World’s first artificial pancreas
Reporter: Irina Robu, PhD
Diabetes is a life-long condition where your body does not produce enough insulin (Type 1) or your body cannot use the insulin it has effectively. Since there is no cure for diabetes, the artificial pancreas system comes as a relief for patients that are suffering with this disease.
The artificial pancreas, MiniMed 670G hybrid closed loop system designed by Medtronic is the first FDA-approved device that measures glucose levels and delivers the appropriate dose of basal insulin. The system comprises Medtronic’s MiniMed 670G insulin pump that is strapped to the body, an infusion patch that delivers insulin via catheter from the pump and a sensor which measures glucose levels under the skin and can be worn for 7 days at a time. While the device regulates basal, or background, insulin, patients must still manually request bolus insulin at mealtimes.
The device is intended for people age 14 or older with Type 1 diabetes and is intended to regulate insulin levels with “little to no input” from the patient. The artificial pancreas measures blood sugar levels using a constant glucose monitor (CGM) and communicates the information to an insulin pump which calculates and releases the required amount of insulin into the body, just as the pancreas does in people without diabetes.
The 2016 FDA approval was done in just three months which is a record for any medical device. The agency evaluated data from a clinical trial in which 123 patients with Type 1 diabetes used the system’s hybrid closed-loop feature as repeatedly during a three-month period. The trial presented the device to be safe for use in those 14 and older, showing no serious adverse events. The system is on sale since spring 2017.
While further clinical research is needed to ensure that the strength of the device in different settings is consistent, several researchers support the view that “artificial pancreas systems are a safe and effective treatment approach for people with type 1 diabetes. Medtronic counts this device as a step toward a fully automated, closed-loop system.
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