| 摘要 |
<p>An artificial pancreas system which minimizes the volume of the artificial pancreas by not encapsulating each islet (15) is taught wherein the islets (15) are separated and held within a polymeric matrix (14) which is soluble in an aqueous solution below body temperature but insoluble in aqueous solution at or above body temperature. The polymer-islet mixture is contained in a biocompatible membrane pouch (10) having access means such as entry and exit ports (31, 32). The solubility makes it possible to replace the contents of the pouch (10) by solubilizing the matrix (14) simply by lowering the temperature below the LCST. The pouch (10) is permeable to insulin and other substances of similar or lesser molecular weight but is impermeable to cellular and humoral components of the body immune system.</p> |
