Maybe one day we’ll see it. Even if you like what you have now, new options and new competition in the pump market are always welcome.
For what it’s worth, comment from the CEO: Sophie Baratte, Chief Executive Officer of Cellnovo, commented: “ Progress towards full completion of the manufacturing transfer to Flex continues steadily while taking more time than previously expected . Delivery of the wax actuator assemblies significantly increases the near - term production capacity at our facility in South Wales. Given the high levels of demand for our product, this increase will help meet patients’ short term needs ahead of a more significant capacity increase on achieving full manufacturing transfer in early Q2 2017.”
They have been exhibiting prototypes at Diabetes technology meetings in the UK for a while and are now in production.
However, from looking in some detail at their specs and examining the actual pumps, I don’t seem them as particularly revolutionary. The are a patch pump with a nice user interface, some uploadable capacity and an interchangeable cannula system (in this respect an advance on Omnipod). Unfortunately they do not currently have a linked CGM system. AFAIK, pump technology is moving in the direction of AP capability and any system without that capability is going to be obsolete within the next couple of years.
@Mila2 and I met this guys at the Latin American Diabetes Association in Colombia last November. The design looks amazing, the chargers and data transfer to a pc. They were presenting it however they had no answer to “when will it be available in our countries” I am guessing it will be sometime soon as the assistants to that particular conference were health professionals from Latam Countries and the US.
It is classified as a patch pump. There is a short piece of tubing which connects it to an infusion set. The advantage is that unlike the omnipod you have a full choice of infusion set types. You can also change the set in the event of a set failure without having to abandon the pump itself. You stick the pump next to the infusion set and control it via a touchscreen remote, so it is “effectively” tubeless because you don’t have to deal with the tubing.
I understand the reasoning behind it, yet, I don’t see it as a good solution as it is a halfway one. Just to be clear, I am not a fan of Omnipod either since you have that big lump attached to you all the time. Personally I have zero issues with the tubing and I have been pumping for 19 yrs now in Feb.
Tubing doesn’t bother me either and I don’t hanker after an Omnipod. I disagree that it is a “halfway” solution as it is worn as a patch pump. One of the major drawbacks of Ominpod is the integration of the cannula system. As such users are restricted to the 45 degree cannula provided. More importantly, as you are well aware, the weak point of any pump is the infusion site. These are susceptible to site degradation and failure. Because of the “throw-away-at-3-days” nature of the Omnipod, changing the site earlier is expensive and users are probably tempted to continue with a poor site. The Cellnovo system dispenses with this problem as the site can be changed whenever the user feels appropriate. Four centimetres of tubing is not a significant inconvenience.
It is also worth noting that in contrast to the Omnipod, part of the patch pump is re-usable making it potentially more economic and environmentally friendly
I agree with jjm335 on this! It is a limiting factor that a little 5 year old using the omnipod would use the same size cannula as a professional football player. There is a reason all the other pump companies offer different type infusion sets!
Just want to quickly correct a few things on the OmniPod. Disclaimer : I used the Omnipod for the better part of the last 10 years and loved it. Would not use any other pump (although the Cellnovo pump looks promising) because of the tubeless nature, but your YDMV. Currently on a pump vacation and not sure I’ll go back, but that’s neither here nor there.
The pump cannula on the OmniPod is 6.5mm long and inserts at an angle of 60 degrees. I’ve looked at the Cellnovo pump and honestly to me, it doesn’t look that much different. It is still attached to you just as the OmniPod is. The software looks excellent and the one thing I wish Insulet would add to the OP is the ability to give a bolus straight from the pump without the PDM.
Again, not trying to discourage the Cellnovo pump as I’m the biggest proponent of early technological adoption and new treatment methods (Afrezza) but wanted to correct a couple of misstatements on the OmniPod.
Would love to hear/learn more about the Cellnovo pump so fire away!!!
From what I have heard, the Cellnovo pump would let you choose different infusion sets. I think that is a big draw for me. If omnipod offered a 9mm, I’d jump at that without any hesitation.
I actually have to bolus more when using a pod than when I am taking an injection. The only thing I can figure is it’s because of the little bitty cannula.
The Cellnovo looks a little more blocky, not as streamlined. That’s a bit of a downer.
I’m into my third month of using the Omnipod, and honestly, most of the time I forget it’s there, it’s that lightweight and unnoticeable and out of the way. (Of course, now I’ve jinxed myself and my next pod will be a real pain.)
Same for me. I don’t notice the pods at all. It’s really like it isn’t even there. I can’t tell any difference between a pod and a Dexcom sensor in terms of feeling it.
In fact, one time when my pod expired, without thinking, I peeled off my Dex sensor instead of the pod. Doh! The sensor was only a couple of days old!
It doesn’t matter which one you use - if you have a pump you’re going to be dealing with a lump somewhere. The real issue is where you prefer that lump to be. With the omnipod and tandem, I haven’t had many issues with lump placement. With my Ping on the other hand, that lump felt like a burden.
I found the best part about tubeless wasn’t really the lack of tubing but rather the increase in site placements since I didn’t have to think about what article of clothing would best hold my pump.
I also found this to be the case when I wore a Pod. (Albeit this was for three whole days only when my daughter first started pumping; it was filled with saline, and worn in order for me to feel what wearing a Pod was like. I readily admit: hardly “A Day in the Life”!)
Did you post your reasons for taking a pump vacation somewhere? Im curious, ive been a pump user for more than 10 years, perhaps somewhere around 12, have never taken a vacation, except when going to the beach for a couple of days. But I´ve heard many friends taking longer vacation periods.
Honestly, I’m just burnt on having something attached to me all the time. I also wear my Dex G5, but I hardly notice it and wear it for 20+ days. I don’t really notice the OmniPod either and it’s great and the only pump I’d use (and have been using for over 10 years) but I just need a break from it. Plus, with the release of Tresiba, taking a one shot a day basal that is so stable is a breeze. Also, with Afrezza, taking a bolus for meal or correction doesn’t need to be a shot.
I guess for me, the technological and pharmaceutical advances in diabetes treatment have allowed me to stop having a machine attached to me while being able to maintain excellent control. In other words, I went to the pump 15+ years ago because my basal insulin was not very good and I had to take 2 shots of it a day. Plus, I had to take multiple shots meals/corrections and it just made sense to get on the pump. With Afrezza and Tresiba (and I still take Novolog shots sometimes) it may seem to some that going back to MDI&P doesn’t make much sense, but for me it’s been a step forward thus far.
As with everything YDMV and it’s all about individual choice and what works best.
Thank you, really interesting. I´ve seen in my practice many people with what I know could call Diabetes Tech Burnout. I wonder if the causes are always alike in different people. I appreciate your reply.
For me, diabetes burnout occurred when I found myself making more effort and getting worse results. As long as all my efforts lead to very good control, that’s enough to motivate me to stay the course.
I also think that many people attempt to get good BG results and when they do, they turn their back on diabetes, to some extent, so that they can live their “real life.”
I don’t look at it like that. I don’t have two lives, one with diabetes and one I consider the more important real life. I live one life where I weave in my diabetes tactics so I can pursue a meaningful life. I take pleasure in dominating diabetes. That mindset and habit produces more energy than it takes and can naturally fuel projects that lend my life meaning.
I like to analyze and figure things out, but I avoid tech burnout by just doing it without thinking. It’s like when you become so used to driving. After a while, you no longer think about what a traffic light means, you just react to it naturally.
