The Modular Medical MODD1 insulin pump. What do we know?

Modular Medical recently submitted their new pump system to the FDA for approval.

Here we dig into more details of the pump, how it works and what we can expect.

Firstly, how do Modular Medical present the pump?

It’s described as:

Effortless Insulin Delivery Made Possible

And the website suggests:

But what do we really know about the MODD1. Well it turns out that we can find out quite a lot.

Note that images and screenshots in this article are taken from the Modular Medical website and the MODD1 user guide

Features

The MODD1 is a 300u “pseudo-patch” pump with a tail like the Tandem Mobi.

The image above shows the details and component parts of the device.

Aside from the reusable “pump body” there’s a service pack that contains ten of the insulin cartridge, infusion set and adhesive pad, plus syringes for filling.

Insulin cartridges expire after 80 hours.

According to the user guide, it only lists Humalog as the insulin it’s certified with currently, but this may be out of date.

According to the user guide, the pump body expires after 90 days, so you’ll get through four of these a year.

Function

It’s a bit of a funny hybrid, in that it can deliver basal rates, but it only has two options. One 24 hour rate or one day and one night rate.

It has an app, but you can only use it to set basal rates and observe pump status. Basal rates range from 0.5u to 4u per hour and step up in 0.1u increments. This is roughly the equivalent to basal insulin of 12u to 96u.

If you want to deliver a bolus, you have to do it from the button on the pump, and you have to deliver boluses by pressing the button once for 2u and up to 10 times for 20u.

You then press and hold the button to confirm delivery of the bolus. Boluses can also be cancelled mid-delivery.

There’s also the possibility to pause basal insulin for 30 mins.  When you choose to suspend, that’s it. It’s suspended for 30 minutes. There’s no override.

Functions are reflected by various coloured lights on the pump and sounds, and also reflected in the app. You press the button:

And get a response.

It has two types of alarm. Delivery alarms and technical alarms. It’s pretty obvious what the two cover.

And that’s pretty much it.

It’s kind of like a step up from MDI. The basal models replicate long acting insulin models (all be it with the option to suspend basal if required) and you deliver insulin in specific sized boluses.

Who is it for?

That’s a very good question.

Firstly, it looks like a relatively inexpensive device, although the real question is going to be about the cost of consumables.

Secondly, this isn’t a device you’re going to want to use if you are particularly insulin sensitive, and the user guide states that it’s only for adults.

Given the options that are present, it feels like an alternative to MDI for those with relatively high insulin needs, and in turn, may really be beat focused on this with type 2 diabetes, rather than type 1.

It was submitted to the FDA in January this year, and at the time, Modular Medical chairman and chief technology officer Paul DiPerna said: “This is an exciting milestone for the company, as we seek to change the diabetes market. Almost 30 years after the introduction of the first insulin pump, more than three-quarters of those who could benefit from wearing a pump do not wear one.

“It is our belief that our simplified design will encourage many ‘almost-pumpers’ to adopt technology to aid in their diabetes management, without the complexity and expense required by many of the current solutions.” [Medical Device Network].

In January he stated that it will be submitted for certification in the UK (UKCA was mentioned, but as the CE mark use in the UK has been extended indefinitely, I assume a CE mark will be sought).

So are you an “almost pumper”? Would you want a device like this as a step up from MDI? Respond in the comment section.