Medtronic Inc.’s Hybrid Closed Loop and Micra Transcatheter Pacing systems have been recognized with Best of What’s New awards by Popular Science magazine, published by Bonnier Corp. in Winter Park, Fla. Every year, the publication reviews thousands of technology products and chooses 100 that show innovation in their fields. The winners are featured in the magazine’s December issue. “It’s rare for a company to show up twice in the Best of What’s New, which is a testament to the importance of the work Medtronic is doing,” said Breanna Draxler, associate editor at Popular Science. “They’re developing devices to solve real, major health problems.” Medtronic is based in Dublin, Ireland, but its diabetes division is in Northridge. The Hybrid Closed Loop system monitors insulin levels and automatically administers insulin when needed. The system consists of an insulin pump and a continuous blood-sugar monitor implant. Users only need to enter their carbohydrate amounts at meals and calibrate the device’s sensor as opposed to monitoring their own blood sugar and injecting insulin manually. It is the first technology to both automatically suspend insulin delivery when glucose levels are predicted to approach a low limit and resume insulin delivery when glucose levels recover. “The Hybrid Closed Loop should significantly simplify today’s diabetes management routines,” said Dr. Francine Kaufman, chief medical officer at Medtronic Diabetes. “It’s a major step toward mimicking the functions of a healthy pancreas and increasing the amount of automation that we’re able to deliver in artificial pancreas technology.” Medtronic’s other innovation, the Micra Transcatheter Pacing System, is the world’s smallest pacemaker – approximately the size of a large pill. It can be implanted through a catheter into the heart, reducing risks and complications. While other pacemakers have wires that regulate heart rhythm, the Micra TPS has tines that attach directly to the interior of the right ventricle. Both Medtronic products are unavailable in the United States. The Micra TPS received European approval earlier this year, and it has been submitted to the Food and Drug Administration for review. The Hybrid Closed Loop is going through clinical trials before being submitted to the FDA, depending on results. Neither product has a tentative U.S. release date, Kaufman said. However, analysts have high hopes for the future of Medtronic, according to Goldman Sachs’ most recent medical industry report. “Improving end-markets, new product launches and financial flexibility all position Medtronic to generate above peer top-line growth and rising returns through fiscal year 2019,” the report states. – Stephanie Henkel
