Professor Adam Heller's Wired Enzyme(TM) Technology used in Abbott's FreeStyle Blood Glucose Monitoring(R) and FreeStyle Navigator(R) Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems
ABBOTT PARK, Ill., Sept. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Adam Heller, Ph.D.,
a professor at the University of Texas in Austin who created the technology
that led to the development of Abbott's FreeStyle Blood Glucose Monitoring
Systems(R) and FreeStyle Navigator(R) Continuous Glucose Monitoring System,
today received the 2007 National Medal of Technology and Innovation from
President George W. Bush in an award ceremony at the White House.
As co-founder of the company Therasense, which Abbott acquired in 2004,
Heller developed revolutionary approaches to glucose measurement that convert
biochemical concentrations to electrical signals. These technologies were the
foundation for the development of Abbott's FreeStyle Blood Glucose Monitoring
System and FreeStyle Navigator system for people with diabetes. The FreeStyle
Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems have been commercially available since 2000,
and the FreeStyle Navigator system received FDA approval in March of 2008.
'On behalf of Abbott, we congratulate Dr. Heller on this significant
achievement,' said Heather Mason, senior vice president, Abbott Diabetes Care.
'The innovative and revolutionary technology developed by Dr. Heller has
significantly helped improve the quality of life for people with diabetes.'
The FreeStyle Lite Blood Glucose Monitoring System is a small, discrete
system that enables people to manage their diabetes by offering key features
such as no coding, the world's smallest sample size, and state of the art
strip performance with comprehensive alternate site testing.
The FreeStyle Navigator system discretely and continuously measures
glucose levels through a sensor that is worn on the abdomen or back of the
arm, and provides minute-by-minute information and alarms that give advanced
warning about which way and how quickly blood sugar levels are changing. This
information can lead to proactive adjustments that can result in tighter
glucose ranges.
Data from a study by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, released
this month, showed the impact on diabetes management from using a continuous
glucose monitoring device in adults with type 1 diabetes.
About the FreeStyle Navigator System
The FreeStyle Navigator system is composed of three parts: a sensor, a
transmitter and a receiver.
