Resettable Lockout Mechanism for Wearable Infusion Pumps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing insulin infusion devices are cumbersome, expensive, and require significant training, posing safety risks due to potential improper use and being socially awkward, while also being inconvenient for daily activities.
Innovation Solution
A wearable infusion device with a resettable lock-out mechanism that disables actuation when the reservoir is empty, allowing for easy reset through a fill port, ensuring safe and convenient insulin delivery with a single needle stick and discreet design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a non-resettable lock-out mechanism is used to prevent device use after reservoir depletion, then patient safety is improved by preventing accidental injection, but the device becomes unusable if the lock-out triggers prematurely before proper deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The lock-out mechanism transitions from a static, permanent disable state to a dynamic, conditional state. The resettable lock-out allows the device to switch between locked and unlocked states based on operational conditions, enabling recovery from premature triggering while maintaining safety during actual use.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock-out mechanism changes its operational parameter from fixed to variable. By introducing a reset function that can be activated under specific conditions (such as reservoir replacement or proper deployment sequences), the system adapts its state based on the operational context, resolving the contradiction between safety and usability.
2Ease of operation
If traditional insulin pumps are used to reduce needle sticks, then convenience is improved, but the devices become expensive, complex, and require significant training
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a disposable infusion device that combines the convenience of automated insulin delivery with simplicity. The single-use design eliminates the need for complex programming and training required by reusable pumps, while maintaining ease of use through an intuitive mechanical actuation system that requires minimal user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential function of insulin delivery from the complex pump system, isolating the core mechanism into a simple, disposable device. By removing unnecessary complexity and focusing only on the fundamental delivery function, the device achieves convenience without requiring extensive training or sophisticated controls.
3Ease of manufacture
If a disposable infusion device is designed for single use, then cost-effectiveness is improved, but the device cannot be reused after reservoir depletion
Solution Approach 1:
The lock-out mechanism introduces dynamic reusability to an otherwise single-use device. By allowing the device to be reset and reused under specific conditions (such as reservoir replacement), the system extends its operational lifespan while maintaining the cost-effectiveness of the disposable design philosophy.
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable infusion device comprises a reservoir that holds a liquid medicament, an outlet that delivers the liquid medicament to a patient, and a pump that displaces a volume of the liquid medicament to the outlet when actuated. The device further includes a lock-out that disables actuation of the device responsive to a predetermined condition of the device. The lock-out is resettable.