(Currently under development)

Based on the MEMS Nanopump™ technology, the Insulin Nanopump™ offers unmet improvement in diabetes therapy. It was designed with the help and assistance of diabetic patients, nurses and endocrinologists with the objective of bringing a significant contribution to patient’s Quality of Life. Conceived as a patch pump without tubing, it gives more flexibility and freedom to the patient. Its extremely small size and weight allows wearing it completely hidden under the clothes, its ultra-precision permits an accurate delivery of insulin even at very low delivery rates and independently of external conditions, its built-in functional monitoring guarantees perfect safety during its use and its general conception makes it more affordable for patients.

Flexibility

Debiotech’s Insulin Nanopump™ is made of two parts: one re-usable part (that contains the electronics with a large display, vibration alarm, buzzer and programming capabilities, as well as remote communication for distant programmation and control) and one disposable part (with the reservoir and the pumping mechanism, as well as batteries) for an up to two weeks’ treatment. Reservoir filling is done only once for 14 days and air bubbles don’t need to be evacuated as they are retained in the reservoir by a new type of filter. Once both parts are assembled together, the entirely waterproof unit is attached to the skin with an adhesive patch that contains an auto-inserted infusion cannula with no tubing which can be changed every 3 days. The unit can be removed and reattached at will to the existing adhesive patch, or to a new one at another location, enabling more freedom for the patient.

Size

Several sizes are available for the disposable reservoir, all of them being compatible with the same re-usable electronics. For example, an Insulin Nanopump™ with an insulin reservoir capacity of 5ml (500 U) has a total volume in use of 30 cc and a total weight incl. insulin of 1.0 oz (28g), while a model with 7.5ml (750 U) insulin has a total volume in use of 33 cc, and a total weight incl. insulin of 1.1 oz (31g). With such a small size (approx. 60x40x13mm), it can be hidden under the clothes and makes the disease almost invisible. Size is often perceived as a major issue for patients: pumps are heavy and cumbersome. The Insulin Nanopump™ is up to four times smaller than today’s pumps, while containing up to four times the amount of insulin, and therefore represents a clear progress in patients’ daily life.

Precision

The MEMS technology used in the Insulin Nanopump™ allows a very tight control and precision of the pumping mechanism. Each pump actuation delivers only 200 nanoliters of drug (0.02 U), and reproducibility is better than 2%, bringing it very close to physiological delivery of insulin. This precise control may also allow the use of more concentrated insulin, once available on the market. It should also extend the use of pumps for children who have low need of insulin and where injection must be especially well controlled. On the longer run, it will be combined with a continuous glucose monitoring system and open the way to the artificial pancreas.

Safety

Safety is guaranteed by several features: closed fluidic path at rest, anti-free-flow system, permanent functional monitoring and immediate occlusion detection. In addition to the safety features present on current insulin pumps, the Insulin Nanopump™ is preventing air from entering the fluidic path, while also being able to detect any malfunction or end of reservoir within few actuations, a long time ahead of existing pumps.

Affordability

Unlike other insulin pumps, the Insulin Nanopump™ does not require such a substantial financial investment upfront as current pumps. Its design, with a permanent part containing the electronics and a disposable part containing the reservoir and the pumping mechanism, makes it affordable and attractive for every patient: patients who are already on a pump therapy and want to improve their quality of life, patients who want to start a pump therapy and patients who don’t need a permanent supply of insulin (such as type II patients) but who would like to benefit from a pump therapy.