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Why can’t CGM sensors and applicators be recycled or reused?

NickE

NickE

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This question has probably been answered here previously. But as I chuck away my just used sensor after 10 days together with the applicator I just wonder at the waste. All that technology. All that plastic. 365 days in the year makes 36+ of each, and probably more. Why such waste? I can recycle my aluminium coffee pods. Why can’t the Freestyle Libre and Dexcom sensors be recycled too?

Nick
 
Cost and biohazard, I'd guess. It's been in contact with skin and bodily fluids.
The device is a mix of battery, microelectronics, plastics, glues, special coatings and all sorts of other stuff and is difficult to separate out.
Probably requires special equipment/skills and may not be worth it for the materials that can be reused.

I do wonder if eventually the 'filament' could be a separate component to the actual sensor, but the connection between the two would be weakened and these devices probably rely on a good connection between the filament and the input to the sensor's microprocessor. And they are probably calibrated as well to work together.
 
harbottle said:
I do wonder if eventually the 'filament' could be a separate component to the actual sensor, but the connection between the two would be weakened and these devices probably rely on a good connection between the filament and the input to the sensor's microprocessor. And they are probably calibrated as well to work together.
Click to expand...
Dexcom used to be two separate components - the sensor (with the filament) which was single use and the transmitter which was rechargeable. I think this reduced the waste but it was bigger.

I am surprised how big the applicator is for Libre and Dexcom.
I use a different CGM, Medtrum, which is compatible with my pump. This is a two component CGM (like the "old" Dexcoms) and the applicator is smaller so waste is less. It is still not recyclable but I feel I am throwing away less every two weeks.
 
You are probably right. But designing out the filament to be separately disposable as are my needles on the insulin pens does not seem an insurmountable problem. Is it just big drug companies knowing they have a captive market? Why make things cheaper? Even if the sensor pads cannot be recycled easily, why not the applicators? Has DiabetesUK enquired of Dexcom or Abbott?

Nick
 
NickE said:
designing out the filament to be separately disposable as are my needles on the insulin pens does not seem an insurmountable problem.
Click to expand...
It's not. See my comment above (we may have typed at the same time).
The Dexcom used to be two separate components and the Medtrum still is.
I dispose of the sensor (with the filament every 2 weeks) and then recharge the transmitter which lasts longer than a year. There is a potential issue as people become more dependent upon their CGM because they have to wait for their transmitter to recharge every time they change their sensor which adds to the time between having a working CGM: I have seen people complain about the 1 hour warm up time for a Libre so imagine the complaints if they also have to wait a couple of hours for the transmitter to recharge.
I am lucky to have two transmitters so I can recharge my unworn one in the day before switch over but that could be seen as extra upfront expense (although two transmitters mean they last twice as long because each is only used half the time).
 
Helli - can you tell me more about the Medtrum CGM? I’m looking to even out my highs and lows (mainly highs at the moment) and viewing their website it looks interesting. Do you get yours through the NHS? If you’d prefer to message me privately of course that is fine.

Best, Nick
 
NickE said:
You are probably right. But designing out the filament to be separately disposable as are my needles on the insulin pens does not seem an insurmountable problem. Is it just big drug companies knowing they have a captive market? Why make things cheaper? Even if the sensor pads cannot be recycled easily, why not the applicators? Has DiabetesUK enquired of Dexcom or Abbott?

Nick
Click to expand...

Yes, it is a problem. The filament will be connected directly to the micro (Probably some sort of ADC? I don't know, a friend of mine has taken one apart) and adding a 'connector' to this would interfere with its properties. You want the signals from the enzyme (Which are very small electrical currents) getting into the micro as quickly as possible with very little chance of disruption. (And this would raise calibration issues as well, as the calibration would have to take into account the connection and changes to the signals that might occur there.)

Applicators though. Good point!
 
helli said:
Dexcom used to be two separate components - the sensor (with the filament) which was single use and the transmitter which was rechargeable. I think this reduced the waste but it was bigger.
Click to expand...

That's a good design. I'd guess the sensor has already done the maths on the signals from the filament, so transferring the data to a separate transmitter won't interfere with anything. Just bits and bytes over some sort of data link.

Funnily, one of my colleagues here has worked on the software for CGMs. Not sure which brand, I'll have to ask.
 
Dear Harbottle (do you have a forename?) or should I address you as Mr H?!

My son is involved in software and Ai’s having been successful in games. I must ask him what he thinks.

Cheers,

Nick
 
Over the last decade or so, most manufacturers seem to have been moving towards away from reusable elements, and towards disposable / single-use / pre-charged-applicator type designs. Just like insulin manufacturers are constantly reaching towards longer and longer acting basal insulins, where the flexibility of responsive 2x daily basal can help some T1s enormously.

My old Enlites and G3s had a separate rechargeable transmitter, and a reusable inserter.

Libre 1 when it came out was fully disposable and self-contained. And that seemed to set a trend.

My Dexcom did have a separate transmitter (not rechargeable) but came in a pre-primed disposable inserter.

The Simpleras are very Libre-like. A ready assembled disposable inserter, with a built-in button battery for the transmitter.

My only gesture towards recyclability comes from levering open the spent sensor (not easy) to dig out the battery so that can be recycled. Everything else is just too ‘mixed materials’ :(
 
NickE said:
Dear Harbottle (do you have a forename?) or should I address you as Mr H?!

My son is involved in software and Ai’s having been successful in games. I must ask him what he thinks.

Cheers,

Nick
Click to expand...

I am somewhat involved in software as well, have been so for quite a few decades now. Currently working on embedded systems!
 
I prise the Libre applicator apart , remove the spring and the needle, and recycle it with the other bits in the hard plastics bin at our local recycling centre. I hesitate to recommend this to people, though, because it takes practice not to impale yourself on the sharp inserter.
I tried taking the Dexcom One apart when I had one on trial, though, and I couldn’t get it apart, so had to put it out with the non-recyclable rubbish.
 
Omnipod offer recycling, but it's not all as it seems. They use it in a Furness.

Medical waste is difficult to deal with.
 
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