Algorithms for a Single Hormone Closed-Loop Artificial Pancreas: Challenges Pertinent to Chemical Process Operations and Control

The development of a closed-loop artificial pancreas to regulate the blood glucose concentration of individuals with type 1 diabetes has been a focused area of research for over 50 years, with rapid progress during the past decade. The daily control challenges faced by someone with type 1 diabetes i...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: B. Wayne Bequette, Faye Cameron, Nihat Baysal, Daniel P. Howsmon, Bruce A. Buckingham, David M. Maahs, Carol J. Levy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2016-10-01
Series:Processes
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2227-9717/4/4/39
Description
Summary:The development of a closed-loop artificial pancreas to regulate the blood glucose concentration of individuals with type 1 diabetes has been a focused area of research for over 50 years, with rapid progress during the past decade. The daily control challenges faced by someone with type 1 diabetes include asymmetric objectives and risks, and one-sided manipulated input action with frequent relatively fast disturbances. The major automation steps toward a closed-loop artificial pancreas include (i) monitoring and overnight alarms for hypoglycemia (low blood glucose); (ii) overnight low glucose suspend (LGS) systems to prevent hypoglycemia; and (iii) fully closed-loop systems that adjust insulin (and perhaps glucagon) to maintain desired blood glucose levels day and night. We focus on the steps that we used to develop and test a probabilistic, risk-based, model predictive control strategy for a fully closed-loop artificial pancreas. We complete the paper by discussing ramifications of lessons learned for chemical process systems applications.
ISSN:2227-9717