Analyte Sensor Insertion Device with Variable Speed

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medical devices for continuous analyte monitoring, such as glucose monitoring in diabetes patients, face challenges in minimizing pain and ensuring immediate, clinically accurate data collection upon insertion beneath the epidermis, with issues of spurious low readings and prolonged calibration times.

Innovation Solution

The development of analyte sensor positioning devices and methods that use variable insertion speeds and anesthetic agents to minimize tissue trauma and pain, allowing for immediate and accurate analyte data collection, with reduced calibration requirements and minimized spurious readings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the sensor is inserted quickly to minimize pain and tissue trauma, then patient comfort is improved, but the sensor may not be properly positioned and accurate readings are delayed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue trauma and painVSAvoidcalibration time and delay in accurate readings

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The insertion process is divided into multiple phases: an initial rapid insertion phase to minimize pain and tissue trauma, followed by a slower positioning phase to ensure proper sensor placement and immediate accurate readings. This segmentation allows optimization of each phase independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The insertion device dynamically adjusts its insertion speed during the procedure. It starts with a faster insertion rate to reduce pain perception, then transitions to a slower rate for precise positioning, optimizing both patient comfort and measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If the sensor is inserted slowly to ensure proper positioning and immediate accurate readings, then measurement precision is improved, but tissue trauma and patient pain increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanalyte reading accuracyVSAvoidtissue trauma and pain

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The insertion process is divided into multiple phases: an initial rapid insertion phase to minimize pain and tissue trauma, followed by a slower positioning phase to ensure proper sensor placement and immediate accurate readings. This segmentation allows optimization of each phase independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The insertion device dynamically adjusts its insertion speed during the procedure. It starts with a faster insertion rate to reduce pain perception, then transitions to a slower rate for precise positioning, optimizing both patient comfort and measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If multiple calibrations are performed to ensure accurate readings, then measurement precision is improved, but the time required for device operation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanalyte reading accuracyVSAvoiddevice operation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor is pre-calibrated during manufacturing with factory calibration, eliminating the need for multiple patient-side calibrations. This preliminary action ensures accurate readings from the start of device operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor performs self-calibration using factory-prepared reference measurements, eliminating the need for external calibration procedures by the user or healthcare provider.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11298058B2Method and apparatus for providing analyte sensor insertion

Publication Date: 2022.04.12 ABBOTT DIABETES CARE INC

AI summary

Devices and methods for positioning a portion of a sensor at a first predetermined location, displacing the portion of the sensor from the first predetermined location to a second predetermined location, and detecting one or signals associated with an analyte level of a patient at the second predetermined location are disclosed. Also provided are systems and kits for use in analyte monitoring.