[nanoPost] Insulin pump for diabetes

Company Switzerland

Based on the the companys's MEMS technology, the pump offers a noticeable improvement in diabetes therapy. Its small size and weight allow wearing it completely hidden under the clothes, its precision permits an accurate delivery of insulin even at very low delivery rates, its built-in functional monitoring guarantees perfect safety during its use and its general conception makes it more affordable for patients.

Size

The pump is made of two parts: a permanent part that contains the electronics and a disposable part with the reservoir and the pumping mechanism for a week treatment. It has a total volume of 65mm x 38mm x 11mm (27ml) with an insulin reservoir capacity of 4 to 6ml and the permanent part attached. With such a small size, it can be hidden under the clothes and makes the disease almost invisible. Size is often perceived as a major issue for patients: pumps are heavy and cumbersome. The pump is up to four times smaller than today’s pumps, while containing up to twice the amount of insulin, and therefore represents a clear progress for the patients’ Quality of Life.

Precision

The MEMS technology used in the pump allows a very tight control of the pumping mechanism. Each pump actuation injects only 200 nanoliters of drug, and reproducibility is better than 2%, bringing it very close to physiological delivery of insulin. This precise control may also allow the use of more concentrated insulin, once available on the market. It should also extend the use of pumps for children who have low needs of insulin, and where injection must be especially well controlled. On the longer run, it may be combined with a continuous glucose monitoring system and open the way to the artificial pancreas.

Safety

Safety is guaranteed by several features: closed fluidic path at rest, anti-free-flow system, permanent functional monitoring and a ventilated reservoir. In addition to the classical safety features present on current insulin pumps, the pump is also able to detect occlusion and air bubbles within few actuations, a long time ahead of existing pumps.

Affordability

Unlike other insulin pumps, the pump does not require any substantial financial investment upfront. Its design with a permanent part containing the electronics and a disposable part containing the reservoir and the pumping mechanism, makes it affordable and attractive for every patient: patients who are already on a pump therapy and want to improve their quality of life, patients who want to start a pump therapy and patients who don’t need a permanent supply of insulin (such as type II patients) but who would like to pass onto a pump therapy.