Professor Joan Taylor of De Montfort University has patented a new type of artificial pancreas, according to an article from The Press Association.
It works like this: the artificial pancreas is held in a metal casing and implanted between the bottom rib and the hip. It contains a supply of insulin that is kept in place by a gel barrier. When the diabetic’s blood sugar rises, the gel begins to liquefy, releasing insulin. As the blood sugar comes back down, the gel hardens again, curbing the flow of insulin into the body. In effect, the metal pancreas mimics the activity of a healthy pancreas.
The insulin in the metal pancreas would need to be refilled every few weeks. This artificial metal pancreas is currently undergoing pre-clinical trials. Taylor says she hopes to graduate to clinical trials in the next few years and potentially bring the device to market in five to 10 years.
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