Medtronic Puts Insulin Needle Out of Sight, Out of Mind

Medtronic has launched the latest version of its MiniMed Mio insulin infusion set in Canada, Hong Kong and parts of Europe. The MiniMed Mio Advance is an update of the MiniMed Mio, introduced in 2010 and designed to deliver insulin from an insulin pump to the body. The Mio Advance should make changing infusion sets quicker and easier, according to the company. Diabetic patients who use insulin pumps generally change their infusion set every two or three days, selecting different insertion sites to prevent skin breakdown and maximize insulin absorption. Thin plastic tubing included in the set comes in varying lengths to reach different sites, such as the abdomen, thigh or buttock. The Mio Advance uses a concealed needle to insert a cannula -- a small, tapered tube at the end of the infusion set tube -- under the skin to deliver insulin. “The cannula remains and delivers the insulin from the pump,” explained Danielle Swanson, spokeswoman for the Medtronic Diabetes Group in an email to MD+DI Qmed. “With no exposed needle at any point during insertion, users no longer have to see or come into contact with their insertion set needle.” The Mio Advance has a pre-loaded, disposable, single-use inserter that enables patients to change infusion sets without carrying a separate inserter. It may also be used one-handed, and has the flexibility to access hard-to-reach sites such as the lower back, Swanson said. The four-step insertion process could also make for easier and faster ...
Source: MDDI - Category: Medical Devices Authors: Tags: Medical Device Business Source Type: news