Artificial Pancreas Passes Human Trial

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Roboto

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Nov 18, 2009
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So that $1 boot I bought from Taco Bell 10 years ago is finally paying off. I was worried for a long time. Next up, those breast cancer ribbons!

Only question remains does it plug in with SATA or Molex?
 

Agayek

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Oct 23, 2008
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poiumty said:
So do they last a lifetime or do they need replacement? Because we haven't taken such a great leap if we still need to do a surgery once in a while to change the batteries.

Wonder when usb ports will be developed that will allow people to charge the devices within themselves. Like, sticking out of the skin or something. That's when the real human revolution will begin.
Depending on how much energy they need, it's entirely possible to power it using the patients body heat or the like. There's a few prototypes using things like that.

If not, there's not a major problem with the batteries, to be perfectly honest. Worst case scenario, you can put the batteries right next to wherever the patient inserts the insulin, which means ready access to it without any need for surgery.
 

uncanny474

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Jan 20, 2011
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So, do I HAVE to get diabetes if I want an artificial pancreas? Because I want one. Badly.
 

TehAardvark

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Apr 4, 2011
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Boris Goodenough said:
Eric the Orange said:
DVS BSTrD said:
What kind of lesson is this for kids? Eat crappy food, grow up to become a cyborg.
Correct me if I'm wrong but the "eat bad foods to much" Diabetes is type 2. Type 1 is what this is made to treat.
This is true, but I seem to recall an article about bad diet increases the risk of type 1, although not by much.
No it can hasten the onset, but only in people that would get it at some point in their life anyway. So you're talking about, if you eat a little bit healthier you might put it off by a year at most, but you'll get it. For those not born with the symptoms immediately, most of the time it's the onset of puberty that makes it manifest.
 

=y

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May 11, 2012
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Anyone else getting Repo Men flashbacks?

...

Yeah, I'll just aim at trying to eat healthy and maintain my 100% organic body the best I can.

[sub]Not that I'm against lifesaving technology, I'm just not eager to do it myself.[/sub]
 

Kodlak

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Feb 5, 2009
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It sounds good especially if you hate injections and checking your blood glucose levels, however I'm not too sure how many people would want to have this on them:


Just to clarify, Type 1 diabetes is a genetic disorder it will usually manifest itself in the first 20 years of life and is not caused by a bad diet. This is where the beta cells in the pancreas stop producing insulin meaning sugars aren't take up by other body parts. This machine helps provide the insulin.

Type 2 diabetes is caused by a bad diet, and is where too much sugar causes your body to become insulin resistant therefore not reacting to the insulin (produced by the pancreas) as much and therefore less sugar is being taken up. The machine can do nothing for this condition, as the person's pancreas is fine and their cells are not reacting to insulin anyway.

Just in case you wanted to know.
 

Kodlak

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Feb 5, 2009
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James Joseph Emerald said:
Kodlak said:
Where'd that picture come from? Isn't that just a regular insulin pump?
It basically is a insulin pump, however it has an onboard continuous glucometer measuring blood sugars, allowing real time control of blood sugar levels instead of at set periods. Allowing it to function pretty much like a pancreas. The whole idea is to create a system that will function without user intervention.

Also picture came from here: http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-06/11/artificial-pancreas In retrospect, probably not a picture of the HHM but it will look something like this.
 

blackrave

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Mar 7, 2012
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Just for God's sake don't outsource programming to India
I have nothing against those guys personally, but the code they write is so full of junk, that it's almost insulting.
Anyway, these are great news.
Next- try to make artificial liver.

BTW I thought Pancreas had other functions besides insulin distribution.
 
Jan 13, 2012
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Sounds like good news to diabetics I guess (not sure how it works but sounds good).

Hopefully they work on cybernetic augmentations next!
 

Kodlak

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Feb 5, 2009
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blackrave said:
Just for God's sake don't outsource programming to India
I have nothing against those guys personally, but the code they write is so full of junk, that it's almost insulting.
Anyway, these are great news.
Next- try to make artificial liver.

BTW I thought Pancreas had other functions besides insulin distribution.
It does have other functions, in diabetes type 1 the pancreatic beta cells pack up, but it still able to make other hormones and pancreatic juices (tasty!).
 

phantasmalWordsmith

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Oct 5, 2010
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Pancreas today...Tommorrow a kidney...

I've been a long time believer that science will end all problems, one at a time so this just makes me smile so much.
 

Gordon Freemonty

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Aug 25, 2010
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DVS BSTrD said:
http://cdn2.screenjunkies.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Screen-shot-2011-09-26-at-4.34.54-PM.png
Cool Story Bro
What kind of lesson is this for kids? Eat crappy food, grow up to become a cyborg.
As a type 1 diabetic I am afraid to say to are terribly misinformed, and I figure you need to read up on the subject more. I have always had a great diet, Didn't stop me from getting it.

On topic: This is fantastic news. I can't wait for the day when I will be able to eat the foods I want without having to do a hideously inaccurate carb count or guesstimate.
 

insanelich

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Sep 3, 2008
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Oh god, the lack of knowledge.

First of all, the type of diabetes caused by crappy food? It's the kind of diabetes that doesn't exist.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder. Type 2 diabetes is a hormone disorder. You can manage early stage type 2 with a diet, but the diet doesn't cause the disease - all it does is affect the severity of the symptoms, and given that type 2 gets worse as you age, the chances of a diet being sufficient for treating the disease forever are very, very slim.

Something very important Hevva missed - no surprise, given that this is a gaming and not a medical news site - was the materials and how they affect imaging of the body. To be specific, many devices of this kind make a MRI impossible.

Also, the batteries can be recharged through the skin. However, the batteries themselves wear out, meaning they have to be replaced every few years.
 

Daniel_Rosamilia

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Jan 17, 2008
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Well then. As a T1 diabetic (10 years in December! Yay, I guess) this is wonderful news! Looks like I'm on the path to becoming a fully-fledged cyborg. Now to find a group of 5 brains-in-tanks to transport me to a crater via satellite and replace my brain, heart and spine with upgraded tech versions. (Also, Internet points to whoever knows what I'm babbling about)
 

Idlemessiah

Zombie Steve Irwin
Feb 22, 2009
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"Of course, such a device would always carry the risk of mechanical failure or a snafu in the software"

So? It's probably less likely to fail than an actual pancreas, otherwise there wouldn't be the need for an artificial one!