How Glucose Sensors Check Their Own Reliability for Insulin Pumps
This patent describes a system that automatically checks how trustworthy a continuous glucose sensor's readings are and then adjusts how an insulin pump delivers medicine based on that trust level.
Original patent title: “Systems and methods for replacing signal artifacts in a glucose sensor data stream”
This patent describes a system that automatically checks how trustworthy a continuous glucose sensor's readings are and then adjusts how an insulin pump delivers medicine based on that trust level. Granted to Dexcom in 2016 with 25 claims and 10 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2030.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent details a system (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 14) and method (Claim 1) for a continuous glucose sensor (CGS) to assess its own data quality. An "electronics unit" receives glucose data from the CGS. A "signal reliability module" on a processor then determines a "level of reliability" for that data. This reliability level is chosen from at least three pre-set options, stored in memory (Claim 1). For example, if the sensor detects "transient non-glucose related signal artifacts" (Claim 8) or a "drift in sensitivity" (Claim 3), it might lower its reliability score. Crucially, this reliability score is then used to "control the administration of a medicament" (Claim 1), such as adjusting insulin delivery from an insulin pump. The system can also prompt a user for a reference glucose value if reliability is low (Claim 13).
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover systems that only detect noise without using a "level of reliability" selected from "three or more predetermined reliability levels" (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Does not cover systems where the reliability assessment does not directly "control the administration of a medicament" (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Does not cover systems that only filter noise from glucose data without using the reliability level to influence medicament delivery.
- Does not cover systems where the reliability is determined by only one or two levels, as "three or more predetermined reliability levels" are specified (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
- Does not cover systems that only display reliability to a user without also controlling medicament administration.
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 not just detecting signal issues, but in assigning a specific, multi-level "reliability score" to the sensor data and then directly using that score to control medicament administration. This moves beyond simple error flags to a more nuanced, automated decision-making process for drug 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
Dexcom G6/G7 continuous glucose monitoring systems
Medtronic MiniMed 780G insulin pump system
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent is significant for the development of "closed-loop" or artificial pancreas systems for diabetes management. By enabling a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to assess its own data quality and automatically adjust insulin delivery, it helps make these systems safer and more effective. It addresses the critical challenge of ensuring reliable sensor data for automated drug delivery.
Filed
March 25, 2010
Granted
March 15, 2016
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Dexcom, the original assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is a leading company in continuous glucose monitoring. Other major players in diabetes management, such as Medtronic, Abbott, and Tandem Diabetes Care, are also developing and refining automated insulin delivery systems that rely on accurate and reliable CGM data. Many startups are also working on advanced algorithms for these systems.
Market impact
This patent contributed to the advancement of automated insulin delivery systems, moving them closer to a "closed-loop" artificial pancreas. By providing a mechanism for sensors to self-assess reliability and directly influence drug delivery, it helped build trust in these systems, enabling safer and more effective treatment options for people with diabetes. It likely influenced the design of subsequent generations of integrated CGM-pump systems.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent details a system (Claim 14) and method (Claim 1) for a continuous glucose sensor (CGS) to assess its own data quality. An "electronics unit" receives glucose data from the CGS. A "signal reliability module" on a processor then determines a "level of reliability" for that data. This reliability level is chosen from at least three pre-set options, stored in memory (Claim 1). For example, if the sensor detects "transient non-glucose related signal artifacts" (Claim 8) or a "drift in sensitivity" (Claim 3), it might lower its reliability score. Crucially, this reliability score is then used to "control the administration of a medicament" (Claim 1), such as adjusting insulin delivery from an insulin pump. The system can also prompt a user for a reference glucose value if reliability is low (Claim 13).
The clever bit
The novelty lies in not just detecting signal issues, but in assigning a specific, multi-level "reliability score" to the sensor data and then directly using that score to control medicament administration. This moves beyond simple error flags to a more nuanced, automated decision-making process for drug delivery.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover systems that only detect noise without using a "level of reliability" selected from "three or more predetermined reliability levels" (Claim 1).
- Does not cover systems where the reliability assessment does not directly "control the administration of a medicament" (Claim 1).
- Does not cover systems that only filter noise from glucose data without using the reliability level to influence medicament delivery.
- Does not cover systems where the reliability is determined by only one or two levels, as "three or more predetermined reliability levels" are specified (Claim 1).
- Does not cover systems that only display reliability to a user without also controlling medicament administration.
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
21/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
17/20
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 · 3.5 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
25 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Mahlingam, A., Kamath, A. U., & Brauker, J. H. (2016). How Glucose Sensors Check Their Own Reliability for Insulin Pumps (U.S. Patent No. 9,282,925). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9282925/systems-and-methods-for-replacing-signal-artifacts-in-a-glucose-sensor-data-stre
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 Glucose Sensors Check Their Own Reliability for Insulin Pumps cover?
This patent describes a system that automatically checks how trustworthy a continuous glucose sensor's readings are and then adjusts how an insulin pump delivers medicine based on that trust level.
Who owns patent US 9282925?
Dexcom owns this patent, granted in 2016.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on March 25, 2030, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 9282925 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 10 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent is significant for the development of "closed-loop" or artificial pancreas systems for diabetes management. By enabling a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to assess its own data quality and automatically adjust insulin delivery, it helps make these systems safer and more effective. It addresses the critical challenge of ensuring reliable sensor data for automated drug delivery.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover systems that only detect noise without using a "level of reliability" selected from "three or more predetermined reliability levels" (Claim 1).
Same assignee
More from Dexcom
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