'Toxic shock:' can playground static cause insulin pump failure?

摘要

Over the last few decades, a number of manufacturers have developed programmable insulin pumps that allow improved control over insulin delivery via a subcutaneous catheter. The benefits of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion have been clearly demonstrated in children with Type 1 diabetes.1 Although these pumps have self-testing software and are generally robust, under certain circumstances they may experience disruption of or damage to their electronics. In one published report, a 49-year-old woman visiting a science museum experienced pump failure after indirect contact with the charge from a Van de Graaff electrostatic generator.2 There are anecdotal reports of children whose pumps malfunctioned after contact with playground slides (J.H. Ahern, personal communication, 2006).