System and method for enhancement of glucose production by stimulation of pancreatic beta cells

A system implantable in a patient for detecting and responding to patient hypoglycemia, comprising:

• glucose means for monitoring patient blood glucose;
• means for determining when said monitored blood glucose indicates hypoglycemia;
• stimulus means for generating stimulus pulses and delivering said pulses to a selected patient location containing insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells;
• and
• control means for controlling the timing of said stimulus pulses so as to decrease the insulin secretion of said beta cells.

A system for delivering a timed insulin response to start of food intake by a patient, comprising:

• intake means for determining when a patient has commenced and/or completed food intake;
• algorithm means initiated by said intake means for determining a timed insulin production response following a said food intake;
• and
• insulin means for increasing insulin in said patient according to said timed insulin response.

A system for monitoring functionality of an islet transplant in a patient, comprising:

• glucose means for determining and storing representations of patient blood glucose level;
• sensing means for sensing electrical activity of said transplant and for storing representations of said activity corresponding timewise with said glucose representations;
• and
• diagnostic means for providing diagnostic data based on said stored glucose and activity representations.

A method of responding to patient food intake by delivering insulin in accord with a predetermined time response, comprising:

• determining when a patient has commenced food intake;
• processing an algorithm to determine a timed response as a function of patient glucose and insulin dynamics;
• and
• increasing insulin production in said patient in accord with said timed response.

A system for enhancing production of insulin by a patient's pancreas, comprising:

• a stimulus generator for generating stimulus signals;
• delivery means for delivering said stimulus signals to the patient's pancreas, having at least three electrodes positioned in or on said pancreas;
• switching means for switching said signals to respective different pairs of said electrodes;
• and
• control means for controlling said stimulus generator to generate said stimulus pulses at a rate so as to increase pancreatic insulin production.

A system for delivering a timed insulin response to start of food intake by a patient, comprising:

• intake means for determining when a patient has commenced and/or completed food intake;
• algorithm means initiated by said intake means for determining a timed insulin production response following a said food intake;
• and
• insulin means for altering insulin production in said patient according to said timed insulin response.