Dynamic Mesh Network for Medicine Administration

Solution Overview

Problem

Current medicine administration systems for conditions like diabetes face challenges in accurately tracking and preventing over-delivery or under-delivery of medication due to interruptions or inefficiencies in communication between devices, particularly when using multiple devices interchangeably.

Innovation Solution

A processor-implemented method and system that utilizes a dynamic mesh network to ensure seamless communication between medicine administration devices, allowing for multiple communication paths and dynamic adjustment of these paths to prevent overdosing or underdosing by prioritizing and coordinating the delivery of medication between devices such as insulin infusion and injection devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single medicine administration device is used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability of medicine delivery is compromised when communication interruptions occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of medicine deliveryVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple medicine administration devices into a unified mesh network system, where devices collaborate to ensure reliable medicine delivery. The system merges the functionalities of multiple devices while maintaining individual device simplicity, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic path selection and device prioritization in the mesh network. When communication interruptions occur, the system dynamically adjusts communication paths and device roles, allowing the primary device to be temporarily replaced by a secondary device, thereby maintaining reliable medicine delivery without requiring complex static architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple medicine administration devices are used interchangeably, then adaptability is improved, but communication reliability deteriorates due to path interruptions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability of device usageVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic path selection and device prioritization in the mesh network. When communication interruptions occur, the system dynamically adjusts communication paths and device roles, allowing the primary device to be temporarily replaced by a secondary device, thereby maintaining reliable medicine delivery without requiring complex static architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a mesh network communication protocol as an intermediary layer that manages communication between medicine administration devices. This intermediary handles path selection, device prioritization, and failover logic, enabling adaptable device usage while maintaining communication reliability through structured coordination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If communication paths are fixed, then system complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases when devices are added or removed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproductivity of medicine deliveryVSAvoidcommunication network complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic path selection and device prioritization in the mesh network. When communication interruptions occur, the system dynamically adjusts communication paths and device roles, allowing the primary device to be temporarily replaced by a secondary device, thereby maintaining reliable medicine delivery without requiring complex static architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables the mesh network to automatically reconfigure itself when devices are added or removed. The system performs self-service through automatic path discovery, device registration, and communication route optimization, maintaining high productivity without requiring manual intervention or complex centralized management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11792714B2Medicine administration in dynamic networks

Publication Date: 2023.10.17 MEDTRONIC MINIMED INC

AI summary

Disclosed herein are techniques related to medicine administration in dynamic networks. The techniques may involve identifying an amount of medicine for delivery to a patient and determining a communication path toward a first medicine administration device of a plurality of medicine administration devices in a mesh network. The plurality of medicine administration devices may further include a second medicine administration device that is prioritized over the first medicine administration device for delivering medicine to the patient. The techniques may further involve causing delivery of the amount of medicine to the patient by the first medicine administration device based on communicating the amount of medicine toward the first medicine administration device via the communication path when the amount of medicine remains undelivered by the second medicine administration device.