Automated Insulin Delivery System with On-Board Calculation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current insulin delivery systems for diabetes management require frequent user interaction and lack automation, leading to suboptimal glycemic control due to the need for manual blood glucose monitoring and insulin dosing adjustments, which can be inconvenient and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A system integrating a glucose monitoring device, insulin delivery device, and controller with wireless communication, allowing for automated insulin dosing and visualization of insulin-on-board (IOB) calculations to optimize basal and bolus insulin delivery, providing transparency into insulin delivery actions and future glucose changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If automated insulin delivery is implemented, then glycemic control is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveglycemic controlVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into separate functional modules: a glucose monitoring device for measuring blood glucose levels, an insulin delivery device for administering insulin, and a controller for processing data and generating dosing recommendations. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while reducing the complexity burden on any single device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The controller acts as an intermediary between the glucose monitoring device and the insulin delivery device. It receives glucose level data, processes it according to insulin dosing algorithms, and generates dosing recommendations. This intermediary role enables automated insulin delivery without requiring direct complex integration between the monitoring and delivery devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If manual blood glucose monitoring and insulin dosing adjustments are required, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidglycemic control efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by automatically monitoring blood glucose levels and calculating appropriate insulin dosing recommendations without requiring manual intervention. The controller continuously processes glucose data and generates dosing advice, allowing the system to manage itself and reducing the time and effort required for diabetes management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback by monitoring blood glucose levels and using this information to adjust insulin dosing recommendations in real-time. The controller receives ongoing glucose data, processes it through dosing algorithms, and updates dosing recommendations accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that improves glycemic control efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If frequent user interaction is required for insulin delivery, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring blood glucose levels and pre-calculating insulin dosing recommendations before the user needs to make a dosing decision. The controller is always ready with dosing advice based on current glucose levels, eliminating the need for users to manually calculate doses at the moment of injection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides continuous feedback to the user through the controller, which communicates glucose level status and dosing recommendations. This feedback mechanism keeps the user informed without requiring frequent manual operations, as the system automatically tracks and processes glucose data and presents actionable dosing advice when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3154607B1Insulin delivery systems and methods
Publication Date: 2023.12.20 INSULET CORP
  • EP3154607B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3154607B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3154607B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A system is provided with an insulin delivery device configured to deliver insulin to a user of the system and a computer-based control unit associated with the insulin delivery device. The computer-based control unit includes a user interface and a computer-based processor. The computer-based processor is configured to calculate a relative insulin on board value for a specific time by calculating a first value that represents a reference insulin on board value at the specific time, calculating a second value that represents an automated insulin on board value at the specific time, and subtracting one of the first and second values from the other. The automated insulin on board value represents at least one insulin delivery automatically specified by the computer-based control unit. Methods of use are also disclosed.