The only thing that ever bothers me with sets or sensors, is the darn sharp edge of the overtape for the transmitter. Anyone else have to shove something under the edges to prevent irritation? I saw many complaints on another forum and someone said they cut the flap off before installation of the set. I hope I remember to do that at my next sensor change.
You might try getting some IV 3000 , cut it in half and put it over the end of the transmitter that has the sharp edged over tape. Don't cover the whole set with it, since you need moisture to drain out for showers and such.
I tape differently. I use two slightly overlapped IV3000's and don't get any water trapped except in the rare circumstance where an edge has lifted. I can see if that has happened and will retape if necessary. I get up to 13 days from a sensor by making sure it doesnt move at all. I don't follow MM advice to just use their overtape,. tried that. major failures. It's just not enough dressing to hold the sensor and xmitter in place when I am actively working, sweating, etc. I'm not advocating anyone else do it my way. just reporting what I do.
I am not sure what sort of an answer you are looking for because I don't understand what problem you are having. Could you give a bit more of a description?
I have never thought of the edges of the Enlite overtape as sharp. I included the pic to the right just to confirm we're talking about the same tape. Are we?
Where are the sharp edges?
To go in another direction, you can also apply any of the usual "skin barrier" preps to avoid skin irritation. The catch is Medtronic wants you to do this only after you have inserted the Enlite.
In other words, you could insert, remove the introducer needle, and then swab the area where the overtape will be applied with a skin barrier product.
Of course, you will want to do this very, very gently & carefully in order to avoid either jostling/moving the sensor probe or contaminating the sensor connectors. But from what I've seen, Medtronic is focusing more and more on taping & adhesives in an effort to overcome their "less special" mechanical design.
By the way, the pic above is (obviously) from an entry posted to the "Rollin' In The D" blog a bit over 6 months ago. The title of that blog entry is "How to build a better Enlite". Something I'm definitely going to go back and look at when I have more time. My opinion right now is that one of the biggest problems with the Enlite is not it's sensor tech & chemistry as much as consequences of the unfortunate physical design choices Medtronic seems unable to stop making.
-iJohn
Medtronic (now ?) suggests a number of alternatives when it comes to taping the Enlite beyond simply using the overtape which comes in the box with the Enlite.
At the end of the document (PDF) "Enlite Sensor Taping Tips" suggestions for overtaping the transmitter both IV3000 & Tegaderm are shown, not just the Enlite overtape.
And this "Additional Tape Tips" document (PDF) also references the IV3000 & Tegaderm overtaping methods. In addition, it shows/suggests using Skin Tac or Mastisol or whatever after inserting to secure the Enlite.
-iJohn
FWIW, I have been experimenting with using a cardboard template to cut an appropriately sized rectangle in the center of a Tegaderm and then using that bigger piece of tape to hopefully more assertively secure the sensor.
The pics below may help better illustrate what it is I'm trying to do. I think it helps so I continue to try this. But I can't really point to anything quantitative to prove it helps. Maybe all it does is make me feel better. ;-)
-iJohn
I'm talking about the FLAP that goes over the xmitter. where it folds is super sharp. No other tape product with the enlite or anything else I use has that issue. It is a very heavy tape with a sharp folded-over edge. Sorry i wasn't clear before.
I'm talking about the FLAP that goes over the xmitter. where it folds is super sharp.
Ohhhhh, that! Hmmm. I never thought about it before, but you're right that those edges could dig in.
Have you tried placing a piece of tape which you can wear comfortably (IV3000 ?) underneath that end of the transmitter before overtaping it?
In other words, after you gently & loosely fold that tab over to secure the transmitter, but before you overtape the transmitter, lay a piece of tape down on the skin under the back end to help minimize the amount the tape fold there can "cut" into your skin.
While IV3000 is probably fine for proof of concept, if you wanted to do this routinely I would suggest possibly trying a roll of Smith & Nephew Opsite Flexifix. Because you only cut off as much as you need from the roll each time you use it, you might have less waste. And those specialized patch tapes are definitely not cheap.
-iJohn
The next sensor, I'm going to cut that flap off and just use the IV3000 to hold the xmitter.
Two overlapped IV3000 are quite tenaciousYou can try a modified 'Open Faced' sandwich method.
Cut a circular hole (using a cardboard template similar to the one shown above - I think I'm going to try a hole punch next time) in a piece of Tegaderm, large enough for the sensor to go through - because we all know that the sensor cannot penetrate anything but skin to remain within FDA guidelines and sensor warranty. :-)
Prep the skin, place the modified Tegaderm where required, insert the sensor through the hole in the Tegaderm. Then use the overtape as directed (enhanced method with two pieces.)
I put reference marks on the Tegaderm paper border and leave that on until after I insert the sensor. Line up the reference arrows on the sides of the inserter with your reference marks to get it positioned just right.
Sounds way more complicated that it is. Takes about three seconds to mark and cut the Tegaderm. Easy Peasy, Lemon Squeezy.
Works like a charm.
here is a link to a thread discussing the same problem I'm having with irritation from the xmitter tape.
http://www.insulinpumpforums.com//index.php?showtopic=5488&st=20