Animas Vibe gains CE mark approval

Animas Vibe and Dexcom CGM transmitter (image borrowed from Animas - thank you!)

The day has come! Finally there is viable competition in the integrated pump and CGM marketplace. After more than 5 years of monopoly status for Medtronic, Animas have finally gained CE mark approval for their Vibe pump with integrated Dexcom CGM. Apparently it will launch first in United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and Sweden.

According to the press release, the new Animas Vibe offers:

• The latest technology available from Dexcom – Dexcom G4™, a tiny, round and flexible sensor with the smallest introducer needle as compared to Abbott Freestyle Navigator® and Medtronic Sof-Sensor® [it’s a shame they didn’t make the comparison with the new Medtronic Enlite sensor, that would have been more useful]
• Advanced high-contrast colour pump screen technology, that displays glucose trends with coloured arrows and lines showing where and how fast glucose levels are shifting
• Dexcom sensor technology approved for up to seven days of wear, delivering more days of CGM data than those approved for a shorter duration
• Waterproof durability up to 12 feet (3.6 metres) for 24 hours for the insulin pump, with a Dexcom G4™ Transmitter that is waterproof at 8 feet (2.4 metres) for 24 hours
• Customizable alarms to indicate high and low glucose levels including a hypo-safety alarm fixed at 55 mg/dL (3.1mmol/L)
• Low basal increment (0.025 U/hr) across all available ranges (0.025 U/hr to 25.00 U/hr) for precise dosing
• Compatibility with Diasend® communications software, enabling patients to store, review and print both CGM and insulin pump data

There are some small funtional differences between the Medtronic and the Animas, but nothing so significant I’d jump one way or the other without a trial of both. The really exciting thing is that we now have a choice when it comes to integrated pumps and CGM. That is real progress.