Wearable Insulin Pump Control via Smartwatch Offloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medication delivery systems, such as artificial pancreas systems, lack wireless communication capabilities, require significant computing resources, and do not support fully autonomous operation or enhanced user experiences with ubiquitous electronic devices, compromising security and user experience.
Innovation Solution
A wearable medication delivery system that includes a medical device with wireless communication capabilities, a sensor, and an electronic device (like a smart watch) executing an artificial pancreas algorithm to determine and deliver medication doses autonomously, with optional user confirmation for security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If conventional medication delivery systems use sophisticated control algorithms for autonomous operation, then medication delivery accuracy is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides functionality between a wearable medication delivery device and a separate smartphone application. The complex control algorithms, user interface, and data processing are segmented into the smartphone app, while the wearable device focuses on medication delivery and basic sensing. This segmentation reduces the computing and power requirements of the wearable device while maintaining autonomous operation capabilities.
2Measurement precision
If conventional medication delivery systems implement sophisticated control algorithms, then medication delivery precision is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the computationally intensive control algorithms and data processing functions from the wearable medication delivery device and places them in the smartphone application. The wearable device performs only essential functions like glucose sensing and insulin delivery, significantly reducing its power consumption while maintaining dosing accuracy through the smartphone's processing capabilities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional medication delivery systems lack wireless communication capabilities, then device simplicity is maintained, but user experience and system adaptability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system leverages the smartphone as a multi-functional component that serves as both a communication hub and a processing unit. The wearable device communicates wirelessly with the smartphone, which handles algorithm execution, data storage, and user interface functions. This universal use of the smartphone reduces the complexity burden on the wearable device while enabling advanced features like remote monitoring and adjustable dosing parameters.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for automatically delivering medication to a user. An automated drug delivery system may include a sensor and a wearable automated drug delivery device. The wearable automated drug delivery device may be configured to couple to the skin of a user and may include a controller and a pump. The pump may be configured to output the medication. The controller may be within the wearable automated drug delivery device. The sensor may be coupled to the user and may be configured to collect information regarding the user. The controller of the wearable automated drug delivery device may use the collected information to locally determine an amount of medication to be output from the wearable automated drug delivery device and cause delivery of the amount of medication.