Insulin Injection Device with Dual Display Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Diabetes patients face challenges in safely and conveniently managing insulin injections due to the need for multiple devices and the risk of human error in logging glucose measurements and injection events, particularly in distinguishing between injection and priming events.

Innovation Solution

A portable medical device integrating a blood glucose meter, mechanical and electronic displays, and a proximity sensor to guide users through the injection process, log events accurately, and differentiate between injection and priming events by sensing the proximity of a solid object during ejection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a single integrated device is used for both blood glucose measurement and insulin injection, then device portability and convenience are improved, but the risk of user confusion between glucose values and injection settings increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconvenience of carrying and using integrated deviceVSAvoidrisk of user confusion between glucose measurement and injection setting
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device divides the display system into two separate displays: a first display for showing blood glucose concentration and a second display for showing insulin injection settings. This segmentation prevents user confusion by visually separating the two different types of information, while both displays are integrated into a single portable device housing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If manual logging of injections is required, then device complexity is reduced, but human error in registration increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of device without complex logging systemVSAvoidaccuracy of injection logging
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device automatically logs injection events without requiring manual user input. The system self-monitors and records injection data, eliminating human error in registration while keeping the device relatively simple. This is achieved through automatic detection mechanisms that track when injections occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The device provides automatic feedback logging of injection events. When an injection is performed, the system automatically detects and records the event, providing accurate logging without requiring the user to manually enter data, thus preventing human error.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If injection speed varies during ejection, then ease of operation is improved, but the ability to distinguish between injection and priming events automatically deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility in injection speedVSAvoiddifficulty in distinguishing injection from priming events
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

A proximity sensor acts as an intermediary to detect whether the needle is near a solid object (skin) during ejection. This mediator provides objective detection that works regardless of injection speed variations, reliably distinguishing between injection events (needle near skin) and priming events (needle away from skin).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The device ensures safe and convenient insulin injection management by reducing the risk of confusion between glucose measurements and injection settings, minimizing human error in logging, and accurately distinguishing between injection and priming events, thus enhancing patient safety and lifestyle convenience.

Implementation Method 1

a proximity sensor that can sense the proximity of a solid object in the same direction as the injection needle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectProximity sensing:

Data Source

PatentEP3071256B1Medical device with safety features
Publication Date: 2018.01.10 BRIGHTER AB PUBL
  • EP3071256B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3071256B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3071256B1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

There is provided a portable medical device for injecting insulin comprising a blood glucose meter, a first display that is capable of displaying the blood glucose content of a blood sample as determined by the blood glucose meter, means for injecting insulin in a patient comprising means for setting the amount of insulin to be injected comprising a second display that shows the amount of insulin to be injected characterized in that the device comprises a deactivation means that automatically switches off the first display.