- Study Presented at American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions -

NEW ORLEANS, June 8 /PRNewswire/ -- UC Santa Barbara and Sansum Diabetes Research Institute scientists have demonstrated for the first time that an automated artificial pancreas system (APS) can safely and effectively maintain desired blood glucose levels in patients with type 1 diabetes. The clinical study results will be presented today in a late-breaking poster session(1) at the American Diabetes Association's 69th Scientific Sessions in New Orleans.

The UCSB and Sansum researchers, working with the Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, tested an automated insulin delivery system comprising the OmniPod(R) System and the DexCom STS7(R) continuous glucose monitor, linked and controlled through UCSB's artificial pancreas software. The software's insulin delivery algorithm, optimized for each patient, includes a unique safety feature, based on clinical parameters, which prevents insulin-induced low blood glucose levels (hypoglycemia).

Without any outside intervention, the system restored normal blood glucose levels following both induced high levels (hyperglycemia) and unanticipated meals, while avoiding hypoglycemia. This was achieved through the automatic delivery of insulin to correct for the induced high blood glucose levels, and an insulin infusion rate moderated to ensure a smooth return to normal levels and avoid low blood glucose levels.

'This study demonstrates for the first time a completely automated insulin delivery system that frees the patients from controlling their pumps manually, eliminating the question of compliance in treatment,' said principal investigator Frank Doyle, Professor of Chemical Engineering at UCSB.

Doyle continued, 'We pulled together a talented team of engineers and medical doctors who created the critical element of the artificial pancreas--a unique algorithm that is robust and straightforward to implement. It's become the gold standard.' The UCSB APS software platform is also being used by a number of other teams working on the artificial pancreas project, but no other team has advanced yet to wholly-automated clinical trials.

Closed loop trials were performed in four patients for a mean duration of 5 hours (range of 2-7 hours) and included a meal of 30 grams of carbohydrates.