Glucose Sensor Serter Inspired by Disposable Consumer Devices

With a design that prominently displays a bare needle, the Sen-Serter glucose sensor insertion device from Medtronic Diabetes (Northridge, CA) has been nicknamed "the harpoon" by diabetic bloggers.

When designing an insertion device for its next-generation Enlite glucose sensor for continuous glucose monitoring, Medtronic decided to start from scratch. Enlisting the help of Bridge Design (San Francisco, CA), the company created an insertion device featuring a needle-safe cartridge that draws inspiration from consumer products. The resulting product, the new Glucose Sensor Serter, is not only a finalist in the MDEA competition but also a silver winner in the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) 2012 IDEA competition. (The new Glucose Sensor Serter is not yet  approved in the United States.)

"One of the reasons I think the new Glucose Sensor Serter does so well in design competitions is that there is such a stark contrast over the design of the previous product," says Bill Evans, president of Bridge Design.

Consumerization was a central consideration Bridge Design had in mind when designing the device. "There is a strong trend in the treatment of chronic diseases to move away from the finger wagging. In the old days, doctors would say: 'you will stick yourself every three days or you will test your blood glucose five times per day," Evans says. "Nowadays, companies are saying: we've got to do whatever we can to get more attractive, easier, and less painful to make that be something that you draw your users into managing their disease better rather than wagging fingers at them."

Guiding the design was a push to make the product as user friendly as possible. Bridge Design worked to incorporate as many conveniences into the design as possible, minimize the visibility of the needle and reduce the number of steps involved to use the device.

"One of our main tasks in developing the new Glucose Sensor Serter was to reduce the stigma of using the device," says Ronaldo Carreon, senior industrial designer at Bridge Design. "It was very deliberate to make it look unintimidating. We gave it this really cute factor," he says. "When you look at it, there is none of that pain or discomfort you would associate with products that were available before this came out," he adds. In addition, the device is simpler to use. Unlike its predecessor, the new serter, does not have to be inserted at a 45-degree angle, which can be difficult for people, especially those with limited dexterity.

The new Glucose Sensor Serter also offers users more flexibility of where it can be used. "The design gives the user the ability to hold and fire the needle in many different positions," Carreon says. "The button is really a big target so it is easy to fire. You might be able to use your index or thumb to fire--or any other finger you might want to use."

The overall look and feel of the product was influenced by disposable consumer products. "We looked at things you would find on the pharmacy rack in Target like fancy toothbrushes and flosses," Carreon says.

The rubberized jacket used in the new Glucose Sensor Serter is another example of this consumer influence. "The nice thing about this rubberized jacket it provides grip but it also muffles the sound," Evans says. "It doesn't sound as mechanical. That click is not there and your experience is a lot better."

Brian Buntz is the editor-in-chief of MPMN. Follow him on Twitter at @brian_buntz.