Basal Insulin Delivery System with Personalized Infusion Patterns

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current insulin pumps rely on trial-and-error methods to determine basal insulin infusion patterns, which can lead to frequent hyperglycemic and hypoglycemic events, and may not adequately account for individual patient characteristics such as age, body-mass-index, and diurnal insulin sensitivity, potentially resulting in suboptimal glycemic control.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for delivering basal insulin using a device that selects a tailored basal infusion pattern based on personal characteristics like age, BMI, and bolus insulin requirements, allowing for continuous or periodic delivery through a portable insulin pump or skin-secure patch, which can monitor glucose levels and adjust the infusion pattern to achieve better glycemic control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If trial-and-error methods are used to determine basal insulin infusion patterns, then the system can be simple to operate, but glycemic control precision deteriorates leading to frequent hyperglycemic and hypoglycemic events

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of insulin pump operationVSAvoidglycemic control precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically adjusts basal insulin infusion parameters (rates, timing, duration) based on real-time glucose sensor data and patient-specific characteristics. The controller dynamically modifies infusion parameters without requiring manual trial-and-error adjustment by the user, thereby improving glycemic control precision while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements closed-loop feedback by continuously monitoring glucose levels via sensor and automatically adjusting basal insulin infusion based on the measured glucose values. This feedback mechanism eliminates the need for manual trial-and-error methods, improving glycemic control precision while keeping the system simple for the user to operate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If generic basal infusion patterns are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to individual patient characteristics deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomplexity of insulin delivery systemVSAvoidadaptability to patient characteristics
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-programming multiple basal infusion patterns with different characteristics (e.g., varying rates, timing, duration) before actual use. When a patient is treated, the controller automatically selects and adjusts the appropriate pre-programmed pattern based on the patient's specific characteristics and real-time glucose data, providing adaptability without requiring complex real-time calculations or user configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If frequent glucose measurements and adjustment are implemented, then glycemic control precision is improved, but loss of time for adjustments increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveglycemic control precisionVSAvoidtime for insulin delivery adjustments
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically monitoring glucose levels via integrated sensor and adjusting basal insulin infusion without requiring user intervention. The controller continuously processes sensor data and autonomously modifies infusion parameters, achieving frequent measurements and adjustments while eliminating the time loss associated with manual user actions for programming and adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2167168B1Tailored basal insulin delivery system
Publication Date: 2017.05.10 ROCHE DIABETES CARE GMBH
  • EP2167168B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2167168B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3a
  • EP2167168B1 patent drawingFigure 3b~4

AI summary

Dislosed is a system to deliver insulin to a user's body. The system include a dispensing unit to deliver the insulin to the body, and a control mechanism to control delivery of basal insulin according to a predetermined basal infusion pattern, the basal infusion pattern selected from a plurality of predetermined basal infusion patterns (102). In some embodiments, selection o the basal infusion pattern may be based on one or more personal characteristics of the user.