FIG> shows a side view of the doors <NUM>, <NUM> in the closed position. In this configuration the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> extend from the first door <NUM> and second door <NUM> at an angle. The keyboard <NUM> is shown at a <NUM>° relative to the vertical doors <NUM>, <NUM>, however the keyboard may be positioned at any angle between <NUM>° and <NUM>°.

<FIG> shows the machine <NUM> with the keyboard <NUM> hingedly mounted on the doors <NUM>, <NUM> of the machine <NUM>. <FIG> and <FIG> show the keyboard <NUM> is in an expanded position, while <FIG> shows the keyboard <NUM> in a folded position. The first portion of the keyboard <NUM> is connected to the first door <NUM> by two hinges <NUM>. The second portion <NUM> is mounted on the second door <NUM> by two hinges <NUM>. In other embodiments the keyboard may be connected using one hinge or more than two hinges. The hinges <NUM> are linearly aligned to define an axis. The first portion <NUM> and the second portion rotate up about the axis to fold onto the first and second doors <NUM>, <NUM> respectively. In the folded position, the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> are generally parallel with the doors <NUM>, <NUM>. A first support bar <NUM> and a second support bar <NUM> may be folded down from behind the keyboard <NUM> to add structural support to the keyboard <NUM> when an operator types.

<FIG> illustrates a side view the hinged split keyboard <NUM> in an expanded position. In the expanded position, the keyboard <NUM> can be used by an operator to input prescription data, patient data, or treatment notes. The support bars <NUM>, <NUM> may be deployed to provide additional support when typing. The support bars <NUM>, <NUM> extend from the back of the keyboard <NUM>, and abut the doors <NUM>, <NUM> of the machine. The hinges <NUM> may rotate up to <NUM>° relative to the vertical doors <NUM>, <NUM>, so that the keyboard <NUM> is held at an angle when in the expanded position. In some embodiments, the support bars are of adjustable length so that the user can customize the tilt of the keyboard.

<FIG> illustrates a side view the hinged split keyboard <NUM> in a folded position. When the operator is finished typing, the operator may fold the keyboard up about the hinges <NUM> until the keyboard <NUM> is substantially parallel to the face of the doors <NUM>, <NUM>, or the keyboard <NUM> abuts the doors <NUM>, <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the hinges may allow for <NUM>° rotation so that the keyboard <NUM> may fold up as described above, or may fold down so that the back of the keyboard is flat against the doors. To do this, a user retracts the support bars so that the keyboard is no longer supported by the support bars. In some embodiments the doors have cavities that are sized to receive the keyboard <NUM> in the folded position.

In alternate embodiments, the hinges may be mounted on outer edges of the keyboard <NUM>. In such an embodiment the first portion rotates about a first vertical axis defined by the hinges that connect the first portion to the first door. The second portion rotates about a second vertical axis defined by the hinges that connect the second portion to the second door. In these embodiments, an operator can move the first portion and second portion of the keyboard about the vertical axis to better view the blood pumps. The axis defined by the hinges do not need to be vertical, but could also be set at an angle.

In another alternate embodiment, the first portion is connected to a movable arm that is mounted on the machine <NUM>. The second portion is connected to a second arm that is mounted on the machine. The first and second arms may be mounted on the same section of the machine or may be mounted on different sections of the machine. For example, the first arm may be mounted on the left side of the machine and the second arm may be mounted on the right side of the machine. In other embodiments, a whole keyboard may be connected to an arm that is mounted on the machine. In either embodiment in which the keyboard or portions of the keyboard is are mounted on arms, the arms may include locks to prevent excess movement when typing.

<FIG> shows the machine <NUM> with a first track <NUM> mounted on the first door <NUM> and a second track <NUM> mounted on the second door <NUM>. The first portion <NUM> of the keyboard <NUM> is slidably connected to the first track <NUM> and the second portion <NUM> of the keyboard is slidably connected to the second track <NUM>. <FIG> also shows a first lock <NUM> that locks the first portion <NUM> relative to the first track <NUM>. A second lock <NUM> locks the second portion <NUM> relative to the second track <NUM>. An operator manually unlocks and locks the first and second locks <NUM>, <NUM> to adjust the height of the first and second portions <NUM>, <NUM>. The height of the keyboard <NUM> is measured from the top edge keyboard <NUM>. For example, the height of the keyboard <NUM> in <FIG> is measured from the edge of the keyboard <NUM>, near the first lock <NUM> for the first portion, and near the second lock <NUM> for the second portion. The maximum height of the keyboard <NUM> can be between <NUM> (<NUM> inches) and <NUM> (<NUM> inches). The minimum height of the keyboard <NUM> can be between <NUM> (<NUM> inches) and <NUM> (<NUM> inches). These maximum and minimum heights are suitable for operators of heights between <NUM> (six feet and four inches) and <NUM> (<NUM> feet and five inches). The adjustable keyboard <NUM> can be moved to accommodate users of different heights, increasing user comfort.

<FIG> shows a blood treatment system <NUM> including the machine <NUM> with a single door <NUM>. The blood treatment machine <NUM> is the same machine as shown in <FIG>. However, the system in <FIG> has a single door <NUM> with a handle <NUM>. The door <NUM> has a ledge <NUM>. A full keyboard <NUM> is mounted on the ledge <NUM>. The door <NUM> is in the closed position. In this position blood treatment may commence. The door <NUM> can be opened using the handle <NUM>. The door <NUM> is attached to the machine <NUM> by hinges <NUM> that define an axis. When moving from the closed position to an open position, the door <NUM> rotates about the axis.

<FIG> shows the door <NUM> of the system <NUM> in the open position. The keyboard <NUM> moves with the door <NUM> so that the keyboard <NUM> is out of the way and the operator is able to access the pumps and bloodlines. In the open position, the machine <NUM> is prevented from providing blood treatment to the patient. In some embodiments, the open and closed positions are detected by a latch sensor. Treatment can be prevented when the latch sensor detects open door(s). <FIG> shows a side view of the system <NUM> with the door <NUM> in the closed position. The ledge <NUM> extends into the door <NUM> towards the machine <NUM> at an angle. The angle may be between <NUM>° and <NUM>°. The ledge <NUM> partially defines a recess <NUM> in the door <NUM>. The recess <NUM> is sized to receive hands of the operator for typing. Typing applies repeated forces onto a keyboard, in addition to the weight of the keyboard and the weight of the hands of the operator. The keyboard <NUM> is supported by mounting the keyboard in the recess <NUM> of the door <NUM>. In such a configuration, the keyboard <NUM> does not deform over time due to the repeatedly applied forces and does not significantly bounce or shift during typing.

<FIG> shows a close up of the keyboard <NUM>. The keyboard <NUM> includes a battery <NUM> and a transceiver <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> is in wireless communication with the transceiver <NUM> of the machine <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> of the keyboard <NUM> is configured to send keystroke signals to the transceiver <NUM> of the machine <NUM>. The controller <NUM> of the machine <NUM> processes the keystroke signal and displays a character assigned to the signal on the user interface <NUM>. In other alternative embodiments an electronic connecter may be attached to the first portion of the keyboard. The second portion of the keyboard has a receiving cavity for the connector, so that, when the doors are in the closed position, the first and second portion may be latched together using the electronic connector. The electronic connecter is configured to electronically connect the first and second portion together so that they share the same transceiver, battery, and processor. The electronic connector could also be attached to the second portion. In such a case, the first portion has a cavity to receive the electronic connector.

While transceivers have been described as being integrated into the machine, in some embodiments the signal transceiver on the machine is a detachable transceiver such as a USB insert.

While the second portion of the keyboard has been described having a second transceiver in wireless communication with the transceiver of the machine, other embodiments, have both the first transceiver and the second transceiver in wireless communication to the transceiver of the machine. In such cases, the first portion and second portion may operate independently, each portion sending a keystroke signal to the transceiver of the machine. The processor of the machine then processes the keystroke signal and orders multiple keystroke signals based on a timestamp applied to the keystroke signal. This timestamp may be applied to the keystroke signal by the transceiver of the portion of the keyboard when the signal is transmitted or may be applied by the transceiver of the machine when the keystroke signal is received by the machine. The controller then displayed the character associated with the keystroke signal on the user interface.

While keyboards having letter keys and touchpads have been discussed, the keyboard can alternatively or additionally include other features in some embodiments, for example, the layout of the keyboard may include a number pad. The keyboards described above are on hemodialysis machines, but other blood treatment machines, including peritoneal dialysis machines can include similar keyboards. Similar keyboards may also be included in other types of medical devices.

While the above keyboards have been described as being wirelessly connected to the machine, in some embodiments, the keyboard may be hardwired into the machine <NUM>, for example, the keyboard, can be connected to the machine via wires that travel through the hinges of the doors.

Claim 1:
A blood treatment machine comprising:
a user interface (<NUM>) configured to display information;
a transceiver (<NUM>) configured to send and receive signals,
a controller (<NUM>) configured to process input signals received by the transceiver and display information on the user interface,
one or more pumps (<NUM>),
a first door (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) having a closed configuration in which the door covers the one or more pumps and an open configuration in which the one or more pumps are accessible by a user, and
at least a portion of a keyboard (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) mounted on the door, the keyboard being configured to transmit signals to the transceiver of the machine.