Debiotech and STMicroelectronics announce a strategic cooperation agreement to manufacture and market a unique miniature insulin pump. This nano-pump is an innovative concept based on microfluidic MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) technology, which is based on the installation of a micro-syringe pump on a disposable skin patch to continuously infuse insulin into diabetic patients. This nano-pump will help significantly improve the availability of new technologies, treatment efficiency and quality of life of patients with diabetes. The product's original technology won the 2006 Swiss Technology Award, and the agreement signed today brings the technology closer to industrialization. Insulin pump therapy or continuous subcutaneous injections of insulin (CSII) can replace a single injection several times a day insulin injection alone, this therapy is more and more people are optimistic. In accordance with the CSII treatment, patients with diabetes need to connect a programmable syringe pump, syringe pump connected to a reservoir, insulin infusion from this reservoir infusion into human subcutaneous tissue, continuous infusion throughout the day more like pancreatic natural secretion of insulin the process of. This highly miniaturized disposable insulin pump combines Debiotech's insulin infusion technology with ST's mass-production microfluidic chip manufacturing capabilities. Microfluidic technology electronically controls the flow of a very small number of liquids. This syringe pump marks a major step forward in the development and application of CSII therapies, and this cutting-edge technology will also be used in other biochemical applications. Today, the size of an existing insulin syringe pump is equivalent to a pager. The new Debiotech miniaturized MEMS product manufactured by ST, which measures about a quarter of the size of existing syringe pumps, is worn on the person in a skin patch and barely visible to the human eye. In the past, patients had to pay attention to the proper placement of the syringe pump and also to keep the pump underneath their clothes. The compact size of the new product stopped worrying patients. In addition, nano-pumps using MEMS technology can precisely control the amount of insulin the doctor requires. Dose accuracy is a key determinant of efficacy and can also help reduce the long-term effects of long-term drug delivery. Nanopump liquid infusion control accuracy can reach nanoliter, this level is very close to human insulin infusion. The product can prevent overdose, detect inadequate medications in the syringe pump, blockage, air bubbles and other potential failures to further protect the patient. In addition, the MEMS-based nano-syringe pump is a low-cost disposable product that uses large-scale semiconductor manufacturing technology so patients or healthcare systems do not have to pay for the up-front investment common to existing syringe pump solutions. Developed by Debiotech, ST's industrialized insulin syringe pump marks the first time that microfluidic MEMS technology has been used in the treatment of diabetes. Functional prototypes of nano-pumps have been put into production and both parties are expected to supply the designated markets with completely industrialized products sold in the form of disposable liquid containers after 2008. Debiotech will then sell the product in the form of a license from a major manufacturer in the medical device market. The industrialization of new products will make full use of ST's accumulated manufacturing experience in biochemical markets. Other biotech projects in the ST Microfluidics Division include the In-Check on-chip lab platform currently used primarily for the detection of sepsis and bird flu. Supplementary Information At present, about 250 million people worldwide are contracted with diabetes. With population growth, aging and changes in lifestyle, the number of patients is expected to continue to increase in the next decade. Without proper treatment, diabetes can cause cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, blindness, and nerve damage until it dies. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death in the developed western countries. The insulin pump market is growing at a rapid rate: According to HSBC1, by the year 2009, the global market for insulin pump therapy is expected to grow from 800 million U.S. dollars in 2004 to 1.6 billion U.S. dollars.
