Closed-Loop Blood Glucose Control System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medical technologies lack a comprehensive closed-loop system capable of real-time monitoring and adjustment of blood chemistry parameters such as glucose and osmolality, particularly in emergency and non-emergency settings, failing to effectively manage nonlinear physiological responses.
Innovation Solution
A computerized glucose adjustment system utilizing a multi-lumen catheter with integrated sensors for continuous monitoring of blood glucose and osmolality, coupled with an electronic control system that implements fuzzy logic algorithms to adjust insulin and dextrose infusions, and hypertonic saline administration, mimicking the body's natural response to maintain optimal blood chemistry levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual monitoring and adjustment of blood glucose and osmolality is performed, then medical personnel can respond to patient conditions, but the workload is excessive and real-time control is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service automation where the closed-loop control system automatically monitors blood glucose and osmolality levels, calculates appropriate medication dosages, and adjusts infusions without requiring continuous manual intervention from medical personnel. The algorithm autonomously processes sensor data and controls medication delivery based on patient needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operations (physically drawing blood, manually testing glucose/osmolality, calculating dosages, and manually adjusting infusion pumps) with an automated electronic system that uses sensors, algorithms, and computer-controlled infusion pumps to perform these functions continuously and accurately.
2Measurement precision
If frequent blood sampling is performed to monitor glucose and osmolality, then accurate data can be obtained, but patient discomfort increases and time is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous monitoring through indwelling catheters with integrated sensors that constantly measure blood glucose and osmolality levels without requiring repeated blood draws. This provides uninterrupted real-time data while eliminating the time loss and patient discomfort associated with frequent manual sampling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses an intermediary sensor system placed within the bloodstream that indirectly measures glucose and osmolality levels without requiring external blood sampling. The sensors act as mediators between the blood chemistry parameters and the monitoring system, providing continuous data while avoiding repeated invasive procedures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional open-loop medication administration is used, then simplicity is maintained, but nonlinear physiological responses cannot be effectively managed
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements closed-loop feedback control where sensor measurements of blood glucose and osmolality continuously feed back to the control algorithm, which adjusts medication infusion rates in real-time based on the patient's actual physiological response. This feedback mechanism enables the system to adapt to nonlinear physiological variations and achieve precise control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from static, fixed-rate medication administration to dynamic, adaptive control where infusion rates continuously change based on real-time physiological measurements. The system dynamically adjusts dosages to match the patient's evolving metabolic state, capturing the complexity of nonlinear physiological responses.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate monitoring and infusion systems are used for glucose and osmolality, then each parameter can be controlled independently, but device complexity increases and coordination becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the monitoring and control of multiple blood chemistry parameters (glucose, osmolality, and potentially other electrolytes) into a single integrated closed-loop system. The system simultaneously measures multiple parameters, processes them through a unified control algorithm, and coordinates medication delivery through a single platform, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining independent control of each parameter.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides precise, automated control of blood glucose and osmolality, reducing the workload for medical personnel and improving patient outcomes by maintaining blood chemistry within target ranges, thereby enhancing healthcare resource efficiency and patient survival rates.
Implementation Method 1
A catheter is placed within the patient's venous system. The catheter includes a glucose sensor that is capable of measuring a patient's blood glucose level and transmitting that information back to a central computer processor.
Implementation Method 2
The catheter also includes a conductivity sensor for measuring blood conductivity. The computer processor calculates blood osmolality from the blood conductivity measurement.
Implementation Method 3
The computer processor is in electronic communication with both the sensor and the pump to use the glucose measurement to control pump output.
Implementation Method 4
The glucose control module sends the output to the pump for controlling the rate at which the pump distributes insulin and dextrose into the patient.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention is an apparatus and computerized method of intravenously monitoring a patient's blood chemistry and transmitting real time measurements to an electronically controlled closed loop system that auto-regulates blood osmolality and glucose level with medications infused through a new catheter design. The closed loop system utilizes a glucose algorithm and an osmolality algorithm implemented in hardware and software to control the flow of dextrose, insulin and hypertonic saline to a patient in an effort to achieve better patient outcomes in instances of trauma and illnesses, particularly those that involve brain swelling.