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.
Woo hoo! Competition = innovation
We just need a few aggressive start ups with lots of VC money and good ideas to really get things going! 😀
Pump looks ok but I’d like a brushed steel aka novopen lookalike. Not keen on the additional Cgm bulge either (I’ve got enough bulges as it is!)
Congrats to the U.K.!
We’re anxiously awaiting FDA approval in the U.S., but I’m totally excited that the Vibe is alive and available to the T1 community over there!
Looks nice – so Alison, what’s the difference in the cgm, apart from the duration of licensed use?
Is it more accurate?
Does it give quicker results?
Damnit! Just when I’d managed to screw a Veo out of the clinic, this far sexier one comes along….
But is it? I’ve been reading the PDF info, like user info. It mentions that occasionally the sensors break under your skin. Pretty sure that doesn’t happen with Medtronic ones.
Maybe I am a bit blind but the Dex sensor that I see in the picture is neither round or tiny. It is ike the old sensors with the word dexcome 4 written on it can somebody help me see? Also did they actually mention the size of the needle?
OK, first thing to bear in mind here is that I have never used Dexcom CGM or the Animas Vibe, so I’m only going off press releases, manufacturer info, other people’s reviews, comments I’ve read and my own thoughts on the matter as a CGM user.
@spikej From what I’ve seen, I don’t think it’s any sexier than the Veo – they both do pretty much the same thing – but I guess it depends on what turns you on! Some people will like the colour screen and the fact that its waterproof – neither of which make much difference to me. I think it’s like looking at two brands of 4 door saloon car – they’ll have some little differences that will appeal to different people but they’re more similar than they are different.
I think @lizz has hit on what could be the major difference – the CGM. I know people who’ve struggled with the Medtronic CGM, moved to Dexcom and claim they find it more accurate. Personally the Medtronic CGM has always worked well for me so I’ve never tried the Dexcom. As I can’t find any data on the new Dexcom 4 sensor this uses I don’t know scientifically which one claimed to be more accurate.
Personally, so much of CGM and pumps is about how it works for you, and these two are both pretty similar, I’d have to try both of them before I made a decision which one to go with.
@katerina What they’re showing in the picture is the transmitter which attaches to the top of the sensor, which goes into your skin. I think the tiny, round thing they talk about is the sensor (although I don’t quite get why you’d shout about a small, flexible sensor when you’ve got to stick a large plastic rectangle on top of it). The Veo and the Vibe are the same in this respect – sensor is pretty small, transmitter is larger.
Once they actually launch the Vibe, I’m sure a lot of this stuff will become clearer.
In the eulogy which goes with the vibe it says the plastic rectangular thing is significantly smaller than the opposition’s, or words to that effect.
@lizz I’m not sure about that. If you go to the Animas press release at http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/animas/49461/ there’s a photo of a woman wearing the transmitter in the bottom right hand corner.
And if you go to Medtronic’s website http://www.medtronic-diabetes.co.uk/product-information/paradigm-veo/continuous-glucose-monitoring.html and scroll down you’ll see a similar photo.
I don’t think there’s a significant difference in size.
@alison Colour Screen? Water Resistant? What’s not to love? I know I’m a lifelong gadget freak 😀
Cripes, just had a look – it looks HUGE, and an awkward shape. And she’s got an altogether ridiculous smile on her face for someone lifting their jumper like that. She’s clearly insane.
@lizz – re: the model in the picture – is it me or does she not have a belly button? Weird!
@Tim Indeed. However, more concerning is the wierdly angled head compared to her neck. I may be sticking my own neck out here, but I believe Photoshop has been involved at some level.
@seasiderdave – I think you could just possibly be correct 😉
well I am mighty excited about having funding for a pump for Muir BUT after much humming and hawing I still cant decide on which one. Have been offered choice of animas 2020 or medtronic veo and told that no way, not ever, dont even ask, there will no funding for CGM through NHS Scotland. Well I do like a challenge. Anyway have decided that we mostly prefer lots of the animas features but want to have access to CGM once funding has been sourced (ha ha ha evil laugh from mad mother). So being a bit pushy I contacted animas today to ask about the possibility of the Vibe.
They said will be available to adults from July. For some legal reason they cant promote it to paediatrics BUT paediatrics can approach them. aha that sounds interesting. So have emailed diabetes care team asking if they wouldnt mind asking animas about the vibe. I am sure this will have prompted lots of eyerolling and big sighs and why cant she be happy to get a pump why does she have to make a fuss and ask for one we are not offering.
Just feel that we have waited so long to get funding and have had to ask, plead, beg and nag at all concerned to get this far, I want to make sure Muir gets the pump that is the right one for him. Not holding my breath but will let you know of any developments.
A good dose of pushiness is often needed to get good care. It sounds like you’ve got it in hand! I think you’re right to go for something with a CGM option, there’s no point in closing the door to it for 4 years. And if you want the Vibe, keep pushing for it. My clinic didn’t do Medtronic pumps until I encouraged them into it, sometimes its the only way!
I suspect the legal reason why they can’t promote the Vibe to kids is because I don’t think the Dexcom sensors are officially licenced for kids (that’s not to say plenty of kids don’t use them though).
I dont know anything about CGM sensors yet so thanks for that, I will investigate a bit more as this may be the reason (excuse) they give me for not going with the vibe. It’s like a battle, always trying to keep a step or two ahead and pre empt what they are going to use to throw a spanner in the works.
I work in the same office as some of the UK animas folks, and although I have never used a pump before wanted to find out some more information. I agree the CGM device looks huge in the picture, but the one I was shown wasn’t that big. The needles for both the CGM (which I was told isn’t available on the NHS) and last for 6 months, and the catheter for the pump were both very small. The actual pump itself wasn’t that big and wasn’t heavy. I am certainly going to try and find more information out. If there is anything else you want to know, I’ll see what I can found out.
@powerkitten – (great user name BTW!) Welcome to Shoot Up and, yes, any inside gossip you can get will be more than welcome! 😀
I have been set up with a Vibe today. I had training from the pump rep and my diabetes team at the hospital. I will be getting training a d setup with the CGMS in a week or so.
This is my first pump but my initial impressions are that this is a superb piece of kit. The insertion of the canula was easy and completely pain free. The menus are really easy to understand and use.
It’s blue a d looks really cool!