Development and clinical application of artificial endocrine pancreas-from bedsidetype to wearable-type.

Recently, with the introduction of medical electronics, new technologies for measurement, communication and operation to achieve the adaptive control have been developed in many fields of science. As one of the most evolutional models of such achievement, the artificial endocrine pancreas has been developed. The artificial endocrine pancreas is a feedback control system regulating insulin delivery on a minute-by-minute basis according to the measured blood glucose levels. The bedside-type artificial endocrine pancreas has been proven to be useful not only as a therapeutic tool for diabetes mellitus, but also as a elegant research tool for investigating the pathophysiology of the disease. With significant advances in the development of a subcutaneous tissue glucose monitoring system, the wearable-type artificial endocrine pancreas has been applied to diabetic patients. With this system, perfect glycemic control can be obtained for longer periods in ambulatory diabetic patients. The trend in the development of artificial endocrine pancreas is now directed to implantable devices. Much efforts have been conducted to realize these devices.