ATTD 2024 My Take on the Tech Fair

I recently attended the Advanced Technologies & Treatments for Diabetes (ATTD) in Florence, Italy. As part of the #dedoc° voices program, an initiative of the #dedoc° organisation, who granted me complimentary registration to the conference plus also provided my flights & hotel for my in-person attendance.

I am not a medical professional & I do not give medical advise. Always consult with your medical team before changing anything to do with your diabetes. 

It was a wonderful opportunity for me to meet new & old voices from our #dedoc° family & to network with healthcare professionals, technology innovators & manufacturers, all in the same place. 

Due to the 4-hour delay of my flight from Gatwick when flying to #ATTD2024 in Florence. I missed the #dedoc° Symposium "What we wish you knew — and why: the patient perspective" when it was presented & broadcast live. You can watch it by pressing the button below:

My love of technology is well-known, especially Diabetes Tech. So, I spent a lot of time going around the stands at the Tech Fair.

So, therefore, this first blog will be about the innovative technology that may come to us in the future.  Content is from my Tweets on X but where possible I have given a little more detail plus links to websites.

GLYCONICS DIABETES SCREENING

Glyconics Ltd demonstrated a transformational non-Invasive technology for rapid Diabetes Screening. 'Glyconics-DS'. Which works by scanning a fingernail using infrared spectroscopy. Results are sent to the cloud & the result is received within seconds. A needle-free, speedy & accurate screening device. Which is portable using a long-life battery & Bluetooth. 

GLUCOWEAR CGM

Welsh company 'Afon Technology' were showing their still in development 'Glucowear' a non-invasive CGM. It uses ultra-low power RF/microwave technology to read the glucose in the blood. Estimated 14-day battery life before requiring a recharge with 2 year device life. Glucowear is suitable for anyone who needs to monitor their blood glucose levels regularly. This includes people with Type 1, Type 2 3c LADA & gestational diabetes. Being developed for use with iOS or android devices using Bluetooth giving results in real time. 

CONVOTEC 

DYK 'Convotec' Infusion Care for diabetes on site with 30 years of experience in infusion care supplying infusion sets & insertion devices to many of the world's leading insulin pump manufacturers, such as Medtronic, Tandem Diabetes, Ypsomed, Roche & Sooil.

BOYDSENSE

BOYDSense are developing a small, portable device to non-invasively measure volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by breath-based detection and analysis of glucose. In the photo the prototype is at the rear & the mock-up of the production model at the front.

TANDEM MOBI PUMP

The Tandem Mobi Insulin Pump was on display. Photo below shows its size compared to the T:slim. The Mobi is about half the size of the T:Slim.

Some detail:

The cartridge holds up to 200 units of insulin.

The pump has only one button (for delivering boluses in fixed increments). All other programming is performed via a mobile app.

Any Tandem infusion set can be used, but there is also a 5" tubing option

The pump can placed in a sleeve for adhering directly to the skin (a clip option is also available)

It can be charged wirelessly.

Photos showing the T-Slim & Mobi side by side plus closeup of the Mobi pump.

INREDA AP BI-HORMONAL PUMP

'Inreda AP' Bi-Hormonal pump. It regulates glucose levels by infusing either insulin to lower the blood glucose level, or glucagon to raise it. There are already more than 100 people trialing the 'Inreda AP' in the Netherlands. Note: Glucagon needs changing daily.

Photo:  Lower device is 'Inreda AP5'. Upper device is mock-up of the' Inreda AP6' which is in development. Lower pump is the one being used in trials.

ICARE ILLUME EYE SCREENING

'iCare ILLUME' screening software 'RetCAD' with AI gives high-quality details images all without dilation in a matter of minutes. I used this for the second-year running giving a detailed report with scans supplied on a USB stick.

DAIRET EYE SCREENING

'Meteda' presenting 'Dairet' smart prevention of retinopathy. This product is also marketed as 'Retmarker'.

I tested it to compare with the iCare system, but the results are stored locally for the consultant to interpret.

KNOWU CGM

Know Labs was @ #ATTD2024 showing their 'KnowU' non-invasive wearable diagnostic glucose monitoring device using RF spectroscopy. First impressions it is still very large & even larger if used with an arm strap.  As a layman the science behind it seems good especially that it scans "the entire tissue stack".  CPO Steve Kent discussed Youtube video: "With where we are in the development process we're confident we can miniaturize the system even further which as an engineering and development team is incredibly exciting."  

EMBRACE

One of the more unusual products being shown was the 'Embrace' patch. For use in diabetes-related injection-induced scarring. Using a mechanical compressive force to reduce scarring. 

VIBROSENSE METER II

VibroSense Meter II, for Peripheral Neuropathy Screening of feet or hands. A device on which you place your hand or foot & press a button when you feel a vibration. Provides early detection of subclinical nerve damage in people with diabetes.

INSULINSAVER

InsulinSaver' is a "Simple and continuous temperature monitoring, without any cables or apps". I was given one free to use. Coloured LEDs flash if your insulin has been out of safe range either +30°C high red or +2°C low blue. No BT so just visual warning.

IMHO I think it need audio warning alarm or a Bluetooth link to an app on a phone.

VERTEX STEM CELLS

Our investigational approach is to replace the insulin-producing cells that have been destroyed in people with T1D. We're evaluating multiple approaches to deliver our proprietary, fully-differentiated, insulin-producing cells. One approach, known as VX-880, involves delivery of the insulin-producing cells via infusion into the hepatic (liver) portal vein, and requires ongoing immunosuppression to ensure immune cells don't attack transplanted cells. The second approach, known as VX-264, encapsulates these same cells in a device to be surgically implanted in the body. These devices are designed to shield the cells from the body's immune system. VX-264 is being evaluated without the use of immunosuppresive therapy, which may allow the investigational therapy to reach more of the population of people with T1D. Additional preclinical research is investigating the development of hypoimmune cells to further optimize how we protect the implanted islet cells from the immune system.

MYNERVA

A device to help people with neuropathy to decrease nerve pain, restore sensation & reduce falls with a pleasant non-invasive stimulation. Classified as a class II medical device. Pressure sensors detect how much force is applied to different parts of the feet when walking or standing. These sensors signals the control system which produces electrical stimulation where needed. First photo shows 'sock' with the controller. The other photos show 'sock' inside out to show sensors etc.

Well, that completes my round-up of some of the technology that was being shown or demonstrated at ATTD 2024.  Any questions? Just ask. I will try to answer them or find someone who can. See my contacts page.

Kind Regards,

Martin