04.14.14
An artificial pancreas invented by a De Montfort University (DMU) professor in the United Kingdom could have its first human trials within two years.
Joan Taylor’s creation ensures patients no longer will have to endure daily injections of insulin. Instead, a device will be surgically implanted into the body and able to release a precise amount of insulin into the bloodstream. Supplies would be topped up every two weeks.
Human trials are due to begin in 2016 with the first implants taking place on the NHS within a decade - news which has been featured prominently in Britian's press.
Taylor, a professor of Pharmacy at DMU, said: “The device will not only remove the need to manually inject insulin, but will also ensure that perfect doses are administrated each and every time. By controlling blood glucose so effectively, we should be able to help reduce related health problems. We are extremely close to embarking on clinical trials. Diabetes is costing society more than £1million an hour in treatment, and much of that is spent on treating complications.”
The implant contains a reservoir of insulin kept in place by a special gel barrier. When glucose levels in the body rise, the gel liquefies and releases the insulin into the body, mimicking the normal pancreas. As the insulin lowers the glucose levels, the gel reacts by hardening again and preserving the reservoir, eliminating the need for diabetics to inject insulin up to four times a day.
The artificial pancreas will help all Type 1 insulin-dependent diabetics and some suffering Type 2 who need daily injections. Taylor has spent 20 years developing the device, which is the size of a wristwatch and is implanted in the abdomen. Her invention uses a chemical closed-loop system for regulating the delivery of insulin, an approach which requires no electronics, minimizing rejection of the implant.
Until now, the project has had funding of £1 million from the NHS, the Lachesis Fund – which invests in research in the university – the charity Edith Murphy Foundation and private backers. Taylor now is seeking a similar amount to refine the product.
“This device is cheap and simple to use,” added Taylor. “It has the potential to bring an end to the misery of daily injections for diabetics."
Joan Taylor’s creation ensures patients no longer will have to endure daily injections of insulin. Instead, a device will be surgically implanted into the body and able to release a precise amount of insulin into the bloodstream. Supplies would be topped up every two weeks.
Human trials are due to begin in 2016 with the first implants taking place on the NHS within a decade - news which has been featured prominently in Britian's press.
Taylor, a professor of Pharmacy at DMU, said: “The device will not only remove the need to manually inject insulin, but will also ensure that perfect doses are administrated each and every time. By controlling blood glucose so effectively, we should be able to help reduce related health problems. We are extremely close to embarking on clinical trials. Diabetes is costing society more than £1million an hour in treatment, and much of that is spent on treating complications.”
The implant contains a reservoir of insulin kept in place by a special gel barrier. When glucose levels in the body rise, the gel liquefies and releases the insulin into the body, mimicking the normal pancreas. As the insulin lowers the glucose levels, the gel reacts by hardening again and preserving the reservoir, eliminating the need for diabetics to inject insulin up to four times a day.
The artificial pancreas will help all Type 1 insulin-dependent diabetics and some suffering Type 2 who need daily injections. Taylor has spent 20 years developing the device, which is the size of a wristwatch and is implanted in the abdomen. Her invention uses a chemical closed-loop system for regulating the delivery of insulin, an approach which requires no electronics, minimizing rejection of the implant.
Until now, the project has had funding of £1 million from the NHS, the Lachesis Fund – which invests in research in the university – the charity Edith Murphy Foundation and private backers. Taylor now is seeking a similar amount to refine the product.
“This device is cheap and simple to use,” added Taylor. “It has the potential to bring an end to the misery of daily injections for diabetics."