Insulin Pump Rate Modulation to Reduce Delivery Occlusions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Subcutaneous insulin delivery systems face high risks of occlusions due to issues such as site pressure, scar tissue formation, and incorrect cannula insertion, especially during high-rate insulin infusion, leading to back pressure and incomplete insulin delivery.

Innovation Solution

A drug delivery device with a controller that modifies the pump rate by adding additional time to the delivery period and distributes insulin doses over a control cycle to mitigate occlusions, using a series of partial doses actuated at discrete times.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high rate of insulin infusion is used to deliver dosage quickly, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to increased pump occlusions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsulin delivery speedVSAvoidpump occlusion risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the insulin delivery process by dividing the total insulin dosage into multiple smaller bolus doses that are delivered sequentially over time. Instead of delivering the entire dosage at once at a high rate, the system breaks it down into manageable portions with intervals between deliveries, reducing back pressure and occlusion risk while still achieving the therapeutic goal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic action by delivering insulin doses at scheduled intervals rather than continuously or all at once. The system uses a timer or controller to space out the delivery of each bolus dose, allowing absorption time between deliveries and preventing the buildup of excessive back pressure that causes occlusions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Ease of operation

If fixed rate pump delivery is used to simplify operation, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to insufficient absorption time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepump operation simplicityVSAvoidocclusion occurrence

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the pump delivery rate variable rather than fixed. The system automatically adjusts the delivery rate and timing of insulin doses based on real-time feedback from pressure sensors and absorption monitoring. This dynamic adjustment allows the pump to slow down or pause when back pressure indicates insufficient absorption, while maintaining simple operation for the user through automated control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where pressure sensors monitor back pressure in the delivery system and absorption monitoring tracks insulin uptake. This feedback information is fed back to the pump controller, which automatically adjusts the delivery rate and timing to prevent occlusions, maintaining reliable operation without requiring user intervention to optimize delivery parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20250303061A1Techniques to reduce risk of occlusions in drug delivery systems

Publication Date: 2025.10.02 INSULET CORP

AI summary

Disclosed are techniques to establish a modified pump rate that mitigates the effects of a pump occlusion and enables a recommended dosage of insulin to be output by a pump mechanism over the course of a control cycle. In an example, the pump rate may be reduced by adding a calculated time interval between application of actuation commands to extend the amount of time over which insulin may be output by the pump mechanism.