Artificial Pancreas: Overview

Pathology Diabetes mellitus (DM) is considered a very common ailment associated with a violation of the endocrine system. The disease not only leads to changes in carbohydrate metabolism, but also fraught with serious complications. Also, diabetes is one of the factors that provoke the development of chronic cardiac pathologies. As you know, CHF is a rather dangerous disease. Often it is heart failure that leads to disability and a decrease in the quality of life.

Diabetes mellitus develops as a result of insufficient endocrine parts of the pancreas or a decrease in tissue resistance. As a result, insulin ceases to be produced and enters the bloodstream. This hormone is needed for the exchange of carbohydrates, in particular glucose, to occur.

The greatest danger to health is the 1 st type of diabetes mellitus, characterized by a violation of insulin production. Most often, it manifests itself at an early age (adolescence), so it quickly leads to damage to nerve tissue, vascular endothelium, nephro- and retinopathy.

Over the past few years, information on the development of such an invention as the artificial pancreas has become more frequent. According to scientists, such a device will significantly facilitate the existence of patients with diabetes.

What is the artificial pancreas?

The pancreas belongs to the organs of the digestive system. Its main purpose is the production of enzymes necessary for the assimilation of food in the intestine. In addition, the pancreas has an endocrine part. It produces hormones - glucagon, somatostatin, insulin. If the product of the latter develops, type 1 diabetes mellitus develops. The artificial pancreas is the device that makes insulin production into the blood. This device is an integrated mechanism that performs the function of a damaged organ.

Mechanism of action of the pancreas substitute

The device of an artificial pancreas consists of two connected mechanisms. The first is an insulin pump. It was invented earlier and greatly facilitated the life of patients with diabetes. This device is a reservoir that contains short-acting insulin.

As you know, patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus are forced to constantly count the amount of carbohydrates eaten and inject the hormone subcutaneously before each meal. To avoid this, an insulin pump was made. It contains a sufficient amount of insulin, which enters the blood by itself, that is, without injections. In addition, the drug contained in the pump, enough for a few days.

The second mechanism, which is part of an artificial "organ", is a glucometer. Unlike an insulin pump, this device is not implanted under the patient's skin. It is necessary to monitor blood glucose levels. Both described mechanisms were invented earlier. The difference of this device is that these two devices are connected in it. In addition, it works offline. When using an insulin pump, the patient needs to constantly enter the value of the measured glucose value and calculate the dose of the injected drug. Artificial pancreas will help to save patients from this responsibility.

A feature of the invention is that the monitoring system is directly communicated with an insulin pump. This mechanism is called a "closed loop system". In order for the device to function properly, it is controlled by an experienced technician who can monitor the operation of the device remotely. Thanks to this invention, the life of patients suffering from type 1 diabetes mellitus will not differ from healthy people. After all, the invention is able to completely restore the functioning of the damaged organ.

Functions of the artificial pancreas

The main purpose of the invented "body" is the exercise of control over the metabolism of carbohydrates. Normally, this function is performed by the hormone insulin. With type 1 diabetes, this biologically active substance is not produced by the pancreas. Therefore, the hormone must be injected into the blood from the outside. To bring patients closer to normal life, an artificial organ was invented. The main functions of the device include:

1. Constant monitoring of blood sugar level. The measurement is carried out autonomously every 5 minutes.
2. The introduction of short-acting insulin from the pump in hyperglycemia. The intake of the hormone into the blood should be carried out constantly, in particular when eating and exercising.
3. Continuous monitoring of the device for the combined operation of the glucometer and insulin pump.

Also, the functions of the device include reducing the risk of complications of diabetes and improving the quality of life of patients.

History of artificial pancreas creation: invention development

Considering how quickly the medicine changes for the better, one should not be surprised that very soon such an instrument should appear that can completely change the life of patients suffering from insulin-dependent diabetes. Unfortunately, despite the development of transplantology, it is almost impossible to solve the problem by replacing the diseased organ with a healthy pancreas. Yet by 2014 it became known about the development of a device capable of adjusting carbohydrate metabolism without a risky operation. At this time, scientists first announced the possibility of creating an apparatus that can replace the pancreas. Studies are conducted in many countries. According to the developers of miracle equipment, the artificial pancreas will be applied already in 2018. If the doctor's calculations are correct, then soon the diabetes mellitus will cease to be one of the terrible diseases, which he is considered up to now.

Clinical trials of the invention

For two years, major scientific studies have been carried out, allowing in the near future to put into practice such a device as an artificial pancreas. Apparatus will appear, according to the scientists of the University of Virginia, in 2018. The first large-scale clinical trial was aimed at testing a device operating on the principle of a "closed loop". At present, the efficiency of the device is being evaluated.

Reviews of scientists and doctors about the invention

The scientists of many advanced institutes of diabetology are engaged in studying and developing a miracle of technology. According to doctors, the device will become one of the great achievements in the field of medicine.