Session: 15-01-01: ASME International Undergraduate Research and Design Exposition

Paper Number: 146020

146020 - A Novel Magnetorheological Insulin Delivery System for Type 1 Diabetes Patients 

Automated Insulin Delivery (AID) systems, also known as Hybrid Closed Loop (HCL) systems or Artificial pancreas (AP) systems are used to monitor and control blood glucose levels, which would otherwise cause serious health problems for diabetic patients, including damages to the heart, kidneys, eyes, and nerves. According to Type 1 Diabetics Index – a recent first-of-its-kind data management tool that measures the impact of T1D across the globe – there are about 8.7 million people living with T1D around the world, and not only having access to but also use of AP systems could save 673,000 more people by 2040. However, despite the demonstrated clinical benefits, T1D patients avoid taking advantage of such AP systems because of the burden of wearing an on- body insulin pump. Also, in most cases, the patients need to use/wear two different devices separately, i.e., (i) continuous glucose monitoring system and (ii) insulin pumps, which only contributes to the physical and psychological burdens on the patients. Thus, there is a pressing need for insulin delivery systems with reduced “form-factors” and other “user-centric” features to increase a greater adoption of such devices in the T1D community. As a potential solution, we propose a magnetorheological peristaltic micropump to offer a compact, lightweight, portable, wirelessly controllable, durable, and low-power insulin delivery system. This study introduces an electromagnetic actuation mechanism for a micro-fluidic pump with a flap valve. A Multiphysics-based simulation approach is carried out to evaluate the proposed idea. For this, complex magneto-solid-fluid interactions are performed using a three-dimensional time-dependent computational model by COMSOL. Through the simulation, the velocity field in the pump channel as well as the deformation of the pump chamber's upper wall were evaluated. A replication of an existing literature study is also conducted to validate the simulation approach. Following verification, comprehensive simulations are conducted for the proposed concept, and the pump's performance characteristics are presented and discussed. The computational findings indicate that the pump can transfer up to 1.99 μL of fluid in a single pumping cycle, achieving this flow rate within 0.41 seconds. Furthermore, a comparative study has been carried out between the model with an added flap valve and the model without a valve has been conducted to assess the reduction in backflow. This wearable patch-integrated system has a flow chamber, sensors, drug reservoir, and electromagnets. Beyond insulin delivery for diabetic patients, the concept can be used to improve micro-cooling devices, move blood in artificial organs, and use organ-on-chip assemblies. This user-centric, small, and effective insulin delivery technology could be a possible solution for addressing the reluctance of T1D patients to adopt AP systems.

This research has been funded by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Presenting Author: Madison Procyk Georgia Southern University

Presenting Author Biography: Ms. Madison Procyk is senior and an Undergraduate Research Assistant in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Southern University. Madison has been researching innovative insulin delivery systems for more than a year under the supervision of Dr. Sevki Cesmeci at the Thermo Fluidic System Laboratory. She plans to continue his research in her graduate studies at Georgia Southern University starting from Spring 2025.

Authors:

Madison Procyk Georgia Southern University
Sevki Cesmeci Georgia Southern University