Implantable insulin delivery pumps

Abstract

Implantable insulin delivery pumps are a response to the search for an insulin therapy that would be more physiological, more comfortable and, finally, better adapted to instantaneous insulin needs by their connection to a long term glucose sensor. The last decade has been devoted to their technical finalization and to the acquisition of the clinical knowledge on how to use them, so that these devices can be safe and reliable. The forthcoming availability on the market of the specific insulin formulation they require and the present development of glucose sensors are two favourable conditions for the diffusion of this technology aiming at an improved diabetes treatment. This review summarizes the rationale for the choice of intraperitoneal insulin route, the key-steps in assessing their feasibility and effectiveness in blood glucose control of diabetic patients, and the present development of this technique toward an implantable artificial beta-cell.

• Insulin delivery
• diabetes mellitus
• implantable devices
• intraperitoneal infusion