Blinded Continuous Glucose Recording Device for Reduced Finger Pricking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems require frequent finger pricking for confirmation with blood glucose monitoring (BGM) due to regulatory limitations, leading to inconvenience and discomfort for diabetic patients.

Innovation Solution

A system combining a continuous glucose sensor with a single point glucose monitor, allowing for data processing and alarm triggering without displaying real-time glucose values, while enabling retrospective analysis and alarms for hyper/hypoglycemic events.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional CGM systems are used to continuously monitor glucose levels, then real-time glucose data is obtained, but frequent finger pricking is still required for confirmation due to regulatory limitations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous glucose monitoring capabilityVSAvoidfrequency of finger pricking
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the glucose monitoring function into two independent parts: continuous monitoring mode and discrete confirmation mode. The controller can operate in either mode, allowing the system to provide continuous glucose data without requiring frequent finger pricking, while still maintaining regulatory compliance through optional confirmation measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of information

If continuous glucose data is displayed in real-time, then immediate glucose level information is provided, but regulatory requirements mandate confirmation with BGM devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereal-time glucose data availabilityVSAvoidregulatory compliance requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller dynamically adjusts its operation mode based on regulatory requirements and clinical needs. It can switch between providing continuous real-time glucose data and requiring discrete confirmation measurements, making the system flexible enough to meet regulatory demands while minimizing the burden of finger pricking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If finger pricking is performed frequently for glucose confirmation, then regulatory compliance is maintained, but patient convenience and safety are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveregulatory complianceVSAvoidpatient discomfort and safety risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous glucose monitoring system serves itself by providing ongoing glucose level information without requiring frequent external confirmation measurements. The system autonomously monitors glucose levels continuously, reducing the need for patient participation in finger pricking while maintaining regulatory compliance through optional confirmation mode.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3744249B1Continuous analyte monitor data recording device operable in a blinded mode
Publication Date: 2025.07.02 DEXCOM INC
  • EP3744249B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3744249B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3744249B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system is provided for monitoring analyte in a host, including a continuous analyte sensor that produces a data stream indicative of a host's analyte concentration and a device that receives and records data from the data stream from the continuous analyte sensor. In one embodiment, the device includes a single point analyte monitor, from which it obtains an analyte value, and is configured to display only single point analyte measurement values, and not any analyte measurement values associated with data received from the continuous analyte sensor. Instead, data received from the continuous analyte sensor is used to provide alarms to the user when the analyte concentration and/or the rate of change of analyte concentration, as measured by the continuous analyte sensor, is above or below a predetermined range. Data received from the continuous analyte sensor may also be used to prompt the diabetic or caregiver to take certain actions, such as to perform another single point blood glucose measurement. In another embodiment, the device provides for toggling between two modes, with one mode that allows for display of glucose concentration values associated with the continuous glucose sensor and a second mode that prevents the display of glucose concentration values associated with the continuous glucose sensor.