JDRF congratulates Medtronic on the global launch of the MiniMed(TM) 640G System, the next breakthrough advance in artificial pancreas systems technology.

The MiniMed 640G is a predictive low glucose suspend type of artificial pancreas system designed to help people with diabetes achieve better glucose control through advanced protection from dangerous low glucose events. The system is the first in the world to both automatically suspend insulin delivery when sensor glucose levels are predicted to approach a low limit and resume insulin delivery once sensor glucose levels recover to normal levels. The system incorporates a new insulin pump design to provide convenient diabetes management with a simple user interface, full-color screen, waterproofing and remote bolus along with an enhanced Enlite sensor.

JDRF is the leader in artificial pancreas technology research and development and has funded significant research on predictive low glucose suspend systems that were an important part of making this day possible. Predictive low glucose suspend systems are the second step in the JDRF-developed six-step artificial pancreas development strategy. Each step provides new features to these systems to further improve automated glucose control of the user. JDRF is currently supporting a large study in Australia which is led by Dr Tim Jones — testing the Medtronic 640G system to see how much low glucose events can be reduced and if this improved control can help people with low glucose unawareness restore their sensing of such lows.

JDRF remains committed to the Artificial Pancreas Program and is dedicated to the fight against type 1 diabetes.