Debiotech and STMicroelectronics today introduced first evaluation prototypes of a unique miniaturized insulin-delivery pump. The tiny device can be mounted on a disposable skin patch to provide continuous insulin infusion, enabling substantial advancements in the availability, treatment efficiency and the quality of life of diabetes patients. The breakthrough Nanopump, which relies on microfluidic MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical System) technology, has successfully passed initial testing stages and is now ready to enter volume manufacturing. The Insulin Nanopump is up to four times smaller than today’s pumps, while containing up to twice the amount of insulin, and therefore represents a clear progress for the patients’ Quality of Life.

The MEMS technology used in the Insulin Nanopump allows a very tight control of the pumping mechanism. Each pump actuation injects only 200 nanoliters of drug, and reproducibility is better than 2%, bringing it very close to physiological delivery of insulin. The insulin Nanopump, developed by Debiotech and industrialized by ST, represents the most advanced use of microfluidic MEMS technology in diabetes treatment.