Structured Collection Procedure for Contextual Biomarker Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current chronic disease management systems lack structured procedures for biomarker collection, leading to uninterpreted data due to unstructured glucose level measurements, patient burden, and limited guidance from existing devices, which discourages patients from seeking further therapy optimization.

Innovation Solution

A portable, hand-held device that implements a structured collection procedure, including contextualized biomarker data collection and adherence criteria, to optimize therapy management for chronic diseases like diabetes, by generating and executing collection procedures on a blood glucose meter, ensuring data is collected under prescribed conditions and interpreted effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If unstructured glucose level measurements are collected, then data collection is simple and quick, but the data lacks interpretative context and reduces clinical value

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of data collectionVSAvoidloss of contextual information
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The collection procedure is segmented into discrete steps with specific contextual requirements (fasting state, meal timing, exercise conditions). Each glucose measurement is associated with structured contextual data segments that categorize the measurement conditions, enabling systematic organization and interpretation of otherwise simple patient self-measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary assessment of entry criteria before allowing data collection to begin. It evaluates whether the patient meets predefined contextual requirements (fasting duration, recent meal timing, exercise status) before accepting glucose measurements, ensuring that only contextually valid data is collected while maintaining ease of use through automated validation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple collection procedures are requested by different clinicians, then comprehensive diagnostic coverage is achieved, but patient burden increases and compliance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomprehensive diagnostic coverageVSAvoidpatient compliance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple collection procedures from different clinicians are merged into a single unified procedure when they share common contextual requirements. The system intelligently combines diagnostic goals and consolidates overlapping measurement requirements, allowing patients to fulfill multiple clinician requests through one integrated data collection effort rather than separate procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The collection procedure is designed with universal applicability to serve multiple diagnostic purposes simultaneously. A single procedure structure can accommodate various clinical questions (diagnosis, therapy optimization, disease progression monitoring) by configuring different entry and exit criteria, making the system versatile enough to handle diverse clinician requirements without increasing patient burden.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If manual programming of collection schedules is required, then device functionality is simple, but guidance is limited and patient motivation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice simplicityVSAvoidpatient motivation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The device provides continuous feedback to patients during the collection process, displaying real-time status of entry criteria fulfillment, collection progress, and adherence to procedural requirements. This automated feedback mechanism guides patients through the procedure, motivates compliance by showing progress toward diagnostic goals, and eliminates the need for complex manual programming while maintaining device accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-assessment of entry criteria and automated scheduling of collection events without requiring manual patient programming. The device autonomously evaluates whether contextual conditions are met, determines appropriate measurement timing, and guides the patient through the procedure, reducing device complexity while enhancing patient motivation through intelligent automation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Productivity

If collection procedures are performed without proper evaluation of suitability, then clinical requests can be quickly fulfilled, but data quality and interpretability suffer

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeed of procedure initiationVSAvoiddata quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary evaluation of entry criteria before initiating data collection, automatically assessing whether the patient's current physiological state and contextual conditions are suitable for the requested procedure. This preliminary check ensures data quality by preventing collection under inappropriate conditions while maintaining productivity through automated assessment that occurs rapidly without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Manual clinical evaluation of collection suitability is replaced by automated computational assessment of entry criteria. The device uses predefined algorithms to evaluate contextual conditions (fasting status, recent meals, exercise, medication timing) and determine procedural appropriateness, substituting manual judgment with consistent, objective automated decision-making that maintains both speed and data quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP2382569B1Management method and system for implementation, execution, data collection, and data analysis of a structured collection procedure which runs on a collection device
Publication Date: 2024.07.03 F HOFFMANN LA ROCHE & CO AG
  • EP2382569B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2382569B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2382569B1 patent drawingFigure 2A

AI summary

Embodiments related to a system (41) and method (200, 300, 388, 400) managing the implementation, execution, data collection, and data analysis of a structured collection procedure (70) running on a portable, hand-held collection device (24) are disclosed. The collection device (24) performing the structured collection procedure (70) has program (34) instructions that when executed by a processor (102) causes the processor (102) to initiate automatically a schedule of events (222) of the structured collection procedure (70) upon one or more entry criterions (226) being met at some unknown time, store in memory (110) patient data (256, 170, 145) collected in accordance to the schedule of events (222), end automatically the structured collection procedure (70) upon one or more exit criterions (228) being met at some unknown time, and mark/indicate the structured collection procedure (70) as completed if no exception occurred during performance of an event (237) in the schedule of events (222).