I Have An Idea; Please Don't Steal It; Many Witnesses Here

javanurse2000, BSN, RN · May 17, 2007

Its an excellent idea, but already being used in practice:

Insulin Pumps: American Diabetes Association®

I hope you are encouraged that your idea, although already developed was worthy of pursuit!

purple_rose_3 · May 17, 2007

All kinds of people use insulin pumps. Sorry, but this has already been invented.

AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P · May 17, 2007

umm how would you refil the insultin if it was all internal?? They arleady have insulin pumps avalable and I think that is the only way that it woudl work since again you would need a way to refil insulin, and that would put the patient at significant risk for infection if the pump and all were internal.

Swtooth

Nightinmale, BSN, MSN, DNP · May 17, 2007

Jill- here is the link that gives the history of the invention, in case you're curious.

http://www.pratt.duke.edu/news/?id=354

oldiebutgoodie, RN · May 17, 2007

http://www.minimed.com/

This device doesn't automatically administer the insulin, but does continuous monitoring.

"It is important that you continue to use your meter to confirm sensor glucose readings before treatment, particularly since the FDA has approved REAL-Time Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) with conservative labeling. This labeling requires patients to take a fingerstick measurement before adjusting therapy, as well as for calibrating the CGM system." --from the website.

The advantage is that this product can plot trends, which, along with the confimatory fingerstick, give pt and MD much more info on the pt's condition.

Oldiebutgoodie

Edit--let me reword that-it is an insulin pump, but administers insulin based on program, or when pt administers. It does not automatically administer based on the glucose reading of its sensor.

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · May 17, 2007

Here's a nice comparison chart of all the insulin delivery system models:

http://main.diabetes.org/dforg/pdfs/2016/2016-cg-insulin-pumps-chart.pdf

llg, PhD, RN · May 17, 2007

A problem I see with the general idea (for routine use) is that a blood glucose of X does not automatically warrant an insulin dose of Y. A lot of situation factors need to be considered in the interpretation of the blood glucose. The person would have to input those factors into the device before "telling it" to give the dose of insulin.

For example, it is normal for blood glucose to go up during and immediately after a meal. The machine would have to know that the patient was eating and not misinterpret that blood glucose level the same way it would interpret the same number in a fasting state.

If the person is going to have to input all the situational variables so that the device's computer chip can correctly determine the insulin dose, then the device would not really "save time or effort" ... it would just switch the nature of the work from one task to another.

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · May 17, 2007

A problem I see with the general idea (for routine use) is that a blood glucose of X does not automatically warrant an insulin dose of Y. A lot of situation factors need to be considered in the interpretation of the blood glucose. The person would have to input those factors into the device before "telling it" to give the dose of insulin.
For example, it is normal for blood glucose to go up during and immediately after a meal. The machine would have to know that the patient was eating and not misinterpret that blood glucose level the same way it would interpret the same number in a fasting state.
If the person is going to have to input all the situational variables so that the device's computer chip can correctly determine the insulin dose, then the device would not really "save time or effort" ... it would just switch the nature of the work from one task to another.

Most of the systems deliver a continuous basal dose and then the pump is programmed by the user to deliver bolus doses, based on the situations you mention. Most of the people I know who use these pumps are brittle diabetics who have to accucheck quite frequently and the delivery system keeps them closer to euglycemia.

queenjean · May 17, 2007

Maybe the pump could be refilled by an access port, similar to an implanted chest port or something.

Defibrillators are programmed externally all the time; why not a small hand held device that reads the internal pump ( for things like how full it is, how much bolus to give, any malfunctions, etc) as well as can program it externally?

I think this sounds extremely expensive, but in 20-30 years, who knows? EVERYTHING is extremely expensive it seems to me.

jmgrn65, RN · May 17, 2007

Has anyone ever thought of somekind of internal device for diabetics that delivers the appropriate amount of insulin automatically? If they can make an internal defibrillator, why can't there by an internal device that measures blood sugar and delivers insulin? Am I just throwing out a crazy idea or does this have some merit? Not that I would have $1000 for a patent. If I had that, there would be glow in the dark pacifiers floating around right now with my name on them.

It is called an insulin pump, sorry someone already had the idea .

Dolce, RN · May 17, 2007

I have totally thought about that before! It would be such a cool thing. An insulin pump only delivers insulin, it does not check BGs. The pump could be programed to check BGs and deliver insulin on a continuous and bolus basis, like the pancreas does. I think that it may be a problem to have it internal (how would the insulin be stored) but it may work similar to the external pumps that are currently being used. Really, somebody ought to make one of these.