Breaking News: FDA Approves the MiniMed 670G System, World’s First Hybrid Closed Loop System Posted by Karrie Hawbaker On September 28, 2016 In Innovation
Medtronic has received FDA approval of the world’s first hybrid closed loop system! The MiniMed® 670G system is the most advanced insulin pump and sensor system designed to help people with type 1 diabetes spend less time worrying about their glucose levels and more time living their lives.
We know that people with diabetes can live amazing lives and achieve incredible things – you show us that every day! But we also know it takes an incredible amount of work to get and keep those glucose numbers in range. Our vision is to transform diabetes care together, for greater freedom and better health. Part of that means helping you spend more time in range so that instead of worrying so much about your diabetes, you can feel your best and focus on running that marathon, walking across that graduation stage, or just hanging out with friends and family on the beach.
There’s still more to do as we continue our work toward even more advanced solutions like a fully closed loop system. But the MiniMed 670G system is a big step toward that vision and we couldn’t be more thrilled to bring it to you.
SmartGuard™ HCL Technology. Less Worry. More Time in Range.
With our exclusive SmartGuard HCL technology, MiniMed 670G is a hybrid closed loop system. But what does that mean and how does it work? Well, when in Auto Mode, the pump automatically adjusts the delivery of your basal insulin (all that insulin your body needs when you’re not bolusing for food) based on our new, most advanced Guardian® Sensor 3. Auto Mode uses a target of 120 mg/dL and you do still have to enter carbs when you eat and enter blood glucose (BG) readings to calibrate the sensor– that’s why it’s called a hybrid closed loop system. But by automating that basal insulin, the MiniMed 670G system is requiring a lot less input from you than previous pumps and sensors.
Medtronic’s “hybrid closed loop system” utilized the Dexcom CGM (ain’t going to happen for obvious reasons).
This was actually a true APS. In my book, a system doesn’t qualify as an Artificial Pancreas until it is a bi-hormonal system, i.e. utilizes both rapid-acting insulin and “shelf-stable” glucagon administered within a closed-loop system.
I realize that the 670G does utilize an “auto-suspend” feature when predicted (and/or actual) BG is low, but this feature has so far proven (in a large number of those who have used it) to be “too sensitive” in that it suspends delivery of insulin far earlier than it needs to and resumes insulin delivery far later than what is actually required.
That being said, I hope this pump will provide those who choose to use it better BG control and an improved quality of life.
I would not shoot for a blood glucose level of 120 mg/dL. My target is much lower and I know that we each have our own idea of the BG level that we’d like to target. Why is this level not selectable by the user?
I’ve left further extended comments on the other thread that announced this pump release. I think it’s a good first step but I’ll be waiting for the technology to mature some before I commit.
Just Sharing the news! @Terry4 mine is lower as well. I just feel better below that. Doesn’t always happen! lol! @rgcainmd you always have such great thoughts and feedback!
I, too, have read complaints about the threshold suspend feature. It could really wreak havoc if a false low triggered the insulin suspension and you ended hyperglycemic for hours due to an inaccurate sensor. This is a new sensor system from Med-T. Perhaps they’ve made a large jump in accuracy and dependability, but I’m skeptical.
I think @swisschocolate used a Med-T pump, available in Europe but not the US, with an earlier model number. She was not that impressed by it and I think she’s on MDI now.
I think that this is a good first step. Having used APS for about one month I can confirm that it’s not perfect but much better than no automation at all. The reaction of the basal has a big delay so I’ve had to set my APS targets very narrow in order to achieve the real target values.
Re Enlite, I have a friend who is using the latest MM pump with those and he is more than happy with the results.
All of which sounds like a problem of trying to compensate for current “rapid acting” insulins just not acting–or clearing–rapidly enough. Basically it’s just struggling with the same problem we confront in operating these things manually. You’re always taking actions in anticipation of what you think is going to happen based on what your CGM is telling you, and whereas you can get pretty good at it you’re always struggling against how slowly any changes you make can take effect.
As this press release topic was posted at the same time as a topic on the same subject, the admin team has decide to close this topic. If you’d like to comment on this new development, please do so on this topic
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