Here in Australia we’re privileged in that we get subsidy support from the government for supplies including reservoirs and infusion sets for our insulin pumps.
This happens via NDSS, and the list of “IPC” (Insulin Pump Consumables) choices is quite large. They maintain an order form with all the choices, but it’s not really laid out in any user-friendly order.
Note that at this point the “IPC” category covers reservoirs and infusion sets (and sometimes replacement cannulae for those sets). Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) are a different category of device, even though they integrate directly with some pumps.
Unfortunately many pump users don’t realise that they have options, and just keep ordering the same infusion sets that their DE initially suggested when they started on a pump years prior. They don’t realise they can often order sets with different lengths of tubing (between the pump and the site), with different cannula lengths (e.g. 6mm/9mm), and even completely different infusion sets.
This article is an attempt to rearrange the information into a more digestible format. I hope it’s useful. It is good to understand your options: especially with hardware we wear on our bodies continuously!
It can sometimes be useful to print off a copy of the current PDF list and then mark the ones you’re interested in (using the code numbers from the table below). Then take that to the pharmacy so there’s no confusion.
Sometimes we replace the cannula at a site without replacing (and filling with more insulin) the tubing. You’ll see below that some types of cannulae are available without tubing. So you don’t have to feel bad about throwing away the tubing in those cases (and you get to save a few dollars too). For some more detail on this (with discussion of fill volumes) see an article about Filling cannulae.
The article is split up into (and you can bookmark these links if it helps):
Each section includes links back to the relevant section of the Insulin Pump Choices article. At this point this article is up to date with the June 2023 update to the IPC list.
Accu-Chek Solo
This patch pump has few options. There’s the reservoir (which includes the battery for the pump body) and a choice of two cannula plates. The pump mounts directly onto the plate (there’s no tubing in between).
| Cannula type | Options | NDSS codes |
|---|---|---|
| Solo plate | 6mm or 9mm teflon cannula | 851, 852 |
| Reservoir | NDSS codes | |
| 200U | 724 | |
YpsoPump
The YpsoPump has three types of infusion set, but there are lots of options within those types!
The Inset is the same mechanism as the Medtronic Mio, Tandem AutoSoft 90, and DANA Inset II.
| Cannula type | Options | NDSS codes |
|---|---|---|
| Orbit micro | 5.5mm or 8.5mm steel cannula 45, 60, 80, 110cm, or without tubing |
810, 811, 812, 813, 814, 815, 816, 817, 838, 839 |
| Orbit soft | 6mm or 9mm teflon cannula 45, 60, 80, 110cm, or without tubing |
818, 819, 820, 821, 822, 823, 824, 825, 840, 841 |
| Inset | 6mm or 9mm teflon cannula 46, 60, 80, or 110cm tubing |
853, 854, 855, 856, 857, 858, 859, 860 |
| Reservoir | NDSS codes | |
| 160U | 718 | |
DANA pumps
The following consumables are shared by the DANA R, DANA RS, and DANA-i pumps.
The Inset II is the same mechanism as the Medtronic Mio, YpsoPump Inset, and Tandem AutoSoft 90.
The pumps used to use the Soft O Release infusion sets which were the same mechanism as the Orbit soft, but those have been discontinued.
| Cannula type | Options | NDSS codes |
|---|---|---|
| Inset II | 6mm teflon cannula 60 or 80cm tubing |
861, 862 |
| 9mm teflon cannula 60cm tubing |
863 | |
| Easy Release | 4.5mm or 7mm steel cannula 60cm tubing |
864, 865 |
| Reservoir | NDSS codes | |
| 300U No longer includes batteries for the R and RS pumps. |
709.1 | |
Medtronic pumps
These consumables are shared between the Medtronic 780G, 770G, 670G, 640G, Veo 554 & 754, Paradigm 522 & 722 pumps, as well as some earlier models.
Silhouette is the same mechanism as the Accu-Chek TenderLink and the Tandem VariSoft.
Sure-T is the same mechanism as the Tandem TruSteel.
Mio is the same mechanism as the YpsoPump Inset, Tandem AutoSoft 90, and DANA Inset II.
| Cannula type | Options | NDSS codes |
|---|---|---|
| Quickset | 6mm or 9mm teflon cannula 60, 80, or 110cm tubing |
561, 562, 659, 660, 563, 564 |
| Silhouette (angled) |
13mm or 17mm teflon cannula 60, 80, or 110cm tubing |
568, 569, 641, 642, 588, 589 |
| 13mm teflon cannula 46cm tubing |
640 | |
| 13mm or 17mm teflon cannula without tubing Accu-Chek TenderLink |
590, 591 | |
| Mio | 6mm teflon cannula 45, 60, or 80cm tubing pink or blue connector |
643, 643.1, 644, 644.1, 645, 645.1 |
| 6mm or 9mm teflon cannula 80cm tubing clear/grey connector |
645.2, 646 | |
| Sure-T | 6mm, 8mm, or 10mm steel cannula 60 or 80cm tubing |
647, 648, 649, 650, 651, 652 |
| Reservoir | NDSS codes | |
| 180U Will be discontinued at the end of June 2023! |
705 | |
| 300U (does not fit in Paradigm/Veo 5xx pumps) | 706 | |
Tandem t:slim X2
The t:slim X2 originally shared the luer-lock sets used by the old Animas pumps, but now uses its own “t:lock” connector.
AutoSoft 90 is the same mechanism as the Medtronic Mio, YpsoPump Inset, and DANA Inset II.
VariSoft is the same mechanism as the Medtronic Silhouette and Accu-Chek TenderLink.
TruSteel is the same mechanism as the Medtronic Sure-T.
| Cannula type | Options | NDSS codes |
|---|---|---|
| AutoSoft 90 | 6mm or 9mm teflon cannula 60 or 110cm tubing |
826, 827, 828, 829 |
| AutoSoft 30 (angled) |
13mm teflon cannula with integrated inserter 60 or 110cm tubing |
830, 831 |
| VariSoft (angled) |
13mm or 17mm teflon cannula 60cm tubing |
832, 833 |
| 13mm or 17mm teflon cannula without tubing Accu-Chek TenderLink |
590, 591 | |
| TruSteel | 6mm or 8mm steel cannula 60 or 80cm tubing |
834, 835, 836, 837 |
| 10mm steel cannula no tubing Medtronic Sure-T (discard Medtronic tubing) |
649, 652 | |
| Reservoir | NDSS codes | |
| 300U | 722 | |
Accu-Chek Combo
Because the Combo pump uses the same luer-lock connection as a traditional syringe, it is compatible with infusion sets from multiple manufacturers.
| Cannula type | Options | NDSS codes |
|---|---|---|
| Cleo 90 | 6mm or 9mm teflon cannula 61, 79, or 107cm tubing |
507, 508, 509, 510, 511, 512 |
| FlexLink | 6mm, 8mm, or 10mm teflon cannula 30, 60, 80cm |
677, 678, 679, 513, 514, 515, 516, 517, 518 |
| 6mm, 8mm, or 10mm teflon cannula no tubing |
680, 519, 520 | |
| TenderLink (angled) |
13mm or 17mm teflon cannula 60cm, or without tubing |
593, 596, 590, 591 |
| Rapid-D | 6mm, 8mm, or 10mm steel cannula without tubing |
615, 616, 617 |
| 20, 50, or 70cm tubing | 618, 619, 620 | |
| Orbit micro | 5.5mm or 8.5mm steel cannula 60, 75cm, or without tubing |
842, 843, 844, 845, 838, 839 |
| Orbit soft | 6mm or 9mm teflon cannula 60, 75cm, or without tubing |
846, 847, 848, 849, 840, 841 |
| 9mm teflon cannula 110cm tubing |
850 | |
| Reservoir | NDSS codes | |
| 315U | 713, 714 | |
There are of course some older sets that are no longer available through NDSS but may still be compatible with your pump. But this is what’s currently available through NDSS Access Points.