BIOARTIFICIAL PANCREAS

摘要

An implantable bioartificial pancreas device (1) having an islet chamber (5) containing glucose responsive and insulin-secreting islets of Langerhans or similar hormone secreting cells, the islet chamber (5) having baffle means (60) inside thereof to assist in even distribution of the islets in the chamber, one or more vascularizing chambers (10) open to surrounding tissue, a semi-permeable membrane (25) between the islet and vascularizing chambers that allows passage of small molecules including insulin, oxygen and glucose and does not allow passage of agents of the immune system such as white cells and antibodies, the vascularizing chambers containing a growth factor soaked fibrous or foam matrix (30) having a porosity of about 40 to 95 %, the matrix providing small capillary growth and preventing the blood from clotting in the lower chamber.