Calibra Finesse Pen Patch- Pros and Cons

Finesse

On January 25, 2010, the FDA approved Calibra Medical's new insulin pen patch called Finesse. This pen patch is a new and improved version of an insulin pump that delivers insulin to the patient through their skin. The patch is 2 inches long, 1 inch wide, and 1/4 inch thick, designed to be slim and unapparent under most clothing. This pen patch holds 200 units of insulin at a time. The insulin is moved from the patch to the patient's body through a 27 gauge needle and by pressing the buttons on the side that click for every unit of insulin delivered into the patient's body. Both buttons must be pressed for insulin to be dispensed in order to avoid accidental delivery of insulin. This pen patch can be worn for 2-3 days at a time and is designed with withstand daily activities such as exercise, swimming, and showering.

The development of the Finesse is a huge step forward for smaller pumps and it seems will soon replace insulin pens or needles that require numerous injections per day. This new technology presents numerous advantages and disadvantages for the elderly.

Comparison of needle sizes

It is apparent that this pen patch will minimize daily injections since it only needs to be changed every few days. Most diabetics use insulin pens to inject themselves about 3-4 times a day, meaning that this pen patch would eliminate about 10 injections per 4 days. However, the patch only contains bolus insulin, meaning that patients are still obligated to inject themselves with a long lasting insulin once a day. Moreover, most insulin pen needles are 33 gauge needles, however as a 27 gauge needle, the pen patch may hurt more when being injected into the patient's skin. On the other hand, even if it is a bigger needle, the avoidance of multiple daily injections can reduce bruising and the creation of scar tissue that often occurs to the elderly when they are forced to inject themselves. 

Calibra Medical has taken precautionary steps to help the elderly use this new technology. Each Finesse comes with a packet of stickers to remind patients on what day of the week to change the pen patch for a different one. This is especially helpful for the elderly who sometimes have memory problems and could forget to change their pen patch. 

A downside to this new technology could be cost. Although Calibra Medical is fairly certain that most major insurance companies will cover their equipment, this is not certain yet. Since most of the elderly are on Medicare which sometimes seems to cover the bare minimum, it is possible that their insurance would not cover this, placing an immense financial burden on the patient. 

A final point to consider is style and comfort. Although slim, the Finesse can be seen through certain clothing and can cause insecurity issues as it is exposed when one wears bathing suits etc. However, I believe this is an example of how it could benefit the elderly more than the youth as the elderly usually do not care as much about their looks. Another point to consider is the comfort. Having tried numerous constant glucose monitoring systems that are placed constantly on my body much like the Finesse, I become anxious at the idea of having something on my skin at all times and was extremely cautious about bumping into things or moving around too much. Although this technology is extremely stable, for me, it was a matter of unreasonable fear. Therefore, if one feels comfortable wearing a piece of equipment like this, I believe that the Finesse is definitely worth trying. However, it is true that this piece of technology may not be for everyone.

For another blog which analyzes the benefits of the Finesse pen patch go to: http://bernardfarrell.com/blog/blogger.html

References:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100125005596/en/Calibra-Receives-510-Clearance-Finesse™-Insulin-Patch-Pen
http://bernardfarrell.com/blog/blogger.html
http://www.news-medical.net/news/20100726/Calibra-Medicals-Finesse-insulin-patch-pen-receives-FDA-clearance-for-use-with-Novo-Nordisks-Novolog.aspx?page=1