Scientists Made a Bionic Pancreas That Runs Off an iPhone

Scientists at Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston University have made major progress on a bionic pancreas for those living with diabetes. On Sunday at the American Diabetes Association, researchers announced that their device had passed a real-world test, monitoring blood sugar and automatically giving insulin (or sugar-boosting drugs) as it became needed. 

This new device can be used for Type 1 diabetes. Dr. Steven Russell, a diabetes specialist at Massachusetts General who helped build the bionic pancreas, believes "This would lift that burden off of their shoulders."

AP Photo/ Boston University Department of Biomedical Engineering

The bionic pancreas has three parts: a pump for insulin, another for sugar-raising glucagon, and an iPhone wired to each as a constant glucose monitor. There are three small needles which connect the device to the body. These will go into the stomach, allowing the patient to wear the pancreas in a small pouch or put it into their pants pocket. It's quite discrete and definitely new age — an smartphone wired to your belly, studying your blood. 

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One of the major advantages of the bionic pancreas was the it was able to improve blood sugar control compared to other monitors and insulin pumps. A natural pancreas can correct low and high blood sugar, but monitors can only correct high blood sugar. The bionic pancreas can do both. 

There is still a bit of testing to do. In the next study: Forty adults will use the device for 11 days. Scientists hope to create a smaller bionic pancreas, that combines all three parts into one device. 

This article was originally published at http://www.thewire.com/technology/2014/06/science-made-a-bionic-pancreas/372837/

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