On August 23, 2023, the FDA approved the Accu-Chek Solo micropump system for use in individuals with type 1 diabetes aged 2 years and over.
This insulin pump is currently available for sale globally in 19 markets, including Austria, Poland, Switzerland, and the UK. Roche has not yet released when it will begin selling the Solo pump in the US, however.
Components of the Solo Insulin pump
The Solo micropump is made up of five components.
1. The disposable adhesive pump holder is attached to the body and holds the micropump. It must be changed out with the cannula every three days. This unique system allows you to detach and reattach the device without wasting any insulin.
2. The infusion cannula must be changed with the pump holder every 3 days. There are 6mm an d9mm cannula lengths available. Both options require a 90° insertion.
3. The reservoir holds up to 200 units of insulin and lasts up to four days. The transparency enables you to detect air bubbles and see the insulin status. This pump has been approved for use with Humalog®, NovoLog®, NovoRapid®, Apidra®, Insuman® Infusat, and Fiasp®.
4. The reusable pump base lasts up to four months. It has quick bolus buttons to ensure insulin delivery even when you don’t have the controller readily accessible.
5. The reusable handheld diabetes manager is equipped with an integrated Accu-Chek guide glucose meter and bolus calculator status screen for direct access to key features.
Key Features of the Accu-Chek Solo Micropump
The Accu-Chek Solo micropump features:
- No tubing.
- Transparent reservoir to allow you to see air bubbles and insulin status.
- Wireless handheld controller with Bluetooth, which integrates with blood glucose monitoring and provides bolus advice
- A quick bolus button with three different options (standard, extended, and multi-wave). This allows users to deliver a bolus when the handheld device is out of range.
- “Pen-therapy mode” to allow for temporary switches to an insulin pen without losing data.
- Water resistant rating of IP22. This means that it is resistant to touch by fingers and objects greater than 12 millimeters, water spray less than 15 degrees from vertical, and condensation.
- Wearable on the stomach, arms, legs, and buttocks.
- A reusable insertion device allows for a precise insertion of the infusion assembly with the push of a button.
Size of the new pump
According to diabetesnet.com, the Solo micropump is slightly larger than the Omnipod. The pump itself is 68 x 40 x 15 mm, compared to the Omnipod which is 52 x 39 x 15mm.
When filled with insulin, the Solo weighs approximately 140 grams.
What is the Solo insulin pump missing?
The Solo insulin pump does not offer any remote bolusing or the ability to share data with other individuals.
It does not have any smart phone app.
Like the Mobi, this pump does not currently work with any continuous glucose monitoring system.
Who should use this device?
Individuals who don’t like being tethered by tubing now have a new choice in how they manage their diabetes.
This insulin pump is great for people who do not like tubing, are not concerned with CGM integration and don’t mind carrying a second device.
Compare insulin pumps
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This is not yet available in the US. My understanding is that the pending US release will be accompanied with Dexcom integration.