Medtronic warns of potential safety risk for its insulin pumps

Medtronic is warning of a potential safety risk involving its MiniMed insulin pumps that has led to at least one hospitalization and one death, according to the Star Tribune.  

Medtronic said its MiniMed 620G, 630G, 640G and 670G insulin pumps may deliver too much or too little insulin if a component on the pump called the retainer ring becomes damaged from accidental dropping or bumping against a hard surface. 

The devicemaker is warning patients using the MiniMed pumps to stop using them if the retainer ring is loose, damaged or missing. If the insulin retainer doesn't lock into the pump or if the retainer ring is loose, damaged or missing, a large dose of insulin could be unintentionally released. 

The company said it will replace damaged pumps. 

A Medtronic spokesperson told the Star Tribune that the company has made improvements to its newer pumps to better withstand accidental damage. 

Medtronic has received at least one report of a patient being hospitalized for an issue involving a retainer ring and one reported death, "which we have investigated and have been unable to exclude as being associated with this issue," the spokesperson wrote to the Star Tribune.

Medtronic is advising patients to examine their pumps' retainer ring during each infusion set and reservoir change to make sure the reservoir locks into place. 

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