Technology Report - Taking Medicine, With a Microchip Under the Skin
科技报道 - 皮下芯片植入给药
This is the VOA Special English Technology Report.
这里是美国之音慢速英语科技报道。
Call it medicine on a microchip.
我们把它称作是芯片上的药。
Researchers in the United States have developed the first wirelessly controlled device that can supply a drug directly into the body. A small chip is implanted under the skin. It contains the medicine, which it releases at preset times.
美国研究人员已经研制出首台可以向体内直接供药的无线控制装置。一块很小的晶片被植入皮肤下，晶片里含有药物，会在预设的时间释放出来。
The developers say the device could improve the lives of millions of people who take medicine for long-term illnesses.
开发者表示，该设备可以提高数百万因为长期疾病服药的人们的寿命。
A company called MicroCHIPS began developing the device about fifteen years ago. Last month, the company released the results of its first successful tests in humans. The tests took place in Denmark with seven women with osteoporosis.
一家名为MicroCHIP的公司大约在15年前开始研制这种设备。上个月，该公司发布了首次人体试验成功结果。丹麦7名患有骨质酥松症的妇女参与了试验。
Osteoporosis causes bones to become weak and break easily. The disorder is common among older people, especially women. Many patients have to give themselves daily injections of medicine. One type of treatment requires injections for two years.
骨质酥松症导致骨头变脆容易折断，这种疾病常见于老年人，特别是老年妇女中。许多患者必须每天注射药物。有一类疗法需要注射两年。
Robert Farra is the president of MicroCHIPS. He says many patients stop taking the medicine because of the pain and stress of the injections.
罗伯特·法拉是MicroCHIPS公司的总裁。他表示，许多患者由于注射的疼痛和压力停止用药。
ROBERT FARRA: "And, as a result, only twenty-five percent of the patients will go through the entire twenty-four months of treatment."
法拉：“因此，只有25%的患者能够完成全部二十四个月的治疗。”
The microchip is a few centimeters long. It has small sections that each hold a single dose of medicine. Mr. Farra says the device has to be programmed with the times to release the drug.
这种微型芯片只有几厘米长，分为很多小区域，每个区域携带了一个剂量的药物。法拉先生说，这种设备必须被编程来按时释放药物。
ROBERT FARRA: "For osteoporosis, the physician will program the device, and the device has the ability to release a dose at a given time, every single day. For other diseases, where the physician may want to alter the dosing schedule, they will have the ability to wirelessly reprogram that dosing schedule."
法拉：“对骨质酥松症来说，医生将对该设备编程，该设备能够在每天特定时间释放一个剂量的药物。对其它疾病来说，医生可能想要修改给药方案，这种设备将能够通过无线传输对给药方案重新编程。”
He says doctors will be able to reprogram the device from a computer or even a cell phone.
他说，医生将能够通过电脑甚至是手机对该设备进行重新编程。
The seven women in the study were ages sixty-five to seventy. The researchers say the implants were just as effective as daily injections. And they say the dosage amounts were more exact than patients often give themselves.
研究涉及的7名女性年龄在65到70岁之间。研究人员表示，植入芯片和每天注射一样有效。他们还表示，用药量比病人自己注射更为精确。
The microchips in the study held only twenty doses of medicine. Mr. Farra and his team are now designing a version that could hold a full year’s worth of medicine.
该研究中的芯片只携带了20剂量的药物。法拉先生和他的团队正在设计一个能够携带全年用药量的新版本。
ROBERT FARRA: "We anticipate two years to complete the design, and then we may be required to do two additional trials, taking us out to a total of four years before the device is available on the commercial scale."
法拉：“我们预计两年完成该设计，然后我们可能需要进行两次附加试验，设备正式商用前一共需要四年时间。”
He says the microchips may one day free patients from having to remember to take their medicine, or give themselves injections. He says the device may also be useful in treating other chronic diseases, including heart disease and multiple sclerosis.
他说，该芯片可能有一天能够让病人从记得每日服药、注射中解脱出来。他说这种设备在治疗其它慢性疾病，包括心脏病和多发性硬化症上可能也很有用。
And that's the VOA Special English Technology Report, written by June Simms. I'm Christopher Cruise. |