Diabetes Management Device with Threshold-Based Imbalance Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for managing glycemic balance in diabetic patients fail to accurately and early detect glycemic imbalances during stable phases, leading to prolonged periods of hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia due to neglect of exceptional events and reliance on outdated insulin dose calculations.

Innovation Solution

A medical device with a memory module to store blood sugar levels, a processing circuit to detect imbalances by comparing levels with threshold values, and a titration circuit to calculate new insulin doses, emitting warnings and initiating titration phases to maintain equilibrium.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the insulin dose is gradually increased during titration phase based on last blood sugar level and previous dose, then the blood sugar level reaches target range, but the patient remains in glycemic imbalance for extended period due to not detecting early return to imbalance state

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection of glycemic imbalanceVSAvoidduration of glycemic imbalance
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors blood sugar levels and compares them against threshold values, creating a feedback loop that detects when the patient returns to glycemic imbalance during the equilibrium phase. This feedback mechanism triggers alerts and initiates new titration phases, preventing extended periods of imbalance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection of glycemic imbalance by comparing blood sugar levels with threshold values before the patient experiences extended periods of hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia. This early detection allows for timely intervention through alerts and dose adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the titration phase continuously increases insulin dose based on last measurement, then blood sugar reaches target, but exceptional events are neglected causing inaccurate dose calculations and prolonged imbalance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveefficiency of glycemic controlVSAvoidaccuracy of insulin dose calculation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the titration process by evaluating multiple blood sugar measurements over time rather than relying solely on the last measurement. The management rule adapts the titration phase duration and dose adjustments based on the pattern of measurements and detected exceptional events, improving both efficiency and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs multiple measurements and evaluations during the titration phase, using a series of partial actions (individual measurements and comparisons) to achieve a more reliable overall dose calculation, rather than relying on a single excessive action (last measurement only).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3405895B1Management of the blood glucose balance of a diabetic patient
Publication Date: 2021.03.10 VOLUNTIS
  • EP3405895B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3405895B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The present invention relates to a medical device (100) for managing the blood glucose balance of a diabetic patient, comprising: a storage module (10) for storing a plurality of blood glucose concentrations measured over a predetermined time period, said measured blood glucose concentrations relating to a content of a blood component representing the blood glucose level of said patient; and a processing circuit (20) that uses a management rule to detect a state of blood glucose imbalance in the patient by comparing said measured blood glucose concentrations with a range of threshold values having an upper blood glucose concentration bound corresponding, for example, to a hyperglycaemic state and a lower blood glucose concentration bound corresponding, for example, to a hypoglycaemic state, said circuit (20) also being configured to emit a warning signal when a state of blood glucose imbalance is detected.