Medtronic has unveiled a new continuous glucose monitor, the iPro 2. The device is designed for use by physicians to identify dangerous blood glucose fluctuations in diabetic patients. For now the system has the European CE mark, and it awaiting an FDA regulatory approval. Medtronic touts the system’s ease of use, for example the fact that it doesn’t require the patient to do anything with it beside wearing it.
From the press release:
iPro2 Professional CGM is easy for clinicians and patients to use. It includes a disposable glucose sensor and a small data recorder, which automatically record glucose information. This next-generation product is simple to start and significantly reduces the amount of clinical staff time needed to implement the therapy. There is no computer required for setup, patients do not interact with the device, and minimum patient training is required. Patients wear the small, lightweight and watertight device while going about their normal daily activities before returning it to their physicians’ office for evaluation.
Once returned, glucose information stored in the device is easily uploaded using a “smart” docking station to new CareLinkTM iPro software, a fully integrated, Web-based platform that makes data from iPro2 Professional CGM easy to evaluate. Physicians can remotely access the software using any computer with an Internet connection. Reports containing continuous glucose information are well-organized and capture important glucose trends, such as hyperglycemic and hypoglycemic episodes, that can inform treatment decisions. The reports are useful for educating and motivating patients to implement changes in their diabetes management after viewing the effects that specific foods, exercise, stress, and medications have on their glucose levels.