Mechanical Insulin Infusion Assembly with Planar Base
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current insulin delivery systems for diabetes management are complex, costly, and require programming, making them inaccessible to many patients, and face challenges in insulin supply variability and cannula deployment convenience.
Innovation Solution
A simple, mechanically driven infusion assembly with a planar base and cylindrical docking structure for insulin delivery, featuring a cannula that can be easily deployed and locked with a source of liquid medicament, allowing for basal and bolus insulin delivery without electronic programming, and includes a primer to ensure efficient medicament flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electronic insulin infusion pumps are used to provide continuous insulin delivery, then glucose control is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic pumps with a mechanically driven system. The infusion pump uses a simple mechanical piston actuated by a push button or spring mechanism to deliver insulin through the cannula, eliminating electronics, batteries, and programming requirements while maintaining reliable insulin delivery for glucose control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs disposable cannulas and single-use insulin cartridges that are discarded after a limited period of use. This approach reduces the complexity and cost of the reusable pump components while ensuring reliable insulin delivery during the disposable component's service life
2Adaptability or versatility
If electronic insulin pumps with programming are used, then basal and bolus insulin delivery is achieved, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the insulin delivery system into separate functional components: a reusable mechanical pump body and disposable insulin cartridges that contain pre-measured insulin doses. The pump provides basal insulin continuously while bolus doses are administered by simply replacing cartridges or pressing buttons, eliminating complex programming while maintaining adaptability to different insulin needs
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical pump system is designed to be operated by the patient themselves without requiring technical expertise. Insulin cartridges are pre-filled and pre-programmed with dosage information, and the pump automatically delivers the correct amounts based on simple user inputs or pre-set mechanisms
3Reliability
If cannula deployment requires needle insertion and retraction, then insulin delivery beneath skin is achieved, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the needle and cannula into a single integrated deployment unit. The needle and cannula are pre-assembled in a protective hub that guides both components through the skin in one insertion motion, then automatically retracts the needle while leaving the cannula in place for insulin delivery, simplifying the deployment process while ensuring reliable subcutaneous placement
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 solution provides a convenient, reliable, and cost-effective insulin delivery system that is easy to use, adaptable to individual insulin needs, and simplifies cannula deployment, improving glucose control without the need for electronic programming or batteries.
Implementation Method 1
a substantially planar base having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being opposite the second surface and adapted to adhere to a patient's skin
Data Source
AI summary
An infusion assembly comprises a cannula subassembly and a source subassembly. The cannula subassembly includes a substantially planar base, a cannula projecting from the base so as to be beneath the patient's skin when the subassembly is deployed, and a generally cylindrical docking structure having a center axis substantially perpendicular to the base. A liquid medicament is dispensed from the cannula. The source subassembly is arranged to dock with the docking structure and includes a supply of liquid medicament that couples to the cannula upon the source subassembly docking with the cannula subassembly. The source subassembly also includes a primer that automatically primes the insulin fluid path to the cannula tip when the subassemblies are joined.