Insulin Infusion Controller Dynamic Glucose Targeting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current insulin infusion systems are limited by the speed of insulin delivery and lack efficient control mechanisms to mimic the natural insulin response of a healthy pancreas, leading to suboptimal glucose regulation and potential complications such as excessive weight gain and atherosclerosis.
Innovation Solution
A processor-implemented method and electronic device that estimate the current insulin on board (IOB) value, calculate an IOB rate, and determine an adjusted insulin infusion rate to regulate insulin delivery, using a PID controller to emulate the natural insulin secretion pattern of a healthy pancreas, ensuring efficient glucose homeostasis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If traditional external infusion pumps are used to deliver insulin, then insulin delivery control is provided, but the system lacks the speed and efficiency to mimic natural pancreatic insulin response
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic target glucose value adjustment based on current glucose levels. The system transitions from static target values to dynamic targets that adapt in real-time, allowing the insulin delivery system to respond more rapidly and naturally to changing glucose conditions, thereby improving delivery speed without requiring complete system redesign
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the target glucose parameter dynamically based on current glucose measurements. By adjusting the target value as a variable parameter rather than a fixed value, the system can adapt its insulin delivery profile to match natural pancreatic response patterns, improving speed and efficiency
2Adaptability or versatility
If fast acting insulin is used in insulin pumps, then insulin profile control is improved, but the system remains limited by the speed of insulin delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent calculates and applies an insulin on board (IOB) compensation value before determining the final insulin delivery rate. This preliminary compensation action accounts for residual insulin effects, allowing the system to optimize subsequent delivery decisions and effectively increase the responsiveness of the overall insulin action profile
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where current glucose values and IOB information are continuously monitored and used to adjust target glucose values and insulin delivery rates. This closed-loop feedback enables the system to adapt to actual physiological conditions, improving effective delivery speed and profile control
3Reliability
If insulin infusion rate is increased to improve glucose control, then glucose regulation improves, but risk of complications such as excessive weight gain and atherosclerosis increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies IOB compensation to account for residual insulin effects, preventing excessive insulin delivery that would occur if only current glucose levels were considered. This partial action approach compensates for lingering insulin activity, ensuring more appropriate dosing that maintains glucose control while reducing harmful effects
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own measured glucose data and delivery history to automatically adjust its control parameters. By serving itself with real-time feedback from its own operation, the system optimizes glucose control while inherently preventing excessive delivery through the IOB compensation mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A controller for an insulin infusion device includes at least one processor device and at least one memory element that cooperate to provide a processor-implemented closed-loop start-up module. The start-up module is operated to initiate a closed-loop mode of the infusion device and to obtain a most recent sensor glucose value for the user. The start-up module also calculates a difference between the most recent sensor glucose value and a target glucose setpoint value. When the difference is less than or equal to a threshold value, the closed-loop insulin infusion rate is adjusted over time, based on a fixed final target glucose value that is derived from the target glucose setpoint value. When the difference is greater than the threshold, the infusion rate is adjusted over time, based on a dynamic final target glucose value that decreases over time toward the target glucose setpoint value.