Insulin Pump Pulse Scheduling for Energy-Efficient Dose Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing insulin pumps face challenges in energy efficiency, accuracy, and reliability due to variations in reservoir friction, occlusion detection, and complex sensor requirements, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

Implementing pulsatile motor operations with step-by-step position control, using motor position sensors for plunger detection and occlusion detection, and calibrating motor drive voltages to compensate for reservoir friction, without additional strain or pressure sensors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If additional strain or pressure sensors are used to detect plunger position and occlusion, then detection accuracy improves, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplunger position detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The motor position sensor serves multiple functions: it detects plunger position, detects occlusion events, and provides feedback for closed-loop control. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate strain or pressure sensors, reducing device complexity and cost while maintaining detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The motor's own position sensor is used to detect conditions (plunger position and occlusion) that would traditionally require separate sensing mechanisms. The system uses the motor's operational parameters and position feedback to infer occlusion events, allowing the motor system to serve its own monitoring needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Duration of action of moving object

If continuous motor operation is used for fluid delivery, then delivery continuity improves, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery continuityVSAvoidbattery power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The insulin pump operates using periodic motor actuations rather than continuous operation. The motor delivers fluid in discrete pulses corresponding to basal rates and bolus doses, with idle periods between deliveries. This periodic operation significantly reduces average power consumption while maintaining the ability to deliver continuous basal insulin and intermittent bolus doses as clinically required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP4693325A1Method of basal, TEMP basal, and square bolus delivery for increased energy efficiency and predictability

Publication Date: 2026.02.11 MEDTRONIC MINIMED INC

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AI summary

A processor-implemented method comprises determining a requested delivery rate of a request for fluid delivery using a fluid delivery device; determining a corresponding number of delivery events per hour for the request based on a range that the requested delivery rate falls in; determining, based on the requested delivery rate and the number of delivery events, a delivery volume of each delivery event of the number of delivery events and an event interval between adjacent deliver events of the number of delivery events; and causing performance of the number of delivery events according to the delivery volume and the event interval.