USA — Medtronic, a healthcare technology company, has launched a new infusion set called Medtronic Extended, which can be worn continuously for up to seven days in the United States.

The new infusion set was created in collaboration with Convatec Infusion Care, a Danish developer, and manufacturer of infusion solutions.

The infusion set for delivering insulin from a pump to the body typically requires changing every two to three days. It is available exclusively for customers using MiniMed 600 and 700 series pumps.

Medtronic designed its infusion set with advanced materials for reducing insulin preservative loss and maintaining insulin flow. This helps provide stability, doubling the wear time of a typical infusion set.

By doubling the wear time, the company hopes to save 25% on annual insulin costs and 50% on plastic waste for MiniMed 600 and 700 series pump users.

The launch in the United States comes as Medtronic’s insulin pump franchise faces challenges following a warning letter from the Food and Drug Administration last year, and the company later removed sales of its latest pump from its 2023 guidance.

It features a new tubing connector that improves the physical and chemical stability of insulin, the reliability of infusion site performance, and reduces the risk of infusion set occlusion.

The system also features an adhesive patch with a layer that helps extend wear time and provide comfort and durability.

Medtronic said its Extended reservoir represents the only infusion set reservoir tested and cleared for this duration, too.

Approximately 537 million adults are living with diabetes mellitus as per the 2021 international diabetes federation estimate, and the number is predicted to rise to 643 million by 2030.

Across the borders, Health Canada has granted a license to Medtronic’s MiniMed 780G automated insulin delivery system.

The company designed its MiniMed 780G advanced hybrid closed-loop insulin pump system to automatically adjust and correct sugars every five minutes.

According to Medtronic, it marks the first and only insulin pump system in Canada to do so. It also features SmartGuard technology for avoiding highs and lows in blood sugar.

SmartGuard enables users to personalize their glucose goals with an adjustable target setting. The setting, as low as 5.5 mmol/L, comes in lower than any other advanced hybrid closed-loop system, Medtronic said. It helps stabilize blood sugar levels to further improve glucose control.

Medtronic said in a news release that the system also significantly reduces the need for injections. It does so for up to 96% of those using insulin pens alone, the company said.

The insulin pump market is expected to gain significant traction in the coming years as a result of the sharp rise in diabetes cases worldwide, combined with the emergence of highly advanced types of insulin.

Furthermore, the growing awareness of diabetes, the benefits of home infusion, and the capability of automation research and development of artificial pancreas, as well as the increase in awareness dissemination programs by major corporations, will boost this line of work.

However, significant costs associated with insulin pumps and the overall therapy can limit their demand in the market.

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