Integrated Cannula and Sensor Insertion for Wearable Infusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional diabetes treatment systems require separate installations of insulin delivery and glucose monitoring devices, leading to multiple needle penetrations, which are cumbersome and negatively impact user experience.
Innovation Solution
A fluid delivery device with integrated penetrating elements for both insulin delivery and glucose monitoring, allowing simultaneous or substantially simultaneous insertion of both components into the patient.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate insulin delivery and glucose monitoring devices are used, then each device can be optimized for its specific function, but the patient requires multiple needle penetrations and separate installation procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the insulin delivery device and glucose monitoring device into a single integrated system. The delivery device includes both a fluid delivery penetration element (cannula) and a sensor penetration element (needle) that can be simultaneously inserted into the patient. The sensor device is coupled to the delivery device through a catch mechanism, allowing both components to be installed in one action while maintaining their individual functional optimizations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate devices are installed, then comprehensive diabetes management is achieved, but the number of needle penetrations increases causing pain and negative user experience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple penetration elements into a single integrated delivery device. The fluid delivery penetration element and sensor penetration element are both coupled to the same delivery device housing, allowing them to be inserted simultaneously through a single installation action. This reduces the number of separate needle penetrations from two (one for each device) to one unified insertion process, thereby reducing pain and improving user experience while maintaining comprehensive diabetes management capabilities.
3Reliability
If two independent systems are used for insulin delivery and glucose monitoring, then system independence and reliability are maintained, but the installation process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates two independent systems into a single delivery device while maintaining their functional independence. The fluid delivery penetration element and sensor penetration element remain separate components with distinct functions, but they are both coupled to the same housing and inserted simultaneously. The catch mechanism allows the sensor device to be securely attached to the delivery device during insertion, reducing installation time while preserving system independence for reliable operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatuses for performing an insertion process for a plurality of penetrating elements are described. For example, a wearable fluid infusion device may include a cannula and/or needle for infusing a fluid into a patient and a sensor for sensing a physical characteristic of the patient. A non-limiting example of a fluid may be or may include insulin. An illustrative and non-restrictive example of a physical characteristic may include a blood glucose level. The wearable infusion device may be configured to facilitate insertion of the multiple penetrating elements, such as a cannula and a sensor, in a single simultaneous insertion step instead of requiring individual insertion steps for each of multiple penetrating elements. Other embodiments are described.