The Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel has developed an artificial pancreas for children with diabetes, and completed a trial of the MD-Logic Artificial Pancreas (MDLAP) at a diabetes camp. This is the first time that such a trial took place outside a hospital, thereby offering a normal life for diabetic children who also use an automatic insulin delivery system during the night.
The artificial pancreas trial at the Kibbutz Maale Hachamisha Hotel included 18 children aged 12-15
The artificial pancreas is a joint project of the Schneider Children's Medical Center, the Kinderkrankenhaus auf der Bult in Hanover, Germany, and the University Children's Hospital in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The chief researchers are Prof. Moshe Phillip Director of the Institute for Endocrinology and Diabetes and Dr. Revital Nimri.
The artificial pancreas uses an off-the-shelf subcutaneous glucose sensor that monitors the glucose level and an insulin pump, which are connected to a computer that programs the information and stipulates the amount of insulin that should be released to the body in order to maintain blood glucose balance. This innovation "closes the loop" between the sensor and the pump and relieves the patients with diabetes from the daily burden of dealing with their diabetes and has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life of patients with diabetes.
5,000 Israeli children and adolescents have childhood diabetes and thousands more Israelis have other types of diabetes.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on October 26, 2011
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