KITLIVING
PATCH PUMPS & COMING SOON
A look at insulin pumps coming soon to the
UK, the majority of which are patch pumps.
T
he The Bio-Inspired
Artificial Pancreas (BiAP)
is still in the research
stage at Imperial College
London, supported by
the Wellcome Trust. It is worn externally
and combines CGM with an insulin pump
with an innovative biologically-inspired
microchip which uses an algorithm to
combine the CGM data with the pump's
capacity to infuse insulin. This replicates
the workings of the beta cells of the
pancreas using integrated circuits on a
silicon microchip. With this they have
been able to "deliver insulin profiles
expected from a healthy pancreas". The
sophistication of the algorithm is key to
accurate dosing. At present a home trial
is underway, the results of which are likely
to be published this time next year.
American company Tandem Diabetes
Inc., is launching its T:Slim X2 insulin pump
in the UK in association with Air Liquide
Homecare. In a statement, the companies
have confirmed, " We are pleased to
announce that Air Liquide Homecare has
entered into an agreement with Tandem
Diabetes Care Inc - a medical device
company in the United States - for Air
Liquide Homecare to sell, distribute and
support Tandem's T:Slim X2 insulin pump
in the UK. We are currently putting all
the systems and processes in place to
introduce the T:Slim X2 Insulin Pump
into the UK. Patient service and support
is at the forefront of our business and as
such, we want to make sure that all the
elements are in place and working well,
before we make the product available."
As reported in the news section on p.
4, Roche Diabetes Care has announced
it has received a CE Mark for its
new Accu-Chek Solo 'patch' insulin
pump. A micropump system, the
company has initiated bringing the
new insulin delivery system to some
countries including the UK and is
currently conducting a clinical study
using the pump in several European
countries too.
ViCentra is the company bringing
the bright little Kaleido meter to
market. The point is to improve
diabetes control with less hassle, the
colour is just an added extra encapsulating
cutting edge technology. As they say,
"We think it's only right that if you wear
something 24/7 it should look good too."
It comprises an on-the-body patch pump
and a handset, which has been designed
to be simple to use and quick to navigate
- the interface is like that of a smartphone.
To give a bolus will just take a couple of
clicks, likewise a basal rate adjustment.
The pump and handset are rechargeable.
The pump uses a micro delivery system
for accurate insulin delivery. It can detect
insulin blockages, should they occur,
using an optical sensor. The system
comes in 10 colours. You get two pumps
and one handheld device, so one pump
can be charging while the other is being
worn. Due to be available in the UK but it's
not certain when. www.hellokaleido.com
Pumps for T2s
In August 2018 Valeritas Inc. launched its
V-Go wearable insulin delivery device for
Type 2 diabetics in New Zealand. Valeritas
CEO John Timberlake commented at the
time, "Clinical studies have demonstrated
continued over
The T:slim from Tandem.
Accu-Chek's Solo
patch pump..