I need to find a public reference to/of/re a dialysis machine (for
performing kidney dialysis) operating with a touch screen. 
Particularly, I need to find any publicly available document that was
published or available on or before April 19, 1991.  This includes
technical papers, user manuals, photographs, marketing materials, 
magazines, publications, textbooks, or commercially available devices.

Please let me know if you need more information; I'm more than happy
to answer questions.

Good luck on the search.

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 31 Mar 2005 19:45 PST

Ahhh...there's nothing like a good prior art search.


Here's what I've got thus far.

The Drake Willock System 1000 appeared on the scene in 1991, and
certainly looks to be one of the first dialysis machines with a touch
screen.

I have found a few references/mentions of the System 1000 with a 1991
date, but they mostly come AFTER the April 19, 1991 you mentioned.

I have also found one definitive reference to the Drake Willock System
1000 dated PRIOR to April 19, 1991, and that incorporates a date of
January 17, 1991 for the machine.  HOWEVER, the document only mentions
the name of the machine -- Drake Willock System 1000 -- and its
function as a dialysis machine.  It DOES NOT explicitly mention the
touch screen.

In sum, description of the DWS1000 as including a touch screen is
dated after April 19, and mention of the existence of the DWS1000 (but
without explicit reference to its touch screen) is dated before April
19th.

Will those work for you?

pafalafa-ga

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Clarification of Question by priorart-ga on 01 Apr 2005 09:30 PST

Glad you like the prior art search.  I had been digging around
previously and also found various mentions of the DWS1000, but my
thinking is it turns out to be a dry hole.  As you yourself found,
proving earlier versions had a touchscreen doesn't look promising.  So
to help clarify the question and/or focus the search, I would suggest
looking for systems other than the DWS1000. Please let me know if you
have any other questions, and appreciate the promising start in the
right direction.

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 01 Apr 2005 12:05 PST

Thanks for the feedback.

I don't quite agree on the DWS1000.  

It definitely had a touch screen shortly after April 1991, and my
impression is that it had one from the get-go in January 1991, and
it's just a matter of finding the right document to confirm that.  If
I'm right about that, I presume the DWS1000 would suit your needs, but
if not, please let me know.

However, I'll certainly be on the lookout for other possibilities as well.  

Stay tuned...

paf

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Clarification of Question by priorart-ga on 01 Apr 2005 14:25 PST

I just followed up on my end about this.  

It seems the patent relates to the Althin Medical DWS1000, so the
"critical date" for any document related to that device (or other
Althin devices) would be up to one year prior--on or before April 19,
1990.  So the DWS1000 would suit my needs if it were before that date,
which I gather is unlikely from what you have found so far.  For any
other (non-Althin) prior art, however, the April 19, 1991, date
applies.

Hope that clarifies the question.

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 01 Apr 2005 19:25 PST

I've been coming across the Althin patents, and beginning to glean the
outlines of the dispute here.

I'm continuing my searching, and I have two questions:

1.  Are documents from Europe or Japan relevant here, or do you only
want US information?


2. I have one item that comes pretty close without hitting the nail on
the head.  It's a touch screen controlled infusion pump system for
delivering medications.  It predates 1991.  I believe the infusion
pumps are similar in may respects to a dialysis unit.  Is this item of
interest?


Let me know what you think.


pafalafa-ga

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Clarification of Question by priorart-ga on 04 Apr 2005 09:35 PDT

1.  Yes, documents from Europe or Japan are relevant here, so no need
to limit the search to US information.


2.  I have the feeling I know the reference(s) you're talkiing about
(U.S. Patent Nos., 4,756,706, 4,898,578, and 4,838,887, or related
devices?).  Even if it's not one of these references, I doubt it's
anything that's not cumulative of the prior art we already have, and
therefore not of much help.  In the end, we are looking for a "hitting
the nail on the head"-type reference; hopefully that helps focus your
search.

Thanks for all of the time in searching and effort in asking
questions.  It certainly seems like you've got a good handle on what's
important.

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 05 Apr 2005 12:47 PDT

Hello again,

I'm still pursuing this, but I have to admit, the possibilities are
rapidly dwindling.  No foreign patents turned up with the right dates.

One of the remaining possibilities is this:

CD Medical submitted their approval package to the FDA for the DWS1000
in January 1991.

The non-confidential part of that original submission is publicly
available, although it would take time (probably a few weeks) for FDA
to actually cough up the file.

The file MAY contain information about the touch screen, and the
information MAY be dated, and the date MAY be earlier than 4/19/1990.

There's no way of knowing what's in the package -- and whether any of
it is useful or not -- until you have a look at it.  If time isn't a
critical factor, though, it seems like it would be worth the effort to
at least have a look.


Is this of interest?  If so, I can answer your question by providing
detailed directions as to how you could request the file from FDA.

Let me know what you think.


pafalafa-ga