How a Computer System Automatically Adjusts Blood Sugar in Real-Time
This patent describes a computerized system that continuously monitors a patient's blood glucose and automatically adjusts insulin and dextrose delivery to keep blood sugar levels stable, especially for critically ill patients.
Original patent title: “Computerized system for blood chemistry monitoring”
This patent describes a computerized system that continuously monitors a patient's blood glucose and automatically adjusts insulin and dextrose delivery to keep blood sugar levels stable, especially for critically ill patients. Granted to Ideal Medical Technologies in 2015 with 28 claims and 8 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2030.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The system works by using a glucose sensor to measure a patient's blood sugar level in real-time (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). This information goes to a computer processor, which calculates a running average of the glucose level (Xa) and tracks how fast it's changing by comparing it to a previous average (Xb). A "glucose control module" within the processor then uses this data, along with previous insulin and dextrose flow rates, to categorize the patient's current glucose situation. Based on this category, the system sends signals to a pump to precisely adjust the flow of insulin and dextrose into the patient's bloodstream, aiming to bring their glucose level back to a normal range (Claim 1). For example, if a patient's glucose is rising rapidly, the system might increase insulin delivery and decrease dextrose.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover systems that only monitor blood glucose without automatically adjusting medication delivery.
- Does not cover systems that adjust blood chemistry other than glucose and osmolality, or use medications other than insulin, dextrose, and hypertonic saline.
- Does not cover systems that rely solely on a single glucose reading without calculating a running average (Xa) and its rate of change (Xa vs Xb).
- Does not cover systems that do not categorize the patient's glucose status based on the specific factors listed in ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1 (difference from normal range, rate of change, previous insulin/dextrose rates).
- Does not cover manual adjustment of medication by medical personnel based on sensor readings.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in the system's ability to not just measure current glucose, but to continuously calculate a running average and, crucially, track the rate of change of that average. It then uses this dynamic information, along with previous medication rates, to assign the patient's status to specific categories, allowing for a highly nuanced and iterative adjustment of insulin and dextrose delivery.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Automated insulin delivery systems (artificial pancreas systems)
Hospital-based glucose management systems
Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) integrated with insulin pumps
Closed-loop control systems in critical care units
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Maintaining stable blood glucose levels is critical for patients in intensive care, during surgery, or after trauma, as uncontrolled levels can lead to severe complications. This patent addresses the challenge of providing precise, continuous glucose management, potentially improving patient outcomes by reducing the burden on medical staff and reacting faster than manual adjustments. Automated systems like this are foundational for modern critical care.
Filed
February 26, 2010
Granted
February 17, 2015
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies like Medtronic, Tandem Diabetes Care, and Dexcom are leaders in developing and commercializing continuous glucose monitoring and automated insulin delivery systems. Hospitals and medical device manufacturers also develop similar closed-loop systems for critical care settings to manage blood glucose in acutely ill patients.
Market impact
This type of automated system has significantly influenced the development of "artificial pancreas" technologies for diabetes management, shifting from manual injections to continuous, smart delivery. In critical care, it has enabled more precise and responsive glucose control, potentially reducing complications and improving patient outcomes in intensive care units and during complex surgeries. It supports a move towards more autonomous medical interventions.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The system works by using a glucose sensor to measure a patient's blood sugar level in real-time (Claim 1). This information goes to a computer processor, which calculates a running average of the glucose level (Xa) and tracks how fast it's changing by comparing it to a previous average (Xb). A "glucose control module" within the processor then uses this data, along with previous insulin and dextrose flow rates, to categorize the patient's current glucose situation. Based on this category, the system sends signals to a pump to precisely adjust the flow of insulin and dextrose into the patient's bloodstream, aiming to bring their glucose level back to a normal range (Claim 1). For example, if a patient's glucose is rising rapidly, the system might increase insulin delivery and decrease dextrose.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in the system's ability to not just measure current glucose, but to continuously calculate a running average and, crucially, track the rate of change of that average. It then uses this dynamic information, along with previous medication rates, to assign the patient's status to specific categories, allowing for a highly nuanced and iterative adjustment of insulin and dextrose delivery.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover systems that only monitor blood glucose without automatically adjusting medication delivery.
- Does not cover systems that adjust blood chemistry other than glucose and osmolality, or use medications other than insulin, dextrose, and hypertonic saline.
- Does not cover systems that rely solely on a single glucose reading without calculating a running average (Xa) and its rate of change (Xa vs Xb).
- Does not cover systems that do not categorize the patient's glucose status based on the specific factors listed in Claim 1 (difference from normal range, rate of change, previous insulin/dextrose rates).
- Does not cover manual adjustment of medication by medical personnel based on sensor readings.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
19/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
19/20
Very broad protection
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$120K – $384K
Midpoint $240K · 3.6 yr remaining · industry ×2.2
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
28 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
DeJournett, L. (2015). How a Computer System Automatically Adjusts Blood Sugar in Real-Time (U.S. Patent No. 8,956,321). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8956321/computerized-system-for-blood-chemistry-monitoring
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How a Computer System Automatically Adjusts Blood Sugar in Real-Time cover?
This patent describes a computerized system that continuously monitors a patient's blood glucose and automatically adjusts insulin and dextrose delivery to keep blood sugar levels stable, especially for critically ill patients.
Who owns patent US 8956321?
Ideal Medical Technologies owns this patent, granted in 2015.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on February 26, 2030, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 8956321 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 8 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Maintaining stable blood glucose levels is critical for patients in intensive care, during surgery, or after trauma, as uncontrolled levels can lead to severe complications. This patent addresses the challenge of providing precise, continuous glucose management, potentially improving patient outcomes by reducing the burden on medical staff and reacting faster than manual adjustments. Automated systems like this are foundational for modern critical care.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover systems that only monitor blood glucose without automatically adjusting medication delivery.
Patent monitoring