Community Magazine April 2013

Mind Over Matter Whereas the ReWalk amplifies slight body movements of the wearer, another Israeli invention allows paralyzed people to become more self-sufficient with no physical input at all. Doctors in the Unites States are currently testing a robotic arm designed by the Israeli bio- tech company BrainGate , which has allowed a woman who was paralyzed by a stroke 15 years ago to take a sip of coffee from a robotically-controlled “arm.” She controls the arm using sensors implanted in her brain. Sensors are placed in the brains of patients in the trials, which then detect the area of the brain in which activity – thought – is occurring. Patients imagine moving their own bodies, and this sends electronic signals from the sensors to the robotic arms which then mimic the desired movement. One man enrolled in the BrainGate trial reported, “I just imagined moving my own arm and [the robotic] arm moved where I wanted it to go.” BrainGate gives paralyzed patients the power of mind control - A tiny chip implant is enabling paralyzed and injured people to move objects by the power of their thoughts – and, in time, researchers hope it could help them walk again. In May 2012, BrainGate researchers published a study in Nature demonstrating that two people paralyzed by brainstem stroke several years earlier were able to control robotic arms for reaching and grasping. One participant was able to use the arm to drink coffee from a bottle – the first time she was able to drink unaided in 15 years. Helping Bodies Heal Themselves Many elderly and seriously ill patients can develop chronic wounds which resist healing for months, or even years, during which time patients are plagued by incessant pain. A new Israeli invention, currently undergoing trials, helps the body heal itself of this serious medical condition. “ CureXCell ” was invented by Dr. David Danon of the Israeli national blood service, and is being commercially developed by the Petach Tikvah-based company MacroCure. The medicine uses white blood cells, which are usually discarded from donated blood, and introduces them into the vicinity of chronic wounds, which helps stimulate healing. Finally, patients with chronic wounds have a chance of recovering from this debilitating condition. Letting Diabetic Kids be Kids Diabetic children have experienced remarkable new freedoms at an experimental summer camp in Israel. At the Schneider Children’s Medical Center in Petach Tikva, researchers from around the world collaborated under the leadership of Israeli researcher Dr. Moshe Phillip on the world’s first trial of an artificial pancreas. The children in the study swam, played sports, and enjoyed summer camp unencumbered by insulin injections and glucose monitoring. Insulin levels were monitored by staff remotely, and the children’s insulin was delivered through insulin pumps. For the duration of the camp, at least, participants were able to forget they had diabetes while experiencing superior levels of insulin control at the same time. Artificial pancreas could revolutionize diabetic care - In people with diabetes, the pancreas doesn’t produce or release insulin as it should, so the body can’t metabolize sugars properly. That means blood sugar levels have to be monitored continuously, especially at night, when diabetics’ blood sugar can get dangerously out of control. But nighttime monitoring and dosing is a sleep-stealing activity, particularly for parents of diabetic children. A new artificial pancreas developed in Israel may allow them sweeter dreams. The MD-Logic was recently tested on Israeli children at an overnight diabetes summer camp, with resounding success. Using existing insulin pump technology, MD-Logic closes the loop between a continuous glucose monitor and insulin pump, allowing patients to self-regulate their glucose levels and deliver the exact amount of insulin needed, when needed – even at 3 o’clock in the morning. The medical device is still in the prototype stage, so for now it requires connection to a laptop computer that can be carried in a backpack or set beside the bed. 1. Continuous Glucose Monitor 2. Computer-Controlled Algorithm 3. Insulin Pump 4. Patient Effect Blood Glucose Device BGDs are currently used to calibrate the CGM, but we anticipate that future improved CGM performance may obviate the need for a BGD in the APDs 66 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE