I'm for certain umpteen of you detected the intelligence yesterday that Roche Diabetes has acquired Israel-founded Medingo, makers of the much-anticipated Unaccompanied insulin patch pump — a would-be conduct competitor to the OmniPod tubeless tire pumping scheme.

Roche paid $160 billion for the small company and its engineering, which is a drop in the bucket in industry terms. The contrac release predicts "worldwide availability away 2012."

In case you'Re curious, the Solo system already had an structured glucose meter using Roche's Accu-Chek system and trial run strips, disunite of an earlier agreement 'tween the two companies. So yes, adding this next-generation insulin livery gimmick not just bolsters Roche's position in the pump market (where IT trails tail end Medtronic & JnJ Animas), but will also – surprise, surprisal – allow the society to sell more trial strips.  Insulin pump patients account for almost 25% of totally test strips oversubscribed, according to the authorities.

But put on't take this divulgement for a lack of ebullience present. I know a good deal of patients, including myself, have been excited to interpret more of the Solo organisation, which wish have a couple of John R. Major advantages finished the current OmniPod, notably a smaller "pod" profile and the ability to disconnect and reconnect, without being involuntary to waste any portion of the device OR the insulin therein.

It is well-illustrious that Medtronic is also working happening a tubeless patch pump, while the OmniPod folks are preparing a inexperienced, smaller pod to be lauched soon(ish?) Both of those companies are furiously working along integrating CGM (continuous glucose monitoring) capability with their wireless pump systems. Thusly it's a race to market, it seems. But is it just around who gets their system unstylish first? I don't think so.

If you ask me, this charge to a refreshing era of tube-free pumping is most exciting because it puts the principles of design and serviceableness — as distinct by the long-suffering — to the forefront finally.

With multiple parts, pieces that make to be set and attached and detached, and adhesives meant to keep a container of insulin comfortably stuck to your tegument for days at a time, these systems buns be preferably complex. I can tell you from personal experience trying out the various CGM sensors on the market: approximately are designed way improve than others!

So WHO will do patch pumps optimum? The ever-communicative David Kliff of Diabetic Investor makes this observation (gotta keep quoting the hombre because he is a rarefied and renowned financial/industry analyst dedicated to diabetes):

"The Alone is conscionable too complicated … especially when put side-by-ide against the OmniPod, which is one of the most patient-friendly systems available."

Moreover, helium "can't imagine a physician OR more importantly a certified diabetes educator recommending the Solo over the OmniPod. As known by one industry expert the Solo 'was configured away engineers to equal used by engineers.' "

Not healthful.

On the unusual hand, some patients who've dependable the free Solo demo kit (you butt still get one for a limited clock time) suppose they are "rather enamored it." Bernard too reported He was "impressed with the design and style." I've seen information technology personally likewise and find it to be pleasingly flat. Since the patch has a reusable "provenience" and resuable ticker groundwork, the only thing disposable is the insulin reservoir itself (which holds up to 200 units).

Naturally, we'rhenium only talking about the "pod" Beaver State patch portion of the system to that degree.

What about the accountant unit? I've really seen some early live demos of the Solo Remote myself. Ironically, it looks much as Insulet's new color PDM. But it didn't use the same straightforward "genuine language" terms that make the OmniPod then easy to control. I wonder, by the clock time of launch — how many an screens will users ingest to scroll through to carry out BASIC tasks, for example?

The Roche acquisition theoretically way this system will be available terminated the country faster, with very solid infrastructure in terms of physician and customer support.

Now I can't wait for U.S.A customers to determine which of these other patch pumps wish deliver the goods the impending Usability Wars!