Thursday, 18 December 2014

An evoluntionary change is here! Medtronic 640G



Over the last eight years my little device that sits on my hip or in my pocket every second of every day has changed my life and it has become one of the most important pieces in my life which allows me to live my life to the upmost..... However, as stated in the title, an evolutionary change is here and I am excited to make the change.
 
The change that I refer to is the MiniMed® 640G System^(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wl6WDkxXjBc), Medtronic's next approved pump that not only has the state of the art technology and reliability that we have come to love in previous pumps but it also brings predictive technology (SmartGuard) to the forefront. In the Veo when connected to the CGM it has the assurance that if you drop low and have no response to the alarms then the pump will automatically shut down for a period of time. This sees you still having a Hypo which could be causing damage especially in young children. The SmartGuard now extends past the ability to automatically shut down once you hit your pre-set low, to being able to predict 30min BEFORE you reach a low and stop the insulin delivery. Once the sensor reads that your going back to a stable levels the pump will begin again automatically.

This technology is one step closer to being a fully automated artificial pancreas. A step in management that we are all waiting for and the only thing better would be a cure.

If the SmartGuard isn't enough Medtronic has gone above and beyond with other features. I have only had an initial play with the pump but the other features include -

  • Waterproof!!!!!!! yes you heard right the new pump is now waterproof up to 3.6m. No more worrying about your little one running into water and freaking out that the pump is still on.
  • Colour screen. Not only does the colour screen not even look like it is an electronic screen but the device has an inbuilt light sensor so that no matter if your in direct sunlight or in the shadows then the screen will be easily read.
  • Programmability. The MiniMed® 640G has the ability to pre-set various settings. For example if you or your T1 child has a usual exercise pattern or is doing PE at school then you can have a setting in the pump that is customised to be PE. You can have it so that you or a teacher can go and press go on the setting rather than change the settings manually (which could be dangerous until the user or operator is experienced). The setting will go for the desired amount of time and at the basal rate required. You can also pre-set meals which will also be a great benefit for little T1's.
  • This pump has various alarms and alarms you can set for different times of the day. For example if your at work in meetings and you want to be discrete about your pump then during the day you can turn the alarm to low or off and then at night to ensure it wakes you up you can have it at a higher alert tone.
  • The device no longer looks like a pager. It has the look of an MP3 player or even a SMART phone. Its profile is changed to be portrait, which can be used in one hand and the overall look is nothing like anything else on the market. Colour range is still available which will suite the aesthetically challenged of us.

This is in no way the full list of benefits and as I said I only had a small play with the device and as I am connected and get to know my new best friend I will be able to delve a lot deeper into the benefits that I, my daughter and even my whole family will experience.


This is one of the most exciting times of my T1 life. Yes that means this change in my 25 years is as exciting and if not more exciting than getting the pump as it allows security and safety for me, my daughter and my whole family. If you want more information head to www.medtronic-diabetes.com.au