We’re thrilled to bring you two blog posts that together highlight the huge advances our industry is making towards patient choice and interoperability. Part 1 (below) describes the benefits to the diabetes community of a collaboration between the largest insulin pump manufacturer in the United States and Tidepool. You can read Part 2, discussing what our partnership with Dexcom brings to the equation here.
Tidepool Loop will work with a future Bluetooth-enabled MiniMed™ pump from Medtronic.
Today, we are excited to announce that Medtronic joins the team of innovators collaborating with Tidepool to develop and deliver Tidepool Loop. Medtronic will be developing a new, Bluetooth-enabled MiniMed™ pump that will be a fully supported delivery device for Tidepool Loop once both are approved. Tidepool and Medtronic will also collaborate on regulatory and software processes.
This is a Very Big Deal, and I want to make it very clear that we, Tidepool, think that Medtronic is making a very bold and important move here that shows tremendous courage and is the absolutely right thing for the diabetes community. Here's why we think this relationship is important, and why we're so excited to support it:
Medtronic makes really, really good, reliable pumps. As current users of Medtronic pumps know, Medtronic makes incredibly robust and reliable pump hardware. With the addition of their upcoming Bluetooth-enabled MiniMed™ pump to the list of officially supported pumps for Tidepool Loop, people with diabetes will have the option of an outstanding, tubed pump with multiple insertion set options for their insulin delivery.
Medtronic is a market leader. Medtronic has extensive marketing, sales, and support organizations for both people with diabetes and clinics. This network can help bring closed-loop systems to more people living with diabetes. We firmly believe it’s in the interest of public health to have more people with diabetes using closed loop systems. Medtronic can help make that promise a reality.
Tidepool will be collaborating with Medtronic on regulatory processes. As one of the select few companies in the FDA’s Digital Health Software Precertification Pilot Program, Tidepool is uniquely positioned to support Medtronic in the goal to make their regulatory processes more iterative and agile. Tidepool has been, and will continue to be, completely transparent about its work with the FDA on regulatory processes. Ultimately, we believe this will be very good for the entire diabetes community and industry.
Tidepool will bring its community-based expertise to Medtronic. With a team comprised of leaders from the DIY Loop community, people with diabetes and parents of kids with diabetes, Tidepool is uniquely qualified to help ensure solutions are easy to use and improve patients’ lives. With Tidepool Loop, Tidepool is leveraging the incredible work and lessons learned from the #WeAreNotWaiting community. We will continue to share all of our efforts openly, and collaborate with Medtronic to build upon the efforts of this amazing community.
Tidepool and Medtronic will together demonstrate the power of interoperability. In an era of empowered health consumers, this collaboration opens up new opportunities for people with diabetes to choose the technology that’s right for them. We think that’s a powerful message, and it’s incredible to see Medtronic has signed onto this approach with our Tidepool Loop agreement.
As a nonprofit organization, Tidepool aims to harness the power of digital healthcare to empower people with diabetes. We believe that by entering into this agreement with Tidepool, Medtronic is demonstrating their commitment to this as well, and that they are very serious about their mission “Always by your side”. We applaud them for it, and will do everything in our power to help this project succeed.
There’s still plenty of work ahead of us to make Tidepool Loop a reality, but this agreement with Medtronic is a tremendous step forward in the name of interoperability, opportunity, and innovation.
Cheers,Howard LookFounder and CEO, Tidepool
I’m sure you have additional questions...
Is this an exclusive relationship?
Not at all. Besides delivering a great closed loop system, the Tidepool Loop project is all about demonstrating interoperability with multiple device partners. We applaud Medtronic for supporting this initiative. It's clearly the right thing for the diabetes community.
Will Tidepool Loop work with existing Medtronic pumps (e.g. 530g, 670g, or x22/x23 pumps?
Tidepool Loop will not work with prior Medtronic pumps. Medtronic will be delivering a new Bluetooth-enabled MiniMed™ pump that will work with Tidepool Loop once both are approved.
When? When? When?
We're just getting started in this relationship, so it would be premature to predict when either the Medtronic’s Bluetooth-enabled MiniMed™ pump or Tidepool Loop supporting it will be broadly available. As always, we’ll keep tidepool.org/loop updated with the latest information.
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