Insulin Pump Air Bubble Detection and Occlusion Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Insulin pumps face issues with air bubbles and occlusions in infusion tubes, leading to inaccurate insulin delivery and wastage, which complicates blood glucose management for diabetic patients.

Innovation Solution

The insulin pump system includes a pressure detection module and a controller that monitor and adjust for air bubbles and occlusions by measuring pressure changes, allowing for real-time compensation and removal of air bubbles and clearing of occlusions, ensuring accurate insulin infusion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the insulin pump system monitors and adjusts for air bubbles and occlusions by measuring pressure changes, then the accuracy of insulin delivery is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional pressure detection module and control algorithms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of insulin deliveryVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors pressure changes in the infusion line and uses this feedback to detect air bubbles and occlusions. The controller adjusts the insulin delivery based on the detected conditions, creating a closed-loop control system that improves delivery accuracy while managing complexity through intelligent algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical detection systems with pressure-based sensing. Instead of using mechanical flow meters or complex valve systems to detect air bubbles and occlusions, the system uses pressure changes as a proxy indicator, simplifying the overall device architecture while maintaining high measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If the system detects and manages air bubbles and occlusions in real-time, then the reliability of insulin infusion is improved, but the loss of time increases due to priming procedures and system adjustments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of insulin infusionVSAvoidloss of time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of air bubbles and occlusions during the priming phase before actual insulin delivery begins. By identifying and addressing these issues in advance, the system ensures reliable infusion from the start and avoids interruptions during treatment, thereby reducing overall time loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

When air bubbles or occlusions are detected, the system quickly adjusts the delivery parameters or alerts the user to resolve the issue, minimizing the duration of the disruption. The real-time monitoring enables rapid response to maintain reliable infusion with minimal time loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

3Measurement precision

If the insulin pump forces out air bubbles by dispensing sufficient insulin through the infusion tube, then the accuracy of insulin infusion is improved, but the loss of substance increases due to wastage of insulin

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of insulin infusionVSAvoidwastage of insulin

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system detects air bubbles during the priming phase before the main insulin delivery begins. By identifying air bubbles in advance, the system can take corrective action such as adjusting the priming volume or alerting the user to reposition the patient, thereby eliminating the need to waste large amounts of insulin during the actual treatment to force out bubbles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The pressure monitoring system provides continuous feedback during insulin delivery to detect air bubbles. When an air bubble is detected, the system can pause delivery, alert the user, or adjust parameters to move the bubble to a safe location, preventing the wasteful practice of continuously dispensing insulin to force out bubbles and thereby reducing substance loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 system ensures precise insulin delivery by detecting and managing air bubbles and occlusions, preventing wastage and complications associated with inaccurate insulin administration.

Implementation Method 1

a pressure detection module interposed between the controller and the pump mechanism. The pressure detection module is configured to detect a pressure within the insulin cartridge

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure measurement:

Data Source

PatentUS9119917B2Systems and methods to address air, leaks and occlusions in an insulin pump system

Publication Date: 2015.09.01 TANDEM DIABETES CARE INC

AI summary

A system and method for adjusting insulin infusion volume based on air in an infusion set tube includes inputting at least one location and length of an air bubble along the infusion set tube. An air bubble volume is determined in the infusion set tube. An insulin infusion volume is determined based on a desired insulin infusion. A determination is then made whether the desired insulin infusion would include the air bubble volume based on the inputted location and length of the air bubble. The air bubble volume is added to the insulin infusion volume to make an adjusted insulin infusion volume if the insulin infusion volume includes the air bubble.