That is part of the reason why I have made a career switch from chemical/materials engneering toward biomedical engineering.

you might find this interesting. Since my Endo is upstairs from the research folks. The Endos are running a private practice, they also run the research company downstairs. They do 0 work for stuff coming out of the University system. They even point out that the public schools have nearly nothing that is going through phased trials to move on to the product phase. They are however really good at working directly with the drug and device companies. One of the nice parts with this arrangement is that when I am talking to the research endo I am also talking to my usual one. The nice part for them is that they know really well what normal looks like for me, and then know very well how to talk to me.

I am still on the fence on the pump thing. But the Endo has a really good relationship with Medtronic. Which helps a great deal. He has a good record of getting folks pumped up. 😃. But at the same time the research clinic downstairs would like me to sign on for a study for a generic version of Lantos. They like me for studies because I go above and beyond on getting them useful data. I like the studies because money cannot buy the level of treatment provided on the long term drug studies. I just finished an 18 month one with Lilly providing my everything. If it goes well there will be a new gen4 long acting that only needs injecting every 3days. So, I may sign on for this one since I want to live in a world with more cheaper long acting choices. I was also on human trials for cebix ( c-peptide ) replacement. I cannot wait for it to go to market as the stuff was pretty much magic.

I am not a diabetic yet, but I am borderline.
My dad and all of his ancestors had diabetes. I am working on inexpensive tissue scaffolding and am seeking a Midas Mulligan to fund the specific type of tissue to engineer. I certainly could culture one's own Islet of Langerhans pancreatic cells to make an implantable pancreas if I can get money to pursue that. Such an invention would have to stay inside the Gulch, at least for now.

As for insulin pumps, try EBay at
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_sacat=0&...
for a Medtronics pump. The ones for $600 should do the job.

Educating future Galts,
jbrenner
Floirda Tech Chemical & Biomedical Engineering
jbrenner@fit.edu
http://my.fit.edu/~jbrenner

Hello LS,
Sorry to hear about such a load.
Best wishes for a positive outcome.
O.A.

Wow LS... This is true insanity. I am really hoping for a good outcome to this... The pump is excellent in helping to control, although not entirely. I know your son is doing everything he can to keep his levels under control... That should be the number one qualification for an insurance company to approve... What an unbelievable ordeal you are being put through :-(

http://www.labx.com/v2/spiderdealer2/vis...

What he needs is not on eBay.

Try infusion pump or perfusion pump instead.

Believe me jb...I've already looked. :) Thanks tho.

I sent you a link to an entire page of Medtronic pumps plus accessories. With apologies for not being more specific, I didn't know exactly what you were looking for.

And that thing on eBay isn't even a pump. Medtronic Minimed.

When you can return them to the company for a cash (they refurbish) I don't think finding one without others involved is likely.

Do you have a particular model you are looking for? If EBay doesn't work, try http://www.labx.com.

medtronic minimed is not what's on eBay...that thing won't do the trick.

Talk to someone at The University of Miami. Their diabetes program is the world's best. I learned that when I had a small biosensor companies about 10 miles away. FYI, the University of Miami is not a state school, but their researchers do mooch off the government teat. I am one of the RARE professors who doesn't, at least since I read AS a few years ago. That has made work a little harder, but not like it was for AS's characters.

As someone in biomedical engineering and whose daughter is starting it in college next year, I can tell you what a damper Obamacare put on the medical device industry. A 3% tax on all devices! The subject comes up monthly in my classes.

Well let me know how things work out for you. I hope it's not as insane as my attempt. Take care of yourself. (That's what I always say to my son.) :)

Just amazing. I have heard horror stories about this with other med devices as well but they don' t take this long to resolve. This is aserious medical issue for them to be dicking around like this. Unfortunately it looks like you 'll need luck on this one since competency isn 't part of the equation.

Yeah 7k was the answer I got when I asked 'how much do these cost if I were to pay cash and leave the ins out?"

That is pure craziness. Sorry you have to go thru all that. Good luck.

This is total insanity and incompetence at all levels. I hope they have run through all the excuses so you're son will finally get what he needs. What a nightmare.

From my experience in health care pumps retail for about $6,500 (Insurance charge). They wholesale for about $700 on the high end. The margin helps pay for all of the bureaucracy you are dealing with. That makes perfect sense right? (I'm being sarcastic of course)

The hoops you've had to go through, when this should be a simple process, which should have been handled by the Dr's office, but everyone involved dropped the ball, which meant you've had to do their jobs for them... UNBELIEVABLE!!! Wow, give o'care a round of applause!!
This sort if bull is inexcusable. There is no accountability, no genuine effort exerted by those whose job it is to perform these tasks and see that they are actually done. How have you not gone postal? Hang in there. Keep us posted. }-(