Integrated Insulin Pen With Continuous Glucose Dose Setting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) methods are uncomfortable, infrequent, and prone to user error, leading to delayed detection of hyper- or hypo-glycemic conditions in diabetic patients, complicating insulin therapy decisions.
Innovation Solution
An integrated system combining a medicament injection pen and a continuous glucose sensor, with integrated electronics for processing sensor data to calculate and deliver precise medicament therapy, including a user interface for data display and validation, enabling real-time monitoring and treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) methods are used, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement frequency is insufficient and user error is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a continuous glucose sensor, receiver with data processing capabilities, and medicament delivery device into an integrated system. This merging enables continuous monitoring (improving productivity) while consolidating multiple functions into a unified system that manages complexity through integration rather than separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated system performs multiple functions: continuous glucose monitoring, data reception and processing, therapy calculation, and medicament delivery. This multi-functionality allows the system to provide continuous measurements (improving productivity) while presenting a single unified interface to the user (managing complexity).
2Reliability
If conventional SMBG methods are used, then the ease of operation is moderate, but the reliability of therapy decisions is low due to user error
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors glucose levels and provides real-time feedback to both the user and the therapy calculation algorithm. This feedback loop enables automatic adjustment of therapy recommendations based on current glucose trends, improving reliability by removing human interpretation errors while the system manages the complexity of continuous data processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated system automatically processes sensor data, calculates appropriate therapy doses, and prepares medicament delivery without requiring manual calculations or interpretations by the user. This self-service capability improves reliability by eliminating user error in therapy decisions while the system internally manages the complexity of data processing and algorithm execution.
3Loss of time
If conventional SMBG methods are used, then the loss of time in detecting glucose changes is high, but the device complexity is low
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous glucose monitoring through an implanted sensor that continuously measures glucose levels and transmits data to the receiver. This continuous action eliminates the time loss associated with intermittent finger-stick measurements, providing real-time detection of glucose changes while the integrated system manages the complexity of continuous data acquisition and processing.
4Ease of operation
If integrated continuous monitoring and medicament delivery are combined, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the glucose sensor, receiver, and medicament delivery device into an integrated system, the patent improves ease of operation by providing a unified interface and automated therapy management. The complexity of coordinating multiple separate devices is eliminated, and the user interacts with a single system that handles all functions seamlessly.
Data Source
AI summary
An integrated system for the monitoring and treating diabetes is provided, including an integrated receiver/hand-held medicament injection pen, including electronics, for use with a continuous glucose sensor. In some embodiments, the receiver is configured to receive continuous glucose sensor data, to calculate a medicament therapy (e.g., via the integrated system electronics) and to automatically set a bolus dose of the integrated hand-held medicament injection pen, whereby the user can manually inject the bolus dose of medicament into the host. In some embodiments, the integrated receiver and hand-held medicament injection pen are integrally formed, while in other embodiments they are detachably connected and communicated via mutually engaging electrical contacts and/or via wireless communication.