Adapter to connect luer-lock infusion set to t:slim cartridge

That’s great. I have the luer lock sets ready to go, and a box of the adapters on order. All I need is to get the heat shrink. Apparently the adapters will take up to 2 months to get here! In the meantime I am soldiering on with the Tandem Trusteel. I am having a bit of a reprieve as my last sets have been viable, and BG’s where I want them.
I am looking forward to trying your solution.

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That’s what I was using when I had my Animas Vibe pump. Do you use an inserter?

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Do you please have a link or suggested brand/type/ size? I Googled it and have no idea what to buy. I would like to order or buy some while waiting for the connection to come in the mail? Many thanks!

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I am not sure of the sizes, but I can look. I got a kit that contained a bunch of different sizes and just picked the one that would fit!

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Hi @Margoriebest and @pbloom209
Here is a video showing how to connect the Luer lock infusion set to the Tandem cartridge.

I have not used it in a pump. So this more of a proof-of-concept at this point. But maybe @elver will agree to try it with a pump?

@elver, I only have 1 adapter left. How about I send it to you, along with the rest of the Tandem stuff that you sent me which I did not use? That way you can try it all out.

Here is the video. Sorry, it’s not professional quality, but it gives the information and a demo.

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Sounds like a project! Fun!

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Oh thank you so much!
I am so in awe of you and others on this site. Your knowledge and tech ability and generosity is very humbling. Thank you.

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Hi @Eric I am still waiting for my Vygon connectors to get here from EBay US.
In the meantime I want to have the shrink wrap ready. Can you please tell me what diameter you used? Looks like the smallest is 3 mm. Thanks

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I am not sure of the diameter, but I think it’s 2mm.

I think this is the one I got and I used the 2nd smallest size in the box.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QM8249H

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Thanks. Got some on order!

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So @Eric 's science experiment has been deployed. @Eric was kind enough to send 1 already made example and pieces to make a 2nd complete set. I had an unexpected set change at 0200 hrs this morning and since I had obsessively examined the completed example and watched the above YT video I have some degree of confidence that I can replicate the set a second time so I deployed @Eric 's pre-made set this morning.

Takeaways:

  • I needed 30.2 units to prime my set instead of the normal 12 - 17 (depending on set length). The insulin seemed to take forever to reach the Luer lock, but there were no apparent bubbles in the tubing.

  • The process didn’t really change much (for me) if the set was pre-assembled. The amount of time was about the same.

  • The entire set seems sturdy enough. Would it survive a snag or doorknob? Probably. A really serious yank? Anybody’s guess.

Thanks as always to @Eric for the creative solution and for the opportunity to be the Lab rat. If anything changes I will update the bullet points.

Update…

So the first set lasted around 20 hours before separating. I think I must have torn it while rolling over in bed. Darn!

The second set survived a doorknob and a ladder fall only to fall victim to my geriatric dog who became entangled as I was trying to leash her up for a walk.

I think this is a viable option for people that want sets that Tandem doesn’t offer. That said, they are definitely NOT as strong as the original Tandem sets, and they DEFINITELY won’t stretch!

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Is the Animas infusion set much different than what you are used to using? Or is the big difference in the amount needed to prime caused by the adapter?

But I would guess the priming is not a dealbreaker as long as it does not leak, right?

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So far no leaks. Tandem made a tubing size change when they went to the T:Lock connector to intentionally attempt to decrease the amount of insulin needed during priming . The T:Lock connector has a purposely very small bore as I recall. Personally my insulin priming dropped by 5 -10 units (or even more on some sets) when they changed away from Luer lock sets (though I do miss the flexibility of mixing and matching different mfr brands)

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Funny because the change in tubing size is exactly what let’s us hack it back to Luer lock! :joy:

Yay!
:+1:

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It’s been 3 days. Status report please @elver!!

How did it work for you?!?

Does it get the stamp of approval for other Tandem adventurers, explorers, solutionists, miscreants, alchemists, and MacGyver’s?

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Sir, yes Sir @Eric ! Right away SIR!, Lol!

Seriously though IMHO it is a solid solution with one caveat that you yourself pointed out. It is not as strong as the Tandem set.

The first set I used lasted 20 hours and separated at the heat shrink ( I suspect it got caught as I rolled over during the night and snagged).

The second set survived a doorknob and a ladder fall successfully. It did not however survive my geriatric dog who became tangled when I picked her her up to leash her.

Would I continue making hybrid sets? Given the OP’s initial ask and needs and if I was in the same situation, then absolutely! The hybrid set was a breeze to make after watching @Eric 's YT video. Definitely grip the ends towards the end to get things started. After that things were super easy. I brought water to a boil in a pyrex in the microwave beforehand so it was ready to go.

I also updated the bullet points on my original post before the experiment.

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@elver, I’m sorry it did not stay together.

:frowning:

As with all things diabetes, there really is no perfect solution. We just look for the least crappy solution. It’s always a matter of tradeoffs. In this case the tradeoff is an infusion set someone may prefer but less durability. :man_shrugging:t2:

Anyway, for everyone else that was looking into it @Margoriebest and @pbloom209 and others, there you have it. A first hand test from a wily pro - @elver.

Many thanks @elver for trying it out. :+1:

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@Eric @elver @pbloom209

So my adapters and my box of shrinkwrap arrived yesterday. I was SO excited (sad, what?) and hopeful. I went against my own advice to myself and did the conversion late afternoon. As you’ve said it was a breeze to do. I took my usual evening meal bolus and bedtime reading looked so promising. Then when I was getting ready for bed, the connection had separated. So I did it all over again, with about 40 units prime just to be sure. This time the shrinkwrap didn’t seal around the narrow end of the connection. It did withstand a gentle tug so I wrapped some Fixomul tape around the shrinkwrap around the join and I think I went to bed but I may not have. I came to consciousness about 5 hours later. BGL 2.6 , just with-it enough to stagger to the fridge for my neat glucose. I have been SO lucky with exceptionally acute hypo-awareness, that this was the ONLY serious hypo. I have ever had. My husband was frightened and wanted to call an ambulance but I resisted and eventually recovered.
So I still don’t know what factor caused this to happen. Maybe the new set was working so well in comparison with the Trusteel that I was lower than usual and just went to sleep. Or perhaps because I was so tired I made an error when I did the change.
I AM going to give it another try, in about a week when I have the motivation to do so.
I think maybe the tubings might connect better if I make sure to push them in as far as possible.
Note to self:- next time start early in the morning!

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