The new British invention will transform the lives of millions who have to endure injections of insulin every day.
Health experts say that the artificial pancreas is as good as cure because it means patients will no longer have to manage the condition themselves .
The wrist -watch sized device is surgically implanted into the abdominal cavity and releases a precise amount of insulin into the blood -stream.Supplies are topped up via a short tube which passes through the skin.
For this , Human trial are set to start 2016 with the first implants taking place on the NHS within ten years.Inventor Joan Taylor ,professor of pharmacy at De Mont fort University ,Leicester , said,"It works like a healthy pancreas aid: “It works like a healthy pancreas should, regulating blood sugar by releasing just enough insulin into your bloodstream. You don’t need to fill it up every day, , so avoid painful daily injections.
We are extremely close to embarking on clinical trials. Could the procedure to fit it be available on the NHS? Definitely – hopefully within a decade. Diabetes is already an epidemic and it’s going to soon become a scourge on society.”
The implant contains a reservoir surrounded by a special gel which slowly releases the hormone insulin as blood sugar levels rise. As levels drop, the gel solidifies, ensuring the right amount of insulin is released.
Health experts say that the artificial pancreas is as good as cure because it means patients will no longer have to manage the condition themselves .
The wrist -watch sized device is surgically implanted into the abdominal cavity and releases a precise amount of insulin into the blood -stream.Supplies are topped up via a short tube which passes through the skin.
For this , Human trial are set to start 2016 with the first implants taking place on the NHS within ten years.Inventor Joan Taylor ,professor of pharmacy at De Mont fort University ,Leicester , said,"It works like a healthy pancreas aid: “It works like a healthy pancreas should, regulating blood sugar by releasing just enough insulin into your bloodstream. You don’t need to fill it up every day, , so avoid painful daily injections.
We are extremely close to embarking on clinical trials. Could the procedure to fit it be available on the NHS? Definitely – hopefully within a decade. Diabetes is already an epidemic and it’s going to soon become a scourge on society.”
The implant contains a reservoir surrounded by a special gel which slowly releases the hormone insulin as blood sugar levels rise. As levels drop, the gel solidifies, ensuring the right amount of insulin is released.
It would cost £5,000 for the device and surgery to fit it.
The artificial pancreas will help all Type 1 insulin-dependent diabetics and some suffering Type 2 who need daily injections.
The
prototype has taken 20 years and £1million to create with money from
the NHS, the Lachesis Fund, which invests in research at the university,
and the charitable Edith Murphy Foundation. The rest has come from
private backers.
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