Adaptive Insulin Action Duration for Accurate Insulin-on-Board Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional insulin therapy systems assume a static duration of insulin action that is not adaptive to individual patient needs, leading to potential hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic states due to inaccurate insulin delivery timing.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that dynamically adjusts insulin action duration based on real-time glucose measurements and insulin onboard values, using confidence value adjustments to refine insulin delivery timing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a static duration of insulin action is assumed for all patients, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of insulin delivery is worsened due to individual metabolic variations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by transitioning from a static duration of insulin action (DOIA) to a dynamic, adaptive DOIA that automatically adjusts based on individual patient glucose measurements and insulin pharmacokinetics. The system continuously learns and updates each patient's unique insulin response profile, enabling the insulin pump to deliver more accurate and personalized insulin dosing without requiring manual user intervention or complex programming by the patient.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual duration of insulin action is set by user, then adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases and ease of operation is worsened due to user intervention requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements the self-service principle by enabling the insulin pump system to automatically determine and adjust each patient's duration of insulin action without requiring manual user input. The system autonomously collects glucose measurement data, analyzes insulin pharmacokinetics, and computes personalized DOIA values, thereby achieving high adaptability while maintaining ease of operation. The patient simply needs to provide routine glucose data, and the system handles all complex calculations and adjustments automatically.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If static duration of insulin action is used, then ease of operation is improved, but the productivity of insulin therapy is worsened due to incorrect dosing and need for user adjustments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidproductivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the feedback principle by continuously monitoring glucose measurements and using this feedback to dynamically adjust the duration of insulin action. The system analyzes the relationship between insulin delivery and subsequent glucose responses, updating the DOIA parameter based on observed patterns. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables the system to optimize insulin dosing accuracy over time, improving therapy productivity while maintaining ease of operation through automated adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4231308B1Adaptive duration of insulin action for use in insulin on board calculations
Publication Date: 2026.04.15 INSULET CORP
  • EP4231308B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4231308B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4231308B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed are a device, system, methods and computer-readable medium products that provide techniques for evaluating and modifying a duration of insulin action setting usable by an automatic medication delivery algorithm, such as an artificial pancreas application.