Orbit Micro , steel infusion sets and Orbit , teflon infusion sets ...new on the market ??

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Permalink Reply by Anna Kiff (FatCatAnna) on November 10, 2009 at 8:23pm

Nel - posted the info on your page - and then found your post now ....

I guess you went and jumped the starting line with posting this - but it's okay . They are available here in Canada - thru' Diabetes Depot. Box of 10 Orbits - $159.99 CDN. Contact there is Tino Montopoli. If your order is over $200 CDN - postage / handling is free. I'm going to start using the samples on my next infusion change (have a total of 6 that were sent from both Melany and Diabetes Depot). The only confusion might be is that the Orbit Micro (shorter needle) - there is limited supply - so perhaps that is why you posted above that they aren't available in Canada yet.

So, we will have to exchange our opinion here on how they work on us! Not sure if I'll have my hubby put them in my lower back (am using my lower back right now - he uses the automatic Inset 90 degree infusion set - not sure if I trust him to do a manual "shove in" - I'm a wimp when it comes to needles - LOL - after 42 years - you'd think I'd be used to it ... NOT).

Insulinpumps.ca is NOW up and running - it's currently a website for those folks wanting info on insulin pumping - they do not actually sell pumps/infusion sets - but offer great advise about pumping! They are all insulin pump users themselves, which makes it even better. Overtime, they may expand the website to a forum perhaps, but that's still in the oven baking!

Anna from Montreal - aka FatCatAnna - The Trials and Tribulations of a Diabetic

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Permalink Reply by nel peach on November 10, 2009 at 8:41pm

Useful info , Anna !
You are correct I did jump ...and I mentioned this in my Nov. 5 comment and really no regrets I managed to do that ;-) ... I recall Melany saying in Montreal , " not av. in Canada " and maybe she said this because I use Sure-T's ( MM), the steel infusion sets?. The brochures I took home clearly states : Available only at your pharmacy ...but this may have to do with living in BC and Pharmacare will pick up some of the $'s ??
What I found out from my Safeway Pharmacy ...they order all pump supplies( MM , Animas , Roche etc. ) through Melany ( insulinpumps.ca ) ...with the amount required in Salmon Arm , they have NO problem reaching the min. amount to have the stuff shipped .I have not received my samples yet ...maybe due to the kind I prefer ?
YES to lets share our experiences with the ORBIT's ...I could come over and help out , ha, ha ....you probably could reach yourself and not need help !

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Permalink Reply by Anna Kiff (FatCatAnna) on November 10, 2009 at 8:49pm

I'm not as flexible as you are Nel . You are the Queen of Flexibility with all the exercise you do. I am the female version of Homer Simpson!

No problems - just felt it best to clear up any confusion. I know for myself, I will probably order them up from Diabetes Depot, since currently pharmacies here in QC, don't carry insulin pump supplies. With my Animas/Medtronic pumps, I had to go to the manufacturer for my infusion/cartridges, etc. Luckily, with Animas, they don't charge me for shipping (they charge if under $200 - I sometimes only order 1 box of infusion sets, as I reuse my cartridges a few times).

Au revoir for now. It's time for counting sheep time .... baaaaaaaa baaaaaaa

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Permalink Reply by JeffC on November 12, 2009 at 12:57pm

I received my Orbit 90 Micro samples on Monday... they shipped them to a Walmart pharmacy near me. The guy at Walmart was confused as to why they didn't ship directly to me... guess there are rules to follow :-)

The Medtronic Paradigm connectors are not available yet, so Melany included a sample of the Fifty-50 Thinset reservoir with a luer fitting. Also, she didn't have any of the long tubing, so I got the next length down (30" instead of 42"). So I'm hopeful that soon the configuration I want will be readily available.

I'll be trying one out this weekend and posting my experience. I like the packaging, although they (and everybody else for that matter) should write the fixed prime amount on the outside of each infusion set. The package plastic is tough and the two I got nest facing one another in a way that they don't slide and won't crush each other. Just from the outside these already look better thought out than the competing products.

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Permalink Reply by nel peach on November 12, 2009 at 1:43pm

JeffC ...all and all : this sounds promising ...is n't this typical : ..for the last few days I have really done well with the MM Sure-T's and blood glucose numbers. ; well, that is good news in any case.

Interesting thought to add fixed prime number to each set ...this number would only be used as a guide in my opinion ?
There is supposedly no fixed priming required with Sure-T's 6mm , but I do ...started out with .1 u ; success with .4 u

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Permalink Reply by Anna Kiff (FatCatAnna) on November 12, 2009 at 3:13pm

Yeah Jeff - you are right about the fixed prime amount. It's in the instructions at the end of "how to insert" - Figure 10-11 (had to read over a few times to make sure I was getting it "right") - but still - would be nice to have on the package itself. Though, my Insets that I use don't have the fixed prime amount on the packing - it's something you have to check with in the instruction booklet.

Can't wait to hear your post about your experience!

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Permalink Reply by JeffC on November 16, 2009 at 5:00am

Ok, so I promised a review. I've been wearing the Orbit 90 Micro for 24 hours now, so here it goes.

Things I really like:

1. the tubing,
- it's long enough (vs SureT),
- it's more flexible sits flatter than the MM tubing,
- you really can see the bubbles better in blue,
- I wear blue jeans all the time, so it's less noticeable in blue

2. the packaging is really more sturdy than MM packaging

3. the skin coloured adhesive is a lot less noticeable than bright white (what are the other companies thinking)

4. the rotating quick disconnect hub does make it easier to insert into awkward places since I don't have to worry which way it's facing before insertion

Things I'm unsure of:

1. the QD hub sits up a little higher than Sure-T's or Sils and doesn't have as solid a feel... still getting used to it. It's different, so I don't have a definite opinion yet. It's solid and not going anywhere, but just doesn't have that super solid feeling of the MM quick disconnects. I've tugged on it to experiment and once or twice accidentally and it stayed put.

2. the luer connector is a turn-off for me since I use a Paradigm 722 and find the Paradigm connectors superior. This one will be resolved soon enough when they start shipping this set with a Paradigm connector in 2010.

Overall:

I think this is a good product with lots of thoughtful innovations added. It's nice to see a company focused on making a product more user friendly.

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Permalink Reply by nel peach on November 16, 2009 at 12:17pm

Jeff ...great info ...thanks.
My trial of this morning observation so far ....( and wearing the Orbit Micro for several hours now ) : the 1.8 reservoir markings difficult to read ( MM has black markings ) ...I understand from Melany , that this will be looked into .
I totally agree with Jeff on the luer connector ...I like my " being used to MM reservoirs "
By the way I met the gent, the inventor in Montreal ...2 thumbs up to him

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Permalink Reply by Anna Kiff (FatCatAnna) on November 16, 2009 at 5:37pm

I'm the same as Jeff that I find the hubb abit higher then my usual infusion set I wear - but the main thing is - I don't snag my knickers on it like I usually do. Still finding I "lift" up articles of clothing to clear the Inset II I wore (I wear an Animas pump).

When I removed the Orbit Micro today (wearing since Friday) which is very easy and leaves NO RESIDUE - which I've always had with other infusion sets - you would never know that I had an infusion set in that spot. The 31 gauge steel cannula - sweet is all I can say. I wish I could have the 8.5 mm length of cannula - but only have another 5.5 mm - and I have a feeling the shortness of it has been causing my BG's to be abit higher - as the insulin isn't being absorbed deep enough. Is that possible? Nel can attest, that I'm on the plump side .

I went and used the other Orbit 90 they sent to me - with the 9 mm teflon cannula. I did not like putting that sucker in. Thick needle compared to the 31 gauge steel. Ugh! I think it stung for about 4 hours, now I don't know the infusion set is there. I'll see if my BG's do better, due to the longer cannula length, if so, I'll know that if I'm able to get my insurance company to allow me to purchase the Orbit Micro 8.5 mm - I'll be one happy camper.

Some of you may be scratching your head as to why I say "allowed". My husbands insurance company at work, when I found a company last year that sold my pump supplies at a cheaper rate (I am reimbursed 100% - but still - I like a good deal) they said I had to continue using Animas for obtaining all my pump supplies. I am hoping I don't have the same problem with purchasing the Orbit Micro from Diabetes Depot - otherwise I'll be paying out of pocket when I don't have to. I am in the process of writing to them for help - as I'm going on holidays next week - and really want to bring the Orbit Micro with me!

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Permalink Reply by Mike Shaw on November 11, 2009 at 9:15am

I got an email from Orbit saying thank you for requesting samples and that they are currently out due to high demand. They said they will be contacting my doctor and ship some out asap. My doctor said that they did contact him, so that is a good thing. Kinda looking forward to trying them out.

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Permalink Reply by Anna Kiff (FatCatAnna) on November 12, 2009 at 3:10pm

I'm using the Orbit Micro with 18" tubing today! I'm so used to the Inset (automated 90 degree infusion set from Animas) that I wasn't sure how I would be with manually inserting the 32g needle into my skin (saw Nel do something similar during IDF Congress when she had to move her infusion set to another part of her body due to adhesive issues - she made it look so easy). Anyway, so far, I don't even know I have an infusion set in my body and it twirls around - all around (do I sound like a little kids with a new toy). It went in smoothly, only prob I did have some questions as to how to remove connector/tubing from the infusion set in my body - and sent my query to both Diabetes Depot AND Insulinpump.ca - I got an answer within minutes from Diabetes Depot. I had figured out how to do it, but they confirmed what I thought - as there were no instructions on the phamplet - but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out. Because the Micro is meant for a more leaner build (5.5 mm infusion needle) I'll see how the infusion goes thru' my body fat. I usually use 6.0 mm for infusing, but have from time to time used a shorter needle.
BTW, did anyone detect air bubbles in their BLUE tubing. I haven't so far, but then, I've only got 18" tubing (again, used to longer tubing, so I had to put the infusion in my stomach rather then my leg - but heck - whose complaining?).

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Permalink Reply by Anna Kiff (FatCatAnna) on November 13, 2009 at 9:44am

Have to correct a few things above on what I wrote - as I was going thru' the materials that were sent from Melany (she not only sent me Orbit Micro which are the 90 degree steel infusion sets - but for some reason she also sent me the Orbit 90 degree Teflon Infusion sets which I hadn't asked for, but I guess she sent them on anyways). The claim is that the Orbit (teflon infusion set) has the thinnest cannula - 26 gauge - on the market. I've never really look at the gauge on my teflon infusion sets I use which is the Inset 90 degree from Animas (will do research on that later). Have you? I just figure, as long as it goes in, infuses properly, my BG's are good, I am happy :) .

Also, the Orbit Micro (steel infusion set) come in a 5.5 mm AND 8.5 mm (I was incorrect above). I only have one 8.5 mm to try - and after that - the rest are the teflon infusion sets (they come in 6 mm and 9 mm cannula length). I have a feeling right now, as my BG's are running abit wacky today (high) - that the shorter cannula doesn't work for me - so may have to remove it tomorrow if this keeps up - and put the 8.5 mm in place. Meanwhile, I'll correct if I have to with insulin injections if I have to.

Good thing, I'll be showing my pump to my God daughters son tomorrow, he has been diabetic since age of 6 and is now 9, he's been approved for a pump in Ontario, so they are curious to see what pumping is all about from someone who actually uses it - rather then just going to meetings, etc. At least his Mum will get to see the removal of this type of infusion set, and see how it's all done on a live human being .

BTW, very easy to disconnect from the base of the Orbitz Micro - when I took my shower this morning. I find it easier then the usual infusion sets I use (Comfort, Inset) - as sometimes you have to make sure you have the right side up in order to click tubing to infusion set in body.

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