Activity-Informed Insulin Bolus Adjustment for Unstructured Activity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing strategies for managing blood glucose levels in type 1 diabetes (T1D) patients are inadequate for unstructured physical activity and are either too complex for everyday use or yield low performance, failing to account for the multifactorial nature of glycemic control during and after physical activity.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that quantifies physical activity to adjust insulin boluses by incorporating an 'activity on board' factor, using a weighted sum of previous activity to optimize insulin dosing, thereby improving glycemic control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If known strategies focus on structured exercise bouts, then glycemic management during exercise is improved, but unstructured physical activity and total daily PA are not adequately accounted for

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveglycemic management during exerciseVSAvoidcoverage of unstructured physical activity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a single accelerometer device to perform multiple functions: detecting both structured exercise bouts and unstructured physical activity, calculating both acute exercise effects and cumulative activity effects, and providing comprehensive insulin dosing recommendations that cover all physical activity types throughout the day

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If strategies provide simple and flexible guidance, then ease of use is improved, but performance and precision in glycemic control are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveusability of insulin dosing strategyVSAvoidprecision of glycemic control

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically collects physical activity data via accelerometer, calculates both acute and cumulative activity effects, determines the appropriate insulin dosing adjustments, and provides specific numerical recommendations without requiring the patient to manually track or calculate any of these parameters

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors physical activity levels and provides real-time feedback through personalized insulin dosing recommendations that are automatically adjusted based on detected activity patterns, allowing dynamic adaptation to changing conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Manufacturing precision

If strategies provide high performance through precise patient-specific suggestions, then glycemic control is improved, but complexity and difficulty of use increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of insulin dosing recommendationVSAvoidcomplexity of dosing strategy

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically performs all complex calculations including detecting exercise bouts, calculating acute exercise effects, calculating cumulative activity effects, determining insulin dosing adjustments, and providing personalized recommendations without requiring patient involvement in the computational processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If frequent monitoring of BG levels and multiple factors is implemented, then glycemic control performance is improved, but burden and complexity for patients increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveglycemic control performanceVSAvoidpatient burden

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically collects and processes physical activity data via accelerometer, calculates activity effects on glucose metabolism, determines appropriate insulin dosing adjustments, and provides specific numerical recommendations without requiring the patient to manually track or calculate any parameters

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system acts as an intermediary between physical activity detection and insulin dosing decisions, automatically processing the complex relationship between activity levels and glucose metabolism to provide simplified, actionable dosing recommendations that account for multiple factors without requiring patient expertise

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12462912B2System and method for physical activity informed drug dosing

Publication Date: 2025.11.04 UNIV OF VIRGINIA PATENT FOUND

AI summary

A computer-implemented method for treating a patient suffering from Type I Diabetes (T1D). The method can include quantifying physical activity (PA) of the patient; calculating an accumulated PA periodically based on the quantified PA, the accumulated PA indicating an aggregate of the PA; and generating an activity informed insulin bolus by adjusting a prevalent functional insulin therapy bolus with a previous activity component, wherein the previous activity component is based on the accumulated daily PA, an activity profile, and an activity factor of the patient. The method can include determining an additional glucose uptake within a time period, the additional glucose uptake being caused by a PA; translating the additional glucose uptake into a number of insulin units with a same BG lowering impact; and generating an activity informed insulin bolus by adjusting a prevalent functional insulin therapy bolus with the insulin units.