Xconomy: Calibra, Inspired by Inventor With Diabetes, Homes in on Cheap, Easy Way to Deliver Insulin
Summary
Calibra, Inspired by Inventor With Diabetes, Homes in on Cheap, Easy Way to Deliver Insulin (Page 2 of 3) have larger gross profit margins, Purvin says.That’s always been one of the selling points of insulin pumps, like those marketed by Bedford, MA-based Insulet (NASDAQ: PODD) or Medtronic (NYSE: MDT).What’s really different here is that the Calibra machine is made entirely of mechanical parts—unlike standard pumps which have electronics in them that make them bigger, more expensive, and trickier to operate, and which require recharging of batteries, Purvin says.Going with entirely mechanical parts means the Finesse system can be made cheap enough to compete on price with pre-filled syringes, Purvin says.And the engineering team found another way for the device to quietly signal to the user when the cannula is clogged up—which happens regularly with insulin pumps.