Enlite sensor Options

[Mike G]

How is Medtronic going to get past the FDA with the built in 3 day limit in the Revel firmware? Yes - they can release new pumps - but what are they going to say for current users, "Oh - see - we will just tell the current pump users to ignore the first sensor end and have them restart!"?

I don't see that flying - granted we do it now - but it is not blessed by Medtronic. I could see approval only coming with updated pump and possibly not being available to old pump users. Hope I am wrong!!!!

[aggie168]

Yes, unit with updated firmware is the only way to get to 6/7 days. When the new sensor is available.
Yes, I don't think they will be "kind" enough to let everyone send it their pump for a firmware update at no charge.

So the official answer may be:

1. New model support 6/7 days sensor.
2. Send unit in for Pathway upgrade and pay $xxx for it. The pitch is you get twice the run time on your sensor, it pays for itself in a matter of months.
3. Some of us know better and just reset every 3 days.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Liz]

Liz, I'll try to answer in a compact way (after running about ~20 Enlite sensors):
* The insertion is less painful with Enlite sensors.
* The Enlite sensors last about as long as Sof-Sensors. Sensors seem to last shorter now than before, but that goes also for the old sensor type.
* The taping works better with the Enlite sensors. You do not have to tape down the whole sensor/transmitter any more, so it does not become as humid and itchy as with Sof-Sensor. But after recharging the transmitter the taping may be more difficult, since the tape is attached to the sensor and must be broken in order to recharge.

I have noticed a lot of complaints on various forums from Minimed users (here in the USA) who are complaining that their sensors don't last as long. Keep in mind these are the Sof-Sensors we get here. Currently the only sensors I have are more than a year expired and as always, some are great and run for 20+ days and some just make it a week. In one box, I've had my longest running sensor and three that lasted a week each. My last one went for two weeks. I still have a couple left in the box.

I don't really feel much pain with the current sensors and even if I do, the pain stops within a minute of insertion. The only time I've had a painful sensor was in my arm, I think maybe it was moving slightly and touching a nerve at times.

Are you finding the built in tape on the Enlite sensors to be adequate? Does it hold up well to daily showers, humidity etc? I use Hypafix to cover mine so I rarely get any irritation from the tape and no sweat builds up underneath.

How is Medtronic going to get past the FDA with the built in 3 day limit in the Revel firmware? Yes - they can release new pumps - but what are they going to say for current users, "Oh - see - we will just tell the current pump users to ignore the first sensor end and have them restart!"?

I don't see that flying - granted we do it now - but it is not blessed by Medtronic. I could see approval only coming with updated pump and possibly not being available to old pump users. Hope I am wrong!!!!

I wonder if they'll keep enough of the old sensors on hand for people with Revel/x22 pumps and claim that those pumps won't work with the newer sensors? When they do eventually get FDA clearance for the sensors I bet a brand new pump model will come out along with it.

Right now, I'm not feeling impatient waiting for the new sensor since the old ones work well for me. I understand they're intimidating for some people but I can't help thinking that maybe the newer sensors won't work as well for me. That would suck.

[anderfo]

I have noticed a lot of complaints on various forums from Minimed users (here in the USA) who are complaining that their sensors don't last as long. Keep in mind these are the Sof-Sensors we get here. Currently the only sensors I have are more than a year expired and as always, some are great and run for 20+ days and some just make it a week. In one box, I've had my longest running sensor and three that lasted a week each. My last one went for two weeks. I still have a couple left in the box.

As explained, I feel that the Enlite sensors last approximately as long as the Sof-Sensors do.

I don't really feel much pain with the current sensors and even if I do, the pain stops within a minute of insertion. The only time I've had a painful sensor was in my arm, I think maybe it was moving slightly and touching a nerve at times.

The insertion of Enlite sensors is less painful. I have never had much trouble with pain wearing the sensor so I can't comment on that.

Are you finding the built in tape on the Enlite sensors to be adequate? Does it hold up well to daily showers, humidity etc? I use Hypafix to cover mine so I rarely get any irritation from the tape and no sweat builds up underneath.

It holds up much better than the old system. I shower every morning and have no problems. It gets way less humid than before, because the transmitter is on the outside of the taping and because the tape is not a complete patch (it has a hole in the center).
There's still something to improve when it comes to taping, but it's way better than before.

I wonder if they'll keep enough of the old sensors on hand for people with Revel/x22 pumps and claim that those pumps won't work with the newer sensors? When they do eventually get FDA clearance for the sensors I bet a brand new pump model will come out along with it.

All the old pumps work with the newer sensors. The interface is identical and you use your old transmitter... The transmitter will not know if the sensor is an Enlite sensor or a Sof-Sensor.

[JohnG]

The Enlite sensor is backwards compatible so anyone with a paradigm pump/CGM will be able to use them.
I would not have a problem taking the pathway upgrade so I could go longer than three days without a sensor
restart, restarting the sensor is not a big deal but my sensors never seem to end at a convenient time.

This post has been edited by JohnG: Jan 9 2012, 12:56 PM

[Linda B]

, restarting the sensor is not a big deal but my sensors never seem to end at a convenient time.

Why wait for them to end? I try to be aware if I'm close to the 3 day timer, and will restart and calibrate with my next meal.

Linda B.

[Liz]

Why wait for them to end? I try to be aware if I'm close to the 3 day timer, and will restart and calibrate with my next meal.

Linda B.

I also rarely wait for the sensor to end before I restart it. If I've calibrated a new sensor for the first time in the morning, I will often restart it 2 1/2 days later because my mornings can sometimes be unpredictable and hectic. I'd much rather calibrate before dinner. I inserted a new sonsor on Sunday night and turned it on this morning. I will most likely restart it Wednesday evening rather than Thursday morning, and then again Saturday evening for the final 24 hours. As long as it's working, I'll replace the transmitter later afternoon/early evening on Sunday so I can turn it back on & calibrate before dinner.

It certainly would be nicer to let it go for 6 days without worrying about a restart. I'd still restart it once to get that last day. I used to recharge my transmitter every 6 days but eventually started to do a final restart even though I knew I'd have to stop it in less than a day.