I’ve been a Medtronic pump user since the early 2000s. Over the past 6-7 years, I have had fine cracks appear on the back of my pumps, usually emanating from below the area of the battery top. I swear that I am not over-tightening the cap because it’s virtually impossible to do that because once you turn the cap, it stops automatically. Medtronic has always replaced the pumps but I’m just curious as to whether others have experienced this. I carry the pump in my bra, it’s not subject to falling (which I’ve never caused), and is protected in my bra from bumps. Thanks for any comments. Terry
I just had this happen about a month ago. I only realized it because I took my pump off to swim and stuck it in a ziplock in a cooler. Well the ziplock leaked and some water got in which shouldn’t have affected the pump but it did. When I called Medtronic’s help line the tech asked me to look if there was a crack since the pump should be waterproof. I couldn’t find an obvious crack but there was water in the battery compartment which caused the failure. I looked again with a magnifying glass and I could see a very fine hairline crack on the battery side of the pump. I’ve no idea how long it was there as I’ve had the pump almost 4 years and If I hadn’t gotten it wet I might never have noticed it.
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Mine is cracked there too. Same as you, just from normal use. Would be interesting to know if Medtronic is aware.
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Thank you so much. I checked my pump and see it has cracks from the top of the battery compartment down the side so I called Medtronic and they are replacing my pump.
I appreciate this group so much.
If this has happened to me about 5 or 6 times over the past 8 or 9 years, then doesn’t this sound like a manufacturing defect? I’ve done some general google searches to see if anything is out there but haven’t been successful.
I have had this issue also, but not since they replaced the cap for the 780g. I always keep a close eye on that. Only once have i ever cracked a pump by dropping it in 35 years of pumping.
Mike
I hate to bring up the stupid form, but you know the routine…they ought to know. Medical Device Reporting (MDR): How to Report Medical Device Problems | FDA
Thank you. Wasn’t aware of this and will do a search. Medtronic has always replaced the pump. I’ve lost faith in today’s FDA, however.
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It’s a pain to fill out the form. We never do it enough. Nobody knows about these issues when they pop up, so we should fill out the form.
CMS has an initiative that all pumps and CGM hardware will be rented to consumers who don’t own the hardware. Stuff like this makes the idea a little silly. Some of the diabetics are now referring to CMS as “Rent-a-center” 
Diabetics are hilarious.
Twice, I received that questionnaire from the vendor CCS that fills my pump and cgm supplies. When I got the 780G system a few years ago, I was sort of forced to use them rather than ordering supplies directly from Medtronic. Then yesterday I received an email from CCS encouraging me to submit comments on the proposed rule change of renting vs owning. It had to do with the bidding process. It appears CCS likes being a Medicare vendor and doesn’t want additional competition.
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The Louisiana AG sent a cease and desist to CVS/Caremark after CVS texted all their customers in the state about some pending PBM legislation that CVS didn’t like on the grounds it was misuse of patient data. Maybe let Medicare know about CCS. https://www.cms.gov/medical-bill-rights/help/submit-a-complaint
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Where to report a medical device in Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/medeffect-canada/adverse-reaction-reporting.html
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That was a BIG deal, @spdif. The pharmacists went ape ■■■■. That was their bill that prompted retaliation by CVS. The events of this year could be a movie.
Already a movie: Idiocracy with Owen Wilson.
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I am curious, do you regularly wipe down the pump with alcohol?
Or regularly use a solvent to help remove insertion set adhesive?
I have destroyed several plastic items by just wiping them down with alcohol and then watching them craze and crack over the next days. I once bought a pair of glasses and the optical shop wiped them down with acetone and they just CRACKED INTO A MILLION PIECES in the hour after I brought them home.
Tim
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I’ve never done either of those two things.
I was taught not to use alcohol on skin because it kills the skin, so I just never do it. I get covered in adhesive and eventually it just wears away.
Nope, never have done either.
I’m in a Facebook group that suggests heat is what causes the cracks. I used to wear my pump on a belt loop and never had issues. The past 3 or 4 years I’ve had it in my pocket and about a year ago noticed the dreaded crack. I throughly check it every time I change the battery now. (I use the silicone cover.).
Do you use spray on sunscreen? It’s known to make plastic crack. I don’t know about Medtronic’s manuals, but both Mobi and Omnipod manuals say not to expose them to spray on sunscreen.or other aerosol sprays.