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Simplera CGM from Medtronic

Fig 1. Simplera disposable CGM sensor. Source: @diabe_tech

Table of Contents

1. Medtronic Simplera – A brand new glucose sensor
2. Selected features of the Simplera sensor
2.1 A simple and easy to use all-in-one senso 
2.2 Dedicated Simplera app for your phone and smart-watch
2.3 Easy access to your recorded BG data and reports
2.4 Seamless integration with insulin pump and pen
2.5 App event logging
3. Simplera world-wide availability
4. Comparing Medtronic’s Simplera with Guardian 4

 

The New Simplera Blood Glucose Sensor

1. Medtronic Simplera – A brand new glucose sensor

Medtronic have launched a new exciting continuous blood glucose sensor named Simplera.  It provides major improvements over its Guardian predecessor and offer further advanced features not matched by other blood glucose sensors currently in the marked.

Medtronic have over a number of years been promoting their Guardian family of glucose sensors, with the latest Guardian 4 sensor launched back in May 2021.  This has typically therefore also been the sensor of choice for folks using the Medtronic insulin pumps.  This is all going to change now with the new Simplera sensor.

The special Sync version of the Simplera sensor received both FDA approval and European CE marking back in January 2024, including special features for it to fully integrate with Medtronic’s own Minimed 780G insulin pump and their InPen.  Providing functionalities currently not possible with the Dexcom G7 or the Abbott Libre 3 sensors.

Here below, we will now walk you through some of the baseline functionalities of this new BG sensor and also describe some of the new exciting and exclusive features this new Simplera sensor can provide. 

2. Selected features of the Simplera sensor

Fig 2. The new Medtronic Simplera sensor, next to a phone and smartwatch with the dedicated app to track BG results from the sensor. To the left, the fully integrated Minimed 780G insulin pump from Medtronic that works seamlessly with the Simplera sensor. Source: Medtronic
2.1 A simple and easy to use all-in-one sensor

The new Simplera sensor is a dramatic improvement in design and user friendliness compared to the older Guardian 4 sensor. The Simplera comes as an all-in-one device, where all is fully assembled in one single unit, ready for application as soon as you twist off the lid from its sterile packaging container.  This simplifies the process of applying the sensor to your skin, as it is no longer required to first placing the sensor component and after this also attaching the transmitter to the sensor and placing all the adhesive strips as was the case with the Guardian.  This could often be hard to do if all alone or not so flexible to reach around and handle the components just with one hand.

With Simplera you simply just open the sensor box, take it out and press it onto your skin and you are done.  So fewer parts to deal with and very few process steps to go through when using the Simplera.  Many folks living alone or suffering from various disabilities will appreciate how easy it is to apply a new Simplera sensor all on their own.

The form factor and design of the Simplera is also a great improvement over the Guardian 4 sensor, as Simplera is only half the volume of Guardian 4 and is very flat and have soft rounded corners.  It is therefore much less exposed to be caught in your clothes or narrow doorframes as you move around compared to the Guardian 4.

2.2 Dedicated Simplera app for your phone and smart-watch

Medtronic offers a dedicated app to use on your phone and smartwatch, which is available for both Apple iOS and Android.  The phone get automatically BG readings from the sensor via Bluetooth every 5 minutes and can also forward these to a smartwatch.  This gives you very convenient access to read your latest BG readings whenever you want.  

This also provides different options for setting triggers for alarms and notifications, all depending on the criteria you have decided yourself in the app with regards to the BG levels you want to manage your BG level within.  These can all be set up with various options as sounds, level and buzz to suit your own personal preferences.

2.3 Easy access to your recorded BG data and reports

It is possible to swipe through all the measured BG points by day and time directly on the phone display.  Here you can also easily change the timescale just by pinching with two fingers to match your preference, so the user interface is very easy and intuitive to use.  Important to notice that access to all the reporting here can all be done offline and does not require a live data line via e.g. 4G to access all your reports as is the case with other sensor competitors.

The BG data from the Simplera sensor can also be automatically uploaded to the CareLink data cloud, where you also can review your BG data further via a standard web browser on a PC or share it with others to follow your BG results directly on their own phone or PC.

2.4 Seamless integration with insulin pump and pen

The Simplera sensor system is fully integrated with the Medtronic Minimed 780G pump system and also with the InPen.  This adds some very powerful features not available with other sensor systems.  Like the pen will get real time data regarding your BG levels and the dose calculator app for the InPen can therefore use this BG data to further improve the dosing accuracy to match your live situation and the meal you have planned to eat.  By using the Simplera sensor, the app will also use the BG data to detect if you may have been forgetting to take a bolus for a given meal, in case of sudden quick rising BG level.

2.5 App event logging

The app is fairly simple to use, which is a good thing for many users, but it does also allow the more advanced users to log e.g. their activities, like food or insulin shots they may be taking.  So in the reporting system, it is all kept together in one place and easy to review later how activities, food and insulin all work together versus the blood glucose value coming out as result of it. 

Both the Medtronic MiniMed 780G insulin pump and the InPen integrates directly with the app for the Simplera sensor.  This way both the pump and the pen will automatically record in your reporting system when you may have taken some insulin and how much of it.  Likewise, you can also yourself add additional information as you find most helpful, for e.g. any food you may have been eating or when exercising.  This all helps you to keep a better overview and good control of your blood glucose level.

Fig 3. The Medtronic Simplera sensor and it’s applicator

3. Simplera world-wide availability

Belgium,
Denmark
Finland
Germany
Iceland
Italy
Luxemburg
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
UK
USA

4. Comparing Medtronic’s Simplera with Guardian 4

Glucose Sensor

Sensor lifespan

Time between readings

Warm-up period

Accuracy [MARD] (smaller is better)

Calibration

Assembly

Charging required

Smartphone app

Smartwatch app

Who can use it

Insulin pump integration

InPen integration

Placement site

Size

Simplera

7 days

5 minutes

2 hours

10.8%

None needed

All-in-one device

Not needed

Yes, incl events

Yes

2 years and older

Yes, incl app events

Yes, incl app events

The upper arm.
+ upper buttocks for minors

Half the volume of Guardian 4

Guardian 4

7 days

5 minutes

2 hours

10.6% + daily calibrations

With fingerprick

Separate transmitter and sensor

Transmitter needs charging

Yes

No

2 years and older

Yes

No

The upper arm.
+ upper buttocks for minors

Double the volume of Simplera
  1. https://www.medtronicdiabetes.com/products/simplera-cgm-system
  2. https://news.medtronic.com/2024-01-08-Medtronic-Diabetes-announces-worlds-first-approval-for-MiniMed-TM-780G-System-with-Simplera-Sync-TM-disposable,-all-in-one-sensor
  3. https://news.medtronic.com/2021-05-26-Medtronic-Secures-Two-CE-Mark-Approvals-for-Guardian-4-Sensor-for-InPen-MDI-Smart-Insulin-Pen
  4. https://shop.medtronic-diabetes.co.uk/en/smartMdi/sensor/simpleraSensor
  5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1cXsAKhwb8
  6. https://resources.cloud.medtronic-diabetes.com/sites/prd/files/documents/2022-06/guardian_4_system_performance_doc_mmt-7920qw1_m015676c002doc1_a_final_web_2.pdf

*Disclaimer: The information within this blog is for informational and educational purposes only.

Jan 31, 2025 Article originally written by Rene Stistrup, Professional in the MedTech industry for 25 years and 40+ years as diabetic type1. 

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