Novel Artificial Pancreas Successfully Controls Blood Sugar More Than 24 Hours

Steven Russel, MD, PhD and Edward Damiano, PhD co-led a research team at Boston University in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. They developed an artificial pancreas system, “combining a blood glucose monitor and insulin pump technology with software that directs administration of insulin and the blood-sugar-raising hormone glucagon”.

They performed their first clinical trial of this system in people with type 1diabetes at Massachusetts General Hospital, confirming it's use of both hormones, insulin and glucagon. Usually, in type 1 diabetes, the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas are destroyed by the patients immune system which then requires insulin treatments to regulate blood sugar levels. It is very demanding and difficult to keep up with the intensive glucose control (need frequent blood sugar testing and insulin administration). As was stated, “continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps can help, but patients remain at risk for hypoglycemia”.

This new pancreas system accounts for the rate of insulin absorption as well as incorporating glucagon (a hormone naturally released by the pancreas to raise blood sugar levels). Their current study is primarily testing the software that controls the system on 11 adults with type 1 diabetes. Their blood sugar was controlled by the system for 27 hours where they ate three normal meals and slept through the night at the hospital. Six participant's glucose levels were kept close to the target range, while the other five needed a dose of orange juice to raise their blood sugar. The researches have edited their software, slowing the insulin absorption rates, and retested the same participants. This time there was no need to intervene.

I found this article interesting because it reminded me of our device design project. Their envision for this pancreatic system is to be wearable and incorporate a glucose sensor under the skin which will communicate wirelessly with a pump that administers insulin and glucagon. This device seems much more realistic for today's world. People would not have to constantly check their blood sugar levels and make decisions on how to treat their condition every couple hours. Although this does not cure type 1 diabetes, it is a very innovative way to create a “functioning pancreas” as a therapy for it.

Link:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/04/100414152127.htm

EVA SZABUNIEWICZ

VTPP 435-501