Insulin Pump Rate Modulation for Occlusion-Resistant Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Subcutaneous insulin delivery systems face challenges with pump occlusions due to high insulin infusion rates, which cause back pressure and reduce absorption, especially during bolus deliveries, leading to incomplete insulin dosing and potential complications.

Innovation Solution

A wearable drug delivery device with a controller that modifies the pump rate by extending the delivery time for insulin dosages, allowing for a series of partial insulin doses to be delivered over a control cycle, mitigating the effects of occlusions and ensuring complete dosing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

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

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsulin delivery rateVSAvoidpump occlusion risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the insulin delivery process into multiple discrete pulses delivered at intervals. Instead of continuous high-rate infusion, the controller delivers divided doses sequentially, allowing absorption time between pulses. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining total delivery quantity while reducing instantaneous rate to prevent occlusion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic action by delivering insulin in repeated cycles with specific time intervals between pulses. The controller uses periodic actuation commands to deliver insulin doses at regulated intervals, preventing back pressure accumulation while ensuring complete dosage delivery over time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Productivity

If fixed high rate delivery is used during bolus, then productivity is improved, but object-affected harmful factors worsen due to back pressure and reduced absorption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebolus delivery speedVSAvoidback pressure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the delivery rate adjustable rather than fixed. The controller dynamically modifies the pump rate based on delivery phase: using higher rates initially then reducing to lower rates between pulses. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by optimizing delivery speed while preventing harmful back pressure through rate modulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements beforehand cushioning by inserting time intervals between insulin pulses before the next dose is delivered. This cushioning period allows back pressure to dissipate and absorption to occur, preventing the accumulation of harmful pressure that would otherwise occur with continuous high-rate delivery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If extended time period is used for delivery, then reliability is improved by reducing occlusions, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveocclusion mitigationVSAvoiddelivery time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by allowing the system to automatically manage delivery timing and pulse intervals without requiring external intervention. The controller autonomously determines optimal pulse timing and delivers insulin at appropriate intervals, achieving reliable occlusion-free delivery while minimizing total time through efficient automated scheduling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11684716B2Techniques to reduce risk of occlusions in drug delivery systems

Publication Date: 2023.06.27 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.