20
KIT
Advanced intervention
An introduction to Medtronic's MiniMed 780G
advanced hybrid closed loop insulin delivery system.
Medtronic received a CE
mark for the latest in its
line of insulin pumps,
the MiniMed 780G, in
summer 2020 and from that point
started rolling out in the autumn to
a few European countries including
the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK.
The full title of the latest addition
to the MiniMed range is the 780G
Advanced Hybrid Closed Loop (AHCL)
System, and it is able to do automatic
adjustments every five minutes (more
if you are high) or suspends (or gives
less) insulin if you're low. It means
it's an easier way to stabilise blood
glucose levels.
So, it's a self-adjusting basal
insulin pump system, with a new
auto-correction algorithm. It has
smartphone connectivity and
personalised glucose targets, to
fit around the individual. Carolina
Martin, Therapy Innovation Senior
Director of the Diabetes Group at
Medtronic, in the Europe, Middle
East and Africa (EMEA) region
explains, "The launch of the MiniMed
780G is the latest example of how
Medtronic uses smart algorithms
to improve patient outcomes
and simplify decisions for people
living with diabetes, leveraging the
company's deep data science and
AI capabilities. From smart pump
to smart pen*, thanks to the recent
acquisition of Companion Medical,
our portfolio offers innovative
tech-enabled solutions for people
on different stages in their diabetes
therapy journey."
The MiniMed 780G AHCL system,
approved for use in people aged
seven to 80 years old, anticipates
insulin needs and leverages
the company's most advanced
SmartGuard algorithm to automate
the delivery of both basal insulin
and correction boluses 24/7, every
five minutes as needed. The aim is
to help more people with diabetes
more easily avoid highs and lows,
reach their targets, all with less
effort involved. Clinical studies
have demonstrated that the AHCL
system requires less effort from the
user to manage highs and lows, and
that outcomes improve even more
with a glucose target of 100 mg/dL
(5.5mmol/L).
Forward thinking
The current system utilizes
Medtronic's Guardian 3 sensor with a
Bluetooth transmitter, but Medtronic
is already thinking about the future
of its CGM technology. Medtronic's
diabetes group president, Sean
Salmon recalls, "Medtronic acquired
Dreamed in 2015 which gave us the
algorithm for the MiniMed 780G
pump. We embarked on Project
Zeus, that being a sensor that did not
require calibration - or at the very
least only once a day. It is the same
architecture, the same shape and size
as the current sensor, but with a new
algorithm. Even further down the
line, Medtronic is working on another
new sensor, this one's 'working title'
is Synergy."
If you think it's not long since the
last new pump, you're not wrong.
Its predecessor, the MiniMed 670G,
came out about two-and-a-half years
ago. Medtronic's CEO Geoff Martha
explains, "The plan was to accelerate
diabetes devices pipeline as feedback
on the MiniMed 670G was that it was
harder to use than its predecessor,
the MiniMed 640G. The aim was to
eliminate some of the hassle factor,
while also adding in new features,
such as new connectivity and app.
The MiniMed 780G system
includes Bluetooth connectivity,
allowing users to easily track
pump and CGM information with
customised options for alerts and
Medtronic's MiniMed 780G
Advanced Hybrid Closed Loop
(AHCL) insulin delivery system.
The aim is to help
more people with
diabetes more
easily avoid highs
and lows, reach
their targets,
all with less
effort involved.