One of the benefits of having a husband who works for Medtronic is that he forwards me the news releases.  Thought some of you might find the following of interest:

News Release


Medtronic Media Contacts:

Jeff Warren, Investor Relations, 763-505-2696

Amanda Sheldon, Public Relations, 818-576-4826





Medtronic Launches Next-Generation Continuous Glucose Monitoring System for Advanced Diabetes Management in 49 Countries Around the World



iPro™2 Professional CGM Provides Simple Way to Reveal Insights Into Glucose Control Not Possible With Standard Glucose Assessment Methods







MINNEAPOLIS – June 7, 2010 – Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT) announced today the launch of iPro™2 Professional CGM, a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system used by physicians to help improve diabetes management, in 49 countries around the world. This simplified, yet more advanced fourth-generation CGM system is valuable for detecting high and low glucose fluctuations that can lead to dangerous health complications, which often go undetected with traditional A1C tests (a measurement of glucose control over a two-to-three-month period) and glucose meter measurements.



iPro2 Professional CGM has received CE (Conformité Européenne) Mark. Subject to other local approvals, Medtronic plans to release iPro2 Professional CGM in 22 more countries around the world, for 71 in total, including the United States where Medtronic has submitted its application for approval to the Food and Drug Administration.



“It’s never been easier to reveal previously undetected high and low glucose excursions and understand their causes. This information is helpful for making better treatment decisions to improve patients’ lives,” said Francine Kaufman, M.D., chief medical officer and vice president, global medical, clinical & health affairs of the Medtronic Diabetes business. “Moreover, iPro2 Professional CGM is quick to implement and provides reports that physicians can use to educate patients on the therapy and lifestyle changes they can make to improve their health and quality of life.”



iPro2 Professional CGM is easy for clinicians and patients to use. It includes a disposable glucose sensor and a small data recorder, which automatically record glucose information. This next-generation product is simple to start and significantly reduces the amount of clinical staff time needed to implement the therapy. There is no computer required for setup, patients do not interact with the device, and minimum patient training is required. Patients wear the small, lightweight and watertight device while going about their normal daily activities before returning it to their physicians’ office for evaluation.



Once returned, glucose information stored in the device is easily uploaded using a “smart” docking station to new CareLinkTM iPro software, a fully integrated, Web-based platform that makes data from iPro2 Professional CGM easy to evaluate. Physicians can remotely access the software using any computer with an Internet connection. Reports containing continuous glucose information are well-organized and capture important glucose trends, such as hyperglycemic and hypoglycemic episodes, that can inform treatment decisions. The reports are useful for educating and motivating patients to implement changes in their diabetes management after viewing the effects that specific foods, exercise, stress, and medications have on their glucose levels.



“We have seen strong adoption of professional CGM in the United States because of its ability to provide superior insights for healthcare professionals to improve patient outcomes. We are excited to launch the next generation, iPro2, which will continue to transform the management of diabetes while providing superior ease-of-use for clinicians and patients,” said Katie Szyman, president of the Diabetes business and senior vice president at Medtronic.



About iPro2 Professional CGM

iPro2 Professional CGM uses a tiny glucose sensor to record as many as 288 glucose readings over a 24-hour period. Glucose data captured in the system is uploaded to CareLink iPro Software and viewed retrospectively by healthcare providers.





About the Diabetes Business at Medtronic

The Diabetes business at Medtronic (www.medtronicdiabetes.com) is the world leader in advanced diabetes management solutions, including integrated diabetes management systems, insulin pump therapy, continuous glucose monitoring systems and therapy management software, as well as world-class, 24/7 expert consumer and professional service and support.





About Medtronic

Medtronic, Inc. (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Minneapolis, is the global leader in medical technology – alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life for millions of people around the world.



Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic’s periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results.



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Medtronic, Inc. 2010