Does anyone know if this technology has come to be marketed?
A novel insulin pump in the shape of a wrist clock and space technology
A student has used piezoelectric technology initially developed for European satellites to operate a novel insulin pump in the shape of a wristwatch designed for people with type 1 diabetes.
This insulin bomb, called «Cor», was designed by Nicole Schmiedel, industrial engineering student at the University of the Arts of Braunschweig (Germany).The prototype recently won one of the three awards for design and technology for students granted in this year's edition of the Material Commercial Fair, which was held in Munich (Germany).
Within the "Cor" there is a piezoelectric transducer that absorbs the energy of even the lighter movement of its user and makes it electricity, with which the pump works.
The transducer is based on the transducers created for space programs, where they are used for microPositioning and the damping of vibrations in the optical instruments of the satellites, such as those incorporated into the MIDAS instrument, aboard the Rosetta probe of the European Space Agency.
"The idea of this insulin/bracelet clock pump occurred to me watching a movie where an eight -year -old diabetic girl was using an insulin pump, when I saw what I had to happen to administer the daily doses of insulin," he saidNicole Schmiedel.
Many diabetics that need numerous daily insulin injections to control their blood level of sugar use uncomfortable syringes.There are few who use insulin pumps or other more modern techniques.N. Schmiedel set out to design a system with which to improve the quality of life of diabetics and allow them to lead a life as normal as possible.
Its design has the appearance of a modern bracelet watch, but it is equipped with a pump that contains sufficient insulin for two or three weeks for type 1 diabetics. The pump connects to the user by a fine tube and a needle inserted under theskin, so that insulin is injected into the body continuously.In this way it replaces injections with conventional syringes.
"The COR looks like a clock, not a medical device," said N. Schmiedel.«When the pump is not working, the menu passes by clock mode and shows the time and date.It has even alarm. "
The technology of piezoelectric transducers is based on a physical phenomenon that has been known for a long time, but that was not investigated and did not become such a practical technology for space programs until the 1990s.
"If I was able to design the COR it is because the technology of piezoelectric transducers had already developed in space programs, I was already ready to take advantage of it," said N. Schmiedel."Now the next step is to find a company willing to manufacture the COR and market it."
N. Schmiedel presented this novel insulin pump/bracelet watch at the European Congress on this year's space technology transfer.
