Insulin Pump Rate Scheduling for Lower Occlusion Back Pressure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Subcutaneous insulin delivery systems face challenges with pump occlusions, which occur due to site pressure, scar tissue formation, and other issues, leading to impaired insulin absorption and increased resistance against insulin delivery.

Innovation Solution

A drug delivery device and method that modify the pump rate by extending the time period for insulin delivery, allowing for a series of partial insulin doses to be output at discrete times over a control cycle, thereby mitigating the effects of pump occlusions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a high rate of insulin infusion is used to deliver the required dosage, then the productivity of insulin delivery is improved, but the reliability of the system deteriorates due to increased risk of pump occlusions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsulin delivery rateVSAvoidpump occlusion risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the insulin delivery process by dividing the total insulin dosage into multiple smaller bolus doses that are delivered sequentially over time. Instead of delivering the full dosage at once at a high rate, the system breaks it down into discrete portions delivered at controlled intervals, reducing back pressure and occlusion risk while maintaining overall delivery effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic action by delivering insulin in repeated cycles of small bolus doses separated by time intervals. The pump delivers a small dose, waits for a predetermined time period to allow absorption and pressure dissipation, then delivers the next dose. This periodic delivery pattern prevents continuous high-rate infusion that causes occlusions while achieving the total required dosage over time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Ease of operation

If insulin is delivered at a fixed high rate as requested by the user, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to insufficient time for back pressure absorption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser-requested bolus deliveryVSAvoidback pressure management

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by automatically inserting predetermined time intervals between bolus doses before the user would naturally request the next dose. The system proactively manages the timing to allow back pressure absorption, preventing occlusions before they occur rather than reacting to them after they happen

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms that monitor delivery conditions and automatically adjust the timing between bolus doses. The system detects back pressure buildup and responds by extending the time interval between doses, creating a closed-loop control that maintains reliable delivery while preserving ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12343501B2Techniques to reduce risk of occlusions in drug delivery systems

Publication Date: 2025.07.01 INSULET CORP

AI summary

Disclosed are techniques to establish a modified pump rate that mitigates the effects of a pump occlusion and enables a recommended dosage of insulin to be output by a pump mechanism over the course of a control cycle. In an example, the pump rate may be reduced by adding a calculated time interval between application of actuation commands to extend the amount of time over which insulin may be output by the pump mechanism.