Insulin pump design is moving quickly toward smaller, tubeless, and largely screenless systems that automate more of the day-to-day work of diabetes. Several of the most interesting devices are still in development rather than on pharmacy shelves, but they point clearly to where automated insulin delivery is heading. Here are seven systems worth knowing about.
Pumps in development
1 · Tubeless Tandem Mobi
Tandem is developing a tubeless version of its compact Mobi pump that adheres directly to the skin as a patch, removing the tubing entirely. It is expected to run Tandem’s Control-IQ+ automation from a phone app, pair with a seven-day infusion set, and recharge wirelessly, while remaining compatible with current Mobi pumps through an updated cartridge.
2 · Tandem Sigi
Sigi is a reusable, rechargeable patch pump that clips onto a disposable adhesive base and uses prefilled, swappable insulin cartridges, so there is no manual insulin drawing. It carries FDA Breakthrough Device designation and is being built to work with Tandem’s Control-IQ+ algorithm.
3 · Beta Bionics Mint
From the makers of the iLet, Mint is a tubeless patch system that keeps the iLet’s simplified, meal-size dosing — small, medium, or large instead of carbohydrate counting. It uses a reusable controller plus a disposable patch that carries its own battery, so the device itself never needs charging. Early plans call for a three-day wear time, with a launch anticipated around 2027.
4 · Medtronic (MiniMed) Flex & Fit
Medtronic’s diabetes division, spinning off as MiniMed, is developing two screenless systems. Flex is a tubed pump controlled by phone, with a physical button for bolusing and a seven-day extended infusion set. Fit is a tubeless, modular patch with a reusable base that holds about 300 units of insulin — useful for higher insulin needs.
5 · Kaleido 2
Kaleido 2 is a sleeker European patch-style pump, worn with a short length of tubing, designed to run with Diabeloop’s hybrid closed-loop algorithm. It adds improved battery life and a built-in motion sensor that may eventually let activity inform insulin delivery.
6 · Niia (PharmaSens)
Developed by the Swiss company PharmaSens, Niia aims to combine an insulin pump and a continuous glucose monitor into a single, screenless, app-controlled patch — potentially the first true all-in-one device — reducing the number of separate items a person wears. One version pairs with an ultra-thin CGM sensor from Sibionics.
7 · Omnipod “Evolution” algorithm
Insulet is developing a next-generation automated-delivery algorithm, internally called Evolution, for its tubeless and screenless Omnipod platform. The aim is tighter automation with less hands-on input, and early studies have reported improved time in range.