Method, system and computer program product for real-time detection of sensitivity decline in analyte sensors

An apparatus, comprising:

• a data storage unit;
• and
• a processing unit operatively coupled to the data storage unit configured to receive a first plurality of glucose sensor related signals within a first predetermined time period after insertion of the glucose sensor into a user, wherein the first predetermined time period occurs within the first 24 hours of insertion, determine a sensitivity of the glucose sensor based on the first plurality of glucose sensor related signals and a blood glucose measurement, determine a probability of early signal attenuation associated with the first plurality of glucose sensor related signals, determine a sensitivity ratio based on the determined sensitivity of the glucose sensor divided by a nominal sensitivity, the nominal sensitivity determined at the time the glucose sensor is manufactured, receive a second plurality of glucose sensor related signals during a second predetermined time period when the determined probability does not exceed a first predetermined threshold level, wherein the second predetermined time period is offset from the first predetermined time period by a predetermined offset time, verify the presence of early signal attenuation when the determined probability exceeds the first predetermined threshold level and the determined sensitivity ratio is less than a second predetermined threshold level, and generate a first output signal associated with the verification of the presence of early signal attenuation.

A system for detecting early signal attenuation in a glucose sensor, comprising:

• a glucose sensor for transcutaneous positioning through a skin layer of a user;
• and
• a data processing device operatively coupled to the glucose sensor, the data processing device configured to receive a first plurality of glucose sensor related signals within a first predetermined time period after insertion of the glucose sensor into the user, wherein the first predetermined time period occurs within the first 24 hours of insertion, determine a sensitivity of the glucose sensor based on the first plurality of glucose sensor related signals and a blood glucose measurement, determine a probability of the early signal attenuation associated with the first plurality of glucose sensor related signals, determine a sensitivity ratio based on the determined sensitivity of the glucose sensor divided by a nominal sensitivity, the nominal sensitivity determined at the time the glucose sensor is manufactured, receive a second plurality of glucose sensor related signals during a second predetermined time period when the determined probability does not exceed a first predetermined threshold level, wherein the second predetermined time period is offset from the first predetermined time period by a predetermined offset time, verify the presence of early signal attenuation when the determined probability exceeds the first predetermined threshold level and the determined sensitivity ratio is less than a second predetermined threshold level, and generate a first output signal associated with the verification of the presence of early signal attenuation.