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Space-tech could make life easier for diabetics

Date: 19-Jan-08
Author: European Space Agency

German student Nicole Schmiedel has come up with a design for a trendy-looking wristwatch that contains an innovative ultra-light insulin pump to help people with type 1 diabetes. The watch produces its own electricity thanks to the use of piezoelectric technology originally developed for European satellites.
 
A prototype of the novel insulin pump wristwatch named COR won one of the three Design and Technology Student Awards at this year's MATERIALICA trade fair in Munich. It was presented for business professionals at this year's European Space Technology Transfer Conference, an initiative of ESA's Technology Transfer Programme Office.


Nicole Schmiedel from Braunschweig University of Arts, Germany, has designed an insulin pump as a trendy-looking wristwatch.  Courtesy: ESA

Inside COR a piezoelectric transducer absorbs the energy of even the slightest movement of the person who wears it and converts it into electricity to drive the insulin pump.

The transducer is based on those developed for space programmes where they are used in micro-positioning and vibration damping of optics embedded on satellites.

Schmiedel wanted to design a system to improve the quality of life for diabetics and allow them to lead as normal a life as possible.

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