FDA Approves Wearable "Artificial Pancreas" 119
kkleiner writes "The FDA has approved a device that acts as an "artificial pancreas", which both continuously monitors a patient's glucose levels and injects appropriate amounts of insulin when needed. When blood-sugar levels become low, the device from Medtronics warns the wearer and will eventually shut down. The MiniMed 530G looks to offer an on-the-go solution for the growing number of people suffering from Type 1 diabetes who have to test their blood and inject insulin throughout the day. The company plans to improve the device to make a fully automated version down the road."
Re: What? (Score:3, Informative)
Not as 'artificial pancreas' as it seems (Score:5, Informative)
Currently, I'm using a Dexcom [dexcom.com]continuous glucose monitor, and an Omnipod [myomnipod.com]insulin pump. The advantage of being able to automatically turn down one's basal rate is an advantage, yes. I do this manually for myself, based on my Dexcom readings. But it isn't all that your pancreas does. If your blood sugar is diving too quickly, you have to supplement with sugar orally to make up for the fact that your pancreas isn't secreting hormones to make your liver release stored glycogen, or you may go too low and pass out. Often if I engage in unexpected exercise (moving boxes, changing a tire, spontaneous run) shortly after bolusing for a meal, my sugar will crash because my body becomes more responsive to the insulin I've taken, and once I've taken it, I can't un-take it. Kills spontaneity.
Your pancreas also supplies you with insulin automatically based upon your blood sugar fluctuations... this product doesn't. You have to manually calculate your mealtime boluses and make the pump give it too you.
This bionic pancreas [myglu.org]is the technology I'm excited about, and can't wait for it to come to market. It automatically calculates and releases both insulin AND glucagon in measured amounts to keep your blood sugar levels as close to normal as I've ever seen.
Re:Insulin levels flucuate, just like blood pressu (Score:5, Informative)
His also has a blood meter which starts beeping if his insulin level falls below a certain level. What his pump doesn't do is automatically change the amount of insulin delivered on the fly. Any change in insulin delivery has to be programmed. If he eats an apple, he has to press buttons to dose himself. If his body chemistry changes and that basal rate needs to be adjusted, it has to be programmed. My understanding from him is that the blood glucose measurement isn't especially accurate, though I can't remember why.
This is just the next generation of those same components. The generation after this, expect to see a unit that does a lot more dosing automatically. I think the technology is there, we just need to clear the regulatory hurdles.
Re:Insulin levels flucuate, just like blood pressu (Score:5, Informative)
Typically insulin pumps deliver insulin in two modes: Basal and Bolus. While a bolus is a large injection provided as quickly as reasonable, the Basal is a rate of delivery which can be instructed to vary over the course of the day. I would imagine that the device described in the article likely organizes injection in this fashion, with the added feature that if your blood glucose spikes, it will react to that automatically.
I had an insulin pump for a number of years (from the same manufacturer that made the device in this article, in fact), so I am familiar with the usage. I, personally, had problems using it (I sweat too much for the catheter to stay in reliably), but I think that they're a great technology for those who can use them. This growing automation is certainly a good thing.
Re:Insta-death (Score:5, Informative)
Funny, you don't see many dead diabetics in the waiting area, do you? You'd think with all of the media coverage given to people who just get stared at wrong by the TSA we would see a couple more of these sorts of disasters on CNN.
I'm not any friend of Medtronic - they seem to do a barely adequate job on a day to day basis. But give the engineers a bit of credit - they don't just stick these things on a bunch of rabbits and then go out to the bar (the engineers, not the rabbits). The certification process actually does include running the devices by airport scanners these days. Who would have guessed?
Re:Insta-death (Score:3, Informative)
Funny, you don't see many dead diabetics in the waiting area, do you?
You don't see many terrorists either, but few people would suggest they aren't out there simply because they aren't wearing their "I'm With the Taliban" t-shirts while going through customs.
You'd think with all of the media coverage given to people who just get stared at wrong by the TSA we would see a couple more of these sorts of disasters on CNN.
You'd think, from watching CNN, that only pretty, underage, white girls get kidnapped too. Unfortunately for minorities, boys, and ugly people, they get kidnapped too.
But give the engineers a bit of credit - they don't just stick these things on a bunch of rabbits and then go out to the bar (the engineers, not the rabbits).
Well, actually that's exactly what they do... prior to human testing, they test on animals. And it wouldn't be rabbits, it'd be pigs, who possess a more similar liver to our own than a rabbit does.
The certification process actually does include running the devices by airport scanners these days. Who would have guessed?
Well, you would have, for one. Perhaps a citation would help in establishing your credibility regarding this claim? Let me show you how: If you google "diabetic airport scanner", and click on the first link [loop-blog.com], and they said this: "Medtronic has conducted official testing on the effects of the new full body scanners at airports with Medtronic medical devices and have found that some scanners may include x-ray. If you choose to go through an airport body scanner, you must remove your insulin pump and CGM (sensor and transmitter). Do not send your devices through the x-ray machine as an alternative. To avoid removing your devices, you may request an alternative screening process."
This would seem to suggest that the certification process does indeed now include airport scanners... principally in the "don't do this" column of the report.