Glucagon Dosage Controller Using Sensitivity Parameters

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems for delivering glucagon and insulin lack an efficient method to calculate and suggest glucagon dosages based on real-time blood glucose levels, food intake, and user-specific sensitivity, leading to potential hypoglycemic events.

Innovation Solution

A glucagon and insulin administration system that includes a portable pump housing with a controller capable of calculating a suggested glucagon dosage using stored glucagon sensitivity values, blood glucose levels, and other parameters, which can be displayed to the user for informed decision-making or automated delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If manual syringe or single use injection pen is used for glucagon administration, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision and reliability of dosage calculation based on real-time blood glucose levels is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoiddosage calculation precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary device that receives blood glucose level data from a glucose monitoring device and calculates the appropriate glucagon dosage. This mediator bridges the simple injection mechanism with the complex dosage calculation requirements, allowing manual or simple pen devices to be used while maintaining high dosage precision through external computational support.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual dosage estimation with an automated computational system. The controller uses algorithms to calculate glucagon dosage based on real-time blood glucose levels, insulin sensitivity values, and other parameters, substituting the mechanical/manual dosage determination process with an intelligent computational approach that enhances precision without complicating the actual administration mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If glucagon dosage is calculated based on multiple parameters including blood glucose levels and insulin sensitivity, then the reliability of preventing hypoglycemic events is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller is designed to perform multiple functions: it monitors blood glucose levels, calculates glucagon dosage, stores user-specific parameters like insulin sensitivity values, and communicates with various input devices. This multi-functional approach consolidates the complexity into a single intelligent unit that can handle all dosage determination tasks, improving reliability while managing device complexity through functional integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by automatically calculating the optimal glucagon dosage based on real-time blood glucose data and stored user parameters. The controller autonomously processes multiple inputs (blood glucose level, insulin sensitivity, target glucose level) and generates the dosage recommendation without requiring manual intervention or complex user calculations, thereby enhancing reliability while keeping the user interface simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Speed

If real-time blood glucose monitoring is integrated with glucagon administration system, then the speed of response to hypoglycemic events is improved, but the use of energy increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse speedVSAvoiduse of energy
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs periodic blood glucose monitoring rather than continuous monitoring, where the glucose monitoring device measures blood glucose levels at regular intervals. This periodic approach allows the controller to receive updated data and recalculate dosage recommendations at discrete time points, maintaining rapid response capability to hypoglycemic events while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous real-time monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3164170B1Glucagon administration system and methods
Publication Date: 2021.09.08 BIGFOOT BIOMEDICAL INC
  • EP3164170B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3164170B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3164170B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Some embodiments a glucagon administration system can provide a suggested glucagon dosage based on one or more particular parameters (e.g., the user's recent blood glucose characteristics, a glucagon sensitivity value of the user, and other parameters). In some circumstances, the glucagon administration system can receive information indicative of the user's blood glucose level and suggest a glucagon dosage that is at least partially dependent upon a previously stored glucagon sensitivity for the user.