Infant Insulin Pump Segmented Dosing Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current insulin pumps for continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) therapy in infants face challenges due to high dosing errors, limited precision, and bulkiness, which can lead to severe medical complications, and require cumbersome dilution of insulin with saline solution.
Innovation Solution
A dosing unit with a variable pump cylinder and control valve that allows precise volumetric dosing by refilling from a separate drug container, minimizing bulkiness and reducing the risk of errors, while keeping the insulin reservoir at a cool temperature to maintain biological activity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a large volume drug container (e.g., 3 ml) is used in typical insulin pumps, then the device can supply insulin for multiple days, but the dosing precision and resolution are insufficient for infants with low total daily dose requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the drug container into two separate components: a large storage container (3 ml capacity) and a small dosing unit (0.3 ml capacity). The dosing unit is repeatedly refilled from the storage container, allowing multi-day supply duration while maintaining high dosing precision for infant requirements.
2Reliability
If the insulin reservoir is kept at low temperatures to maintain biological activity, then insulin stability is improved, but the device becomes bulkier and less portable
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the temperature-sensitive storage container from the portable dosing unit. The storage container can be kept refrigerated when not in use, while the small dosing unit (containing only 0.3 ml at a time) can be carried at body temperature, reducing the volume of the moving portable device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temperature control element that can maintain the storage container at low temperatures while allowing the dosing unit to operate at body temperature. This intermediary temperature control system enables both temperature stability for insulin activity and portability for the dosing unit.
3Measurement precision
If the dosing unit volume is reduced to match infant TDD requirements (e.g., 0.3 ml for 3 days), then dosing precision is improved, but the device requires frequent refilling and becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the drug container into two separate components: a large storage container (3 ml capacity) and a small dosing unit (0.3 ml capacity). The dosing unit is repeatedly refilled from the storage container, allowing multi-day supply duration while maintaining high dosing precision for infant requirements.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a small dosing unit volume (0.3 ml) is used for infants, then the risk of overdose is reduced, but the device becomes bulkier relative to the dosing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the drug container into two separate components: a large storage container (3 ml capacity) and a small dosing unit (0.3 ml capacity). The dosing unit is repeatedly refilled from the storage container, allowing multi-day supply duration while maintaining high dosing precision for infant requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a portable infusion device comprising a dosing unit (100) and a base unit (200), the dosing unit including an inlet port (105), an outlet port (115), and a pump with a cylinder (125) and a piston (130) forming a stepwise or continuously variable dosing volume, a control valve (120) to couple the dosing volume alternatively, in a filling state (120a), to the inlet port (105) for refilling from an external liquid drug container (300) or, in a infusing state (120b), to the outlet port (115). The base unit comprises a control unit (210) and a drive unit (215). A container storage box (401) for storing the drug container (300) including a temperature control unit (410) is also disclosed.