Wearable Basal Pod for Autonomous Insulin Delivery

Solution Overview

Problem

Individuals with conditions like Type 2 diabetes often struggle to adhere to basal insulin regimens due to the need for daily self-administration of injections, which can be inconvenient and intimidating.

Innovation Solution

A wearable drug delivery device, referred to as a 'basal pod', designed to autonomously deliver basal-only doses of liquid drugs, such as insulin, continuously over several days with minimal patient interaction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a wearable drug delivery device is designed to deliver bolus doses requiring patient interaction, then the device can provide flexible dosing control, but patient adherence decreases due to frequent interaction requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The device is designed to autonomously deliver basal doses without requiring patient interaction for each dose. The pump system automatically administers predetermined basal dosing schedules, eliminating the need for patients to manually initiate each dose while maintaining adherence to the therapeutic regimen

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The device separates basal dosing functionality from bolus dosing functionality. The basal pod delivers continuous basal doses autonomously, while bolus dosing requires a separate device or manual initiation, allowing the basal component to operate independently with high automation and patient adherence

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If daily self-administration of injections is required, then precise dosing control is achieved, but patient anxiety and inconvenience increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device replaces manual injection mechanics with an automated pump system that uses a needle-free or minimally invasive delivery mechanism. The pump delivers precise micro-doses automatically, eliminating the need for patients to perform manual injections while maintaining dosing precision through electronic control and feedback mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If a wearable device delivers continuous basal doses autonomously, then patient adherence improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The basal pod is designed as a universal platform that can be integrated with different pump mechanisms and drug reservoirs. The same basic architecture supports various drug types and dosing schedules, reducing overall system complexity through standardized components while maintaining high delivery efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The device employs a modular nested structure where the pump mechanism is integrated within the basal pod housing, which contains the drug reservoir. This nested arrangement consolidates multiple functions into a single wearable unit, improving delivery efficiency while managing complexity through hierarchical integration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS20250065039A1Wearable micro-dosing drug delivery device

Publication Date: 2025.02.27

AI summary

The disclosed embodiments are directed to a wearable automatic drug delivery device configured to provide basal-only dosing of insulin. In a primary embodiment, the wearable drug delivery device is configured to provide automatic operation and provides audible alerts and visual status indicators to the patient. In other embodiments, the patient may have some degree of control over the operation of the device by providing tapping gestures on housing of the device. In yet another embodiment, the patient may provide input and receive status from the device via an application executing on a portable computing device in wireless communication with the wearable drug delivery device.