Medtronic’s Next-Gen Insulin Pumps and CGMs

Medtronic has officially entered the next-gen insulin pump arms race with not one, but two new pumps in development—the 8-Series tubed pump and, for the first time ever, a Medtronic tubeless pump. If you’ve been waiting for something fresh from Medtronic, this might just be it. Medtronic’s upcoming devices could represent a huge leap for the company who has lagged behind competitors when it comes to its hardware.

But will these pumps live up to the hype? Let’s dive into the details of these new devices, the continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) advancements Medtronic is working on, and what I hope to see from the future technology.

The 8-Series: Medtronic’s sleekest tubed pump yet

Medtronic's new 8-Series tubed pump marks a bold new design era for the company, debuting as its first pump without a screen. Instead, the pump will be controlled completely via a smartphone app, much like the Tandem Mobi. The app is expected to be available for both the Android and iPhone upon launch.

Its design is serving major Apple TV remote vibes (let’s hope it’s not as slippery!)—not to mention, it even resembles a vape pen!

For those who love a more discreet, pocket-friendly device, this could be a game-changer. But if you prefer physical buttons, don’t worry—the pump does have a button, which I expect is used for quick boluses. Medtronic has not provided a timeline for FDA submission or CE Mark approval, but did inform investors that a pivotal study is anticipated in 2025.

Medtronic’s first tubeless pump is coming in with a bang 

The tubeless pump competition is heating up, and it’s bringing some serious upgrades beyond what we’ve seen with Omnipod—or even Tandem’s upcoming tubeless Sigi pump. Companies are pushing the limits with larger insulin reservoirs, longer wear times, and modular designs that rethink how tubeless pumps function. With Medtronic officially throwing its hat in the ring, we’re about to see some real innovation battles unfold.

Here’s what we know about Medtronic’s tubeless pump:

• 300-unit insulin reservoir – The pump will hold 50% more insulin than Omnipod and Tandem Mobi. This could be huge, especially for people with Type 2 diabetes who need higher insulin volumes 

• 7-day wear time – The larger insulin capacity combined with Medtronic’s Extended Infusion Set tech will allow for longer weartime.

• Modular design – Unlike Omnipod’s single-piece pod, Medtronic’s patch pump seems to have multiple components, possibly including reusable parts.

It’s unclear how long it will take for Medtronic’s tubeless pump to release. The company’s original plans for a tubeless device were sidetracked. Medtronic planned to acquire South Korean company EOFlow (the makers of EOPatch), but the deal fell through. Medtronic decided to continue development on its own tubeless pump—and here we are.

Medtronic recently sent out a survey to users asking about interest for new form factor, whether users would switch to a patch pump entirely and which color they prefer.

What I hope to see in Medtronic’s next-gen pumps

Medtronic is making big strides with the features already in the spotlight, but there are a few other upgrades I’d love to see for its next-gen technology:

• Smartwatch control – The ability to bolus directly from an Apple Watch or Android smartwatch would be a huge convenience, similar to the twiist pump.

• Wider CGM compatibility – Ensuring these pumps work seamlessly with multiple CGMs (especially given the Abbott partnership) will be key.

• Extended wear CGMs – A 14-day+ CGM to match Dexcom G7 and Libre 3 would be a massive step forward.

• A true all-in-one device – Medtronic has hinted at a future tubeless pump that also functions as a CGM. If they can pull this off, it would be revolutionary.

Medtronic’s upcoming CGMs promise simplicity and longer wear time

Pump innovation is exciting, but Medtronic isn’t stopping there. They’re also making major moves in CGM technology.

Simplera: Much simpler than the Guardian

Medtronic’s Simplera CGM is already FDA-cleared in the U.S. (for use with the InPen). The Simplera Sync CGM, identical in form to the Simplera, is designed for integration with the MiniMed 780G system. It is starting to roll out to users in the UK, with more locations coming soon. Meanwhile, the Simplera Sync sensor is under FDA review in a separate regulatory filing.

 If you haven’t seen it yet, I did a full review of Simplera here.

Here’s the quick breakdown:

• 7-day wear time (with expected extension to 10 days)

• 2-hour warm-up (still a bit long, but manageable)

• Much easier insertion than Guardian 4

• No calibration required

While there’s no confirmed U.S. launch date for its pump integration, it should be coming soon.

Medtronic x Abbott: An unexpected duo

In one of the more unexpected moves, Medtronic has partnered with Abbott to integrate its Libre CGM technology into a future Medtronic CGM. Abbott will manufacture the CGMs, which Medtronic will sell as proprietary sensors designed exclusively for use with Medtronic pumps.

 This could bring:

• A 15-day wear CGM (more than double Simplera’s weartime)

• Smaller size, similar to the Libre 3 Plus

• More competition in the CGM space, which benefits all of us

Stay tuned for updates on the future of Medtronic and the latest in diabetes tech by following along on my TikTok, Instagram, Youtube and podcast.  

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