Miniature Insulin Delivery Pump Announced
By CXOtoday Staff
Apr 23, 2007

Debiotech and STMicroelectronics announced a cooperation agreement aimed at manufacturing and delivering for the market a miniaturized insulin-delivery pump.

The Nanopump that relies on microfluidic MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical System) technology is a breakthrough concept to allow a tiny pump mounted on a disposable skin patch to provide continuous insulin infusion. The Nanopump will enable advances in availability, treatment efficiency and quality of life of diabetes patients.

Insulin pump therapy, or Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion (CSII), is an increasingly attractive alternative to individual insulin injections. With CSII, the patient is connected to a programmable pump.

Microfluidic technology allows flow of small amounts of fluids to be electronically controlled. Today, existing insulin pumps are about the size of a pager. The new ST-enabled Debiotech miniaturized MEMS device is about one quarter the size of existing pumps. The small size frees patients from concerns to withhold the pump in place.

The MEMS-based Nanopump provides better control of administered insulin doses. Dosing precision is a critical factor in treatment efficacy.

"ST's increasing focus on applying its semiconductor manufacturing processes and growing experience in microfluidic biotech applications affords us the potential to improve lives for millions of people around the world," said Anton Hofmeister, Group Vice President and General Manager of ST's Microfluidic Division.

The device prevents over-dosing and detects under-delivery, occlusion, air bubbles and potential malfunctions in the pump. As a disposable device, manufactured using high-volume semiconductor processing technologies, the MEMS-based Nanopump will be much more affordable.

The insulin Nanopump, developed by Debiotech and industrialized by ST, represents the first use of microfluidic MEMS technology in diabetes treatment. Functional samples have already been produced and two partners expect that a fully industrialized product, in the form of a disposable cartridge, will be available in selected markets. Debiotech will remain responsible for commercialization of the product through licenses.

"ST's increasing focus on applying its semiconductor manufacturing processes and growing experience in microfluidic biotech applications affords us the potential to improve lives for millions of people around the world," said Anton Hofmeister, Group Vice President and General Manager of ST's Microfluidic Division.