Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hi,

Would it be possible to create a pancrease using the Artifical pancreas project in the project section but enhance it using an arduino? So when the ph levels change the arduino can sense it.

Instead of using glucose and blood I'd use soda and vinegar as a proof of concept.

Would that work and if so is there anything else I could get done with the arduino board?

Also is it good enough to use soda and vinegar or could I replace them with more higher chemicals?

Thanks in advance.

Hi,

That's a great idea to use an arduino as the controller. The 'pancreas' project is not an artificial pancreas. it is just a way of demonstrating approximately what happens in the human body to regulate blood sugar. In chemistry there are instruments that are used to titrate acids and bases and they work in a similar way.

The goal in regulating human blood glucose levels for diabetics is to make a device that measures blood glucose and responds by releasing an exact amount of insulin. This is what happens in the human body. You asked about using something other than vinegar and baking soda and that is a great idea. You could try to come up with a way to measure glucose concentration continuously and then set the arduino to cut in the pump when the glucose dropped to a certain point and then shut it off when the glucose level was back to normal.

The problem is that I don't know how to measure glucose concentration continuously; and even if there is a way, it may be so complex and expensive that it would be beyond your resources. Hopefully some other experts may have an idea about this. You can also post your question on the Physical Sciences forum. One of the chemists there may know a way to monitor glucose concentration in such a way that you can input a signal to the arduino and program it to respond in a certain way.

Good luck and let us know what you decide to do.

Sybee