Graphical Interface for Non-Contiguous Basal Rate Profile Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Insulin pumps require flexible programming of basal rate profiles to accommodate varying user needs, but existing systems lack intuitive methods for adjusting non-contiguous groups of basal rates, complicating the customization process and potentially affecting user health outcomes.

Innovation Solution

The development of software that allows operators to select and adjust non-contiguous or contiguous groups of bar segments in a graphical representation of basal rate profiles, enabling changes through constant values or offsets, simplifying the customization of basal rate profiles and ensuring safe insulin delivery settings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional programming methods are used for basal rate profiles, then the system maintains simplicity in operation, but the system lacks flexibility in adjusting non-contiguous groups of basal rates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility in adjusting basal rate profilesVSAvoidsimplicity of programming interface
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The graphical display of basal rate profiles is segmented into discrete bar segments, each representing a specific time period and basal rate. This segmentation allows users to select and modify individual segments or groups of segments independently, enabling flexible adjustment of non-contiguous groups while maintaining a simple visual interface. The segmentation principle directly resolves the contradiction by providing both adaptability (through selective modification) and ease of operation (through visual clarity).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a visual graphical dimension to the programming interface, transforming the abstract numerical programming task into a visual manipulation task. By displaying basal rates as bar segments in a graphical profile, users can intuitively understand and manipulate the data structure, achieving both flexibility in adjustment and simplicity in operation through visual feedback and interaction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Manufacturing precision

If detailed individual adjustment of each basal rate is required, then the system achieves high precision in customization, but the programming process becomes time-consuming and complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision of basal rate customizationVSAvoidtime required for programming
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the basal rate profile into selectable bar segments, the system allows users to precisely target specific time periods for modification without needing to adjust every individual segment. Users can select non-contiguous groups of segments and apply uniform adjustments, achieving high precision customization while significantly reducing the time required compared to individual adjustment of all segments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables merging of multiple bar segments into selectable groups, allowing users to apply a single adjustment operation to multiple segments simultaneously. This combining capability maintains precision by allowing selective grouping while reducing programming time by eliminating the need for repeated individual adjustments across multiple segments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the programming interface provides extensive customization options for basal rate profiles, then the system achieves high adaptability to user needs, but the interface complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecustomization capability of basal rate profilesVSAvoidcomplexity of programming software
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a graphical visualization dimension that simplifies the programming interface while maintaining extensive customization capability. By representing basal rate data as visual bar segments, the system provides an intuitive interface that reduces perceived complexity, even though the underlying customization options remain extensive. The visual dimension acts as a simplifying layer between the user and the complex programming functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The graphical bar segments serve as visual copies or representations of the underlying numerical basal rate data. This copying approach allows users to interact with simplified visual elements rather than directly manipulating complex numerical parameters, reducing interface complexity while preserving full customization capability through the visual-mapping relationship.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP2329421B1User interface for manipulating groups of data representations of a graphical display
Publication Date: 2019.06.26 F HOFFMANN LA ROCHE & CO AG
  • EP2329421B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2329421B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2329421B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system is disclosed wherein a graphical representation of a profile may be adjusted to adjust one or more values of the profile. The profile may includes data values corresponding to respective time periods. The data values being represented by data representations in the graphical representation. A non-contiguous grouping of the data representations may be selected by an operator to adjust the data values of the profile corresponding to the non-contiguous grouping of data representations. A contiguous grouping of the data representations may be selected by an operator to adjust the data values of the profile corresponding to the non-contiguous grouping of data representations.