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Libre sensors

B

Bogart99

Well-Known Member
Messages
45
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
I do not have diabetes
Is it me or do others think these sensors, for those who cannot get for free, are a complete rip off.
At £50 a pop I think so. The manufacturing cost must be so minimal. I took one apart to have a look
not much to see there a small circuit board and a plastic outer. I was interested in the NFC chip it contains.
This chip has a deliberate timer of 15 days programmed into it whereas it could go on possibly for many
months if programmed so. The chip in question does not respond to an NFC chip reset program, a real pity.
 
Hi,

I believe it also has some sort of RFID antenna transmitting data to the reader device.
The battery could in my view do another 15 days? I once tested the longevity of the adhesive patch years ago & got bored after 20 days?
But I think the probe under the skin could naturally start to misinterpret interstitial levels due to the body’s defence rejecting the probe. (At a guess. Anther reason for removing the experiment after 20.)

I did use a third party reader app (better functions than Abbott’s) which could extend the life of the sensor by 6 or 8 hours?
What I found most of the time when extending further. The last 6 hours of life went on a “loop” transmitting a ghost echo of data.

I think there maybe some practicality regarding the “built in obsolescence” as it is engineered to be a medical device.
 
I suppose we have to pay for all the science and research that goes into the development of these sensors as well as the actual physical stuff. I use Dexcom ONE + on a ninety day subscription which cuts the daily cost down to £2.59/day as compared to the Libre 2 plus which is £3.45/day for a single purchase as Abbott don’t do subscriptions.
 
I assume that there is also the issue of approval for use as a medical device, and also how long it maintains the accuracy required for approval.
No doubt the price would come down if more devices came to the market.
However that takes time and money.
 
Bogart99 said:
Is it me or do others think these sensors, for those who cannot get for free, are a complete rip off.
At £50 a pop I think so. The manufacturing cost must be so minimal. I took one apart to have a look
not much to see there a small circuit board and a plastic outer. I was interested in the NFC chip it contains.
This chip has a deliberate timer of 15 days programmed into it whereas it could go on possibly for many
months if programmed so. The chip in question does not respond to an NFC chip reset program, a real pity.
Click to expand...
It is an expense that is not affordable by many. Some struggle to afford meter and strips.
Of course, as test strips are considered too expensive for NHS to provide for most people with T2, who are not on insulin, there is no chance at all for the sensors to be offeredThere is a good income stream to be had, though, for the manufacturers, provided by those who do use them. Why would they make them cheaper, if they are making sales?
 
Bogart99 said:
Am surprised there is no chinese knock off out there yet.
Click to expand...
Strangely. I’ve been searching to see if any of the components are Chinese?
Sometimes the country of origin just means “assembled” & packaged?
I know companies like Peavey suggested made in the USA back in the 80s & 90s? But many of the internal components where imported.

I also worked for an actuator company in the UK. The components were imported.

I did find the battery could be Japanese. (At least on the Libre 2.)

goughlui.com

Teardown: Abbott FreeStyle Libre 2 Flash Glucose Monitoring System Sensor

This time, I’ll be looking at something a little more unusual (at least, by my standards). Around three weeks ago, I took part in an experiment which required blood glucose readings and I was…
goughlui.com goughlui.com
 
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