VOA慢速英语:Taking Medicine, With a Microchip Under the Skin

Call it medicine on a microchip.
称之为芯片上的药。

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第一台可以直接向人体内提供药物的无线控制装置。一块很小的晶片被植入皮肤下，它含有药物，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.
开发人员称，该设备可以改善数百万因为长期疾病服用药物的人们的寿命。

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的公司约15年前就开始研制这种设备。上个月，该公司公布了首次在人类身体上试验的成功结果。7与骨质疏松症的妇女在丹麦进行了测试。

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.
骨质疏松症会导致骨头变脆并容易折断，该病常见于老年人，尤其是妇女。许多患者必须每天给自己注射药物。一个疗程需要注射两年。

Robert Farra is the president of MicroCHIPS. He says many patients stop taking the medicine because of the pain and stress of the injections.
Robert Farra是MicroCHIPS公司的总裁。他说，许多患者因为注射的疼痛和压力停止服用药。

ROBERT FARRA: "And, as a result, only twenty-five percent of the patients will go through the entire twenty-four months of treatment."
ROBERT FARRA：“因此，只有25%的患者能够完成整个二十四个月的治疗。”

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，分为很多小部分，每个部分携带单个剂量的药物。Farra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."
ROBERT FARRA：“对骨质疏松症来说，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。对于其它疾病，医生可能想要改变给药的方案，他们能够通过无线传输对给药方案进行改编。”

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.
参与研究的7名女性年龄在65到70岁之间。研究人员称，植入芯片和每天注射一样有效。他们还说，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.
该研究中的芯片只有20剂量的药物。Farra先生和他的团队正在设计一个可容纳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."
ROBERT FARRA：“我们预计在两年内完成设计，然后我们可能需要进行两次额外的试验，设备正式商用前总共需要四年时间。”

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，也许有一天，该芯片会让病人从记得每天服药、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也可能有用。