Topic Highlight
Copyright ©2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Sep 7, 2009; 15(33): 4105-4110
Published online Sep 7, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.4105
What is artificial endocrine pancreas? Mechanism and history
Kenro Nishida, Seiya Shimoda, Kenshi Ichinose, Eiichi Araki, Motoaki Shichiri
Kenro Nishida, Division of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Minamata City Hospital and Medical Center, 1-2-1 Tenjin-machi, Minamata, Kumamoto, 867-0041, Japan
Seiya Shimoda, Kenshi Ichinose, Eiichi Araki, Motoaki Shichiri, Department of Metabolic Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 867-0041, Japan
Author contributions: Nishida K, Shimoda S, Ichinose K and Shichiri M performed the research; Araki E and Shichiri M analyzed the data; Nishida K wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Kenro Nishida, MD, PhD, Division of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Minamata City Hospital and Medical Center, 1-2-1 Tenjin-machi, Minamata, Kumamoto, 867-0041, Japan. kynisida@orange.ocn.ne.jp
Telephone: +81-96-6632101 Fax: +81-96-6631393
Received: July 3, 2009
Revised: August 13, 2009
Accepted: August 20, 2009
Published online: September 7, 2009
Abstract

The artificial endocrine pancreas is a feedback control instrument that regulates insulin delivery on a minute-by-minute basis according to measured blood glucose levels. Only one type of bedside-type artificial endocrine pancreas is now available in Japan: STG-22 (Nikkiso Co. Ltd., Japan). In the insulin infusion algorithm, insulin is infused on the basis of its proportional and derivative actions, to blood glucose concentrations with a constant time delay. The bedside-type artificial endocrine pancreas has been proven to be useful not only as a therapeutic tool for diabetes mellitus, but also as an elegant research tool for investigating the pathophysiology of the disease, by using the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic glucose clamp technique. The wearable type of closed-loop system has been developed recently. The breakthrough is the establishment of a needle-type glucose sensor. The development of closed-loop glycemic control systems that enable long-term physiological regulation has focused on implantable devices. Much effort has been expended to realize these devices.

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus; Artificial pancreas; Blood glucose; Insulin; Infusion