Dialysis training using dialysis treatment simulation system

Inventors

Sloat, Daniel

Assignees

Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Inc

Abstract

A system and method is provided for training operators (e.g., users), including new nurses or nephrologists as well as patients or their family members, to learn the intricacies of dialysis (e.g., hemodialysis) treatment through a simulation. The simulation may afford users the ability to fail catastrophically in simulated dialysis treatment, see the consequences, learn and internalize complex algorithms, and develop the ability to think in a time pressured situation. The simulation may thereby provide a safe learning environment for experiencing decisions and consequences of these decisions when performing a dialysis treatment. In some instances, the simulation may be in a mobile application form factor to encourage more ubiquitous use on personal devices, which may provide ease of access for the dialysis training. The simulation may further include time-based simulated scenarios that increase in difficulty and complexity between levels.

Core Innovation

The invention relates to a dialysis training system implemented as a hemodialysis system with an extracorporeal blood circuit and an optical monitoring system. The hemodialysis machine performs a simulated dialysis treatment for a simulated dialysis patient while an optical monitoring system emits light through a blood chamber and measures optical characteristics of extracorporeal blood in the blood chamber. The system includes a user input interface, a display, and one or more processors for interactive simulation control and feedback.

During the simulated dialysis treatment, the processor receives a first user input to initialize the simulated dialysis treatment. Based on the first user input, the system determines a plurality of dialysis event variables associated with a plurality of dialysis events, and executes one or more dialysis events by comparing results from a random number generator with the dialysis event variables. After executing the dialysis events, the system receives a second user input indicating an adjustment of a first adjustable patient parameter from a plurality of patient parameters, including adjustable and non-adjustable patient parameters.

The system updates a set of patient parameters based on the second user input and the executed dialysis events. Updating includes updating the first adjustable patient parameter, determining one or more non-adjustable patient parameters having one or more relationships to the first adjustable patient parameter, and updating the non-adjustable patient parameters based on the relationships. Indicia associated with a health of the simulated dialysis patient are displayed, and subsequent to completing the simulated dialysis treatment, a prompt is displayed indicating a result of the simulated dialysis treatment based on the health of the simulated dialysis patient.

Claims Coverage

The partial content provides three independent claims, each centered on simulated dialysis treatment with stochastic dialysis events, interactive adjustment of adjustable patient parameters, relationship-based updating of non-adjustable parameters, and display of health indicia and post-treatment results.

Across the independent claims, the coverage focuses on simulated dialysis treatment that is initialized by user input, driven by stochastic execution of dialysis events using random number generator outputs compared to dialysis event variables, and updated through relationship-based parameter updates from adjustable to non-adjustable parameters. Each claim further requires displaying health indicia during simulation and displaying a post-treatment result prompt based on the simulated health.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications