NOTICE: This pump has been discontinued or will be shortly by the Spirit Combo Model: The Accu-Chek Spirit insulin pump is a popular pump on the market today. The company has some of the best marketing material available and does an excellent job conveying not only the features of the insulin pump, but the benefits as well. Let’s take a closer look and see if the pump is right for you.
Discerning the company roots of the Accu-Chek pump is a little like peeling the skin of an onion, but not necessarily in a bad way. It should not make you cry! Disetronic Medical Systems markets the Spirit pump. Disetronic is owned by Roche Diagnostics, a United States based diabetes company that markets the Accu-Chek family of glucose meters among other products.
Roche Diagnostics is in turn owned by the Roche Group, a large international research oriented healthcare company. Why is all of the important? Bottom line is that it is good to know the character and backing of your pump company.
While no guarantees are offered, it may provide some level of comfort that the company will be in business and provide support for the duration of your pump ownership. Other pump manufactures have ceased making insulin pumps, most recently, Smiths Medical and the popular Deltec Cozmo.
KEY-ADVANTAGES
- Back Up Pump: The Spirit comes with a 180 day back up pump. This is great for back up on vacations and to avoid having to revert to insulin injections while you wait for a new pump or a repair.
- Large Reservoir: The pump has a 315 unit reservoir, the largest of all pumps.
- Reversible Screen: You can reverse the screen. This is great if you were the pump in locations that would normally mean you had to read the screen upside down.
- Backlit Display: You can read the pump in low light or the dark.
- Software: The pump can wirelessly download to a handheld device or computer for analysis.
KEY DISADVANTAGES
- Lower Basal Increments : Basal increments are 0.1. If you need lower increments, such as 0.05, this pump will not do it.
- Basal Rates : The good news is that it has up to 5 basal profiles. The bad news, if you need it, is that there are only 24 rates. Many people do not need more than this, but if you do fall into the category of people who need more, then this pump may not work for you.
- No Integrated Bolus Calculator : There is no calculator to automatically suggest proper bolus amounts. You have to do it manually.
INFUSION SETS
The Spirit uses a standard Luer Lock connector. This is good if you want to use a third party infusion set.
BOTTOM LINE
Bottom line is that this is one of the more popular insulin pumps on the market. The website is very user friendly. The company has a 24/7 365 day custom service department to help answer questions.
They also have some of the best software integration and capability of any pump. If it is important to really track your injections and their effect, then this is a great option over other pumps that really do not offer this capability.
While less important, but not less fun, the Spirit insulin pump can be customized with 30 different colors and patterns.
Please leave your comments for other readers below the Technical Specifications.
By Erich Schultz, last reviewed January 2013.
TECHNICAL – SPECIFICATION
| Model | Accu-Chek Spirit |
|---|---|
| Size | 3.2 x 2.2 x 0.8 |
| Weight | (battery/insulin) 4.0 oz. |
| Battery | AA (1) |
| Infusion Set Connection | Leur Lock |
| Reservoir Size | 315u |
| Basal Profiles | 5 |
| Basal Rates | 24 |
| Basal Increment | 0.1 |
| Basal Range | 0.1-25 U/hr |
| Bolus Increment | 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 |
| Bolus Delivery | 4 options |
| Memory | 4,500 Events (90 days approx.) |
| Meter Compatibility | Yes |
| Waterproof | Yes |
| Occlusion alarm | Yes |
| Over Delivery Alarm | No |
| Near Empty Alarm | Yes |
| Backlit Display | Yes |
| Warranty | 4 Years |
| Software Download | Yes |
| Colors | 20 |