In 'honor' of my quickly approaching 26th year pumping and consequential
20th insulin pump (and I'm only counting different models, not refurbs
and the fixups).



In the interest of supporting the pump forum in the only way I can, I am
requesting anyone who benefitted from any of the 'innovations' below to
send at least 0.25c/innovation to the list (no, I do NOT mean to send
an email with a picture of so many quarters, but a letter containing a
check or similar for 0.25* number of below that you regard as important
enough to say 'thank you' to those who suffered prior to their
'invention).



Since I got NOTHING (other than lots of new models with lots of new
almost ready for prime time features) for these inventions, I figure
asking for a quarter/invention/pumper isn't SO much out of the question
(especially since I am not getting any of it and you can tell Uncle
Shmuel that you sent it).



OK: here is my partial list (memory is finally getting to where it's
silly even attempting to fill in everything)



-2] Pumps that were NOT made by Mill Hill



-1] Pumps that lasted longer than the initial programming classes before
needing a refurb.



0] Pumps that are programmed with basal and bolus values based on the
strength of the insulin used, as opposed to the dilution facter
necessary to acheive the ONE SINGLE 24*7 basal rate (since the pumps had
only ONE feed rate - On)



1] Pumps that don't go into 'overdrive' (decide to deliver their entire
contents due to falling in love with their owner, hearing a musical note
they haven't heard before or being driven within 200 miles of a drawing
of a nuclear power plant).



2] Pumps that have batteries that last longer than the replacements take
to recharge (19 hours power from 22 hours recharge: autosyriges first
four pumps)



3] Pumps that 'stay attached' to their 'owner' longer than they spend
recycling at the manufacturer <an innovation that a few of us insisted
on around our fifth new model>'



4] Pumps which are smaller than eight current pumps put together
(companies thought it was NUTS to shrink the size)



5] Ability to have more than ONE basal rate in 24 hours, more than one
basal profile in life and more than one value in pump memory



6] Ability to call 24*7 hotline for pumps and reach someone who knows
how to do something



7] Pump manuals written by people who don't regard assembly as their
first language and PL/M as their second.



8] Choices of catheters more interesting than: number of hours until
causes light/medium/heavy bruising.



9] Choice of adhesive 'extras' (as well as pre and post insertion
goodies) designed to reduce number of site changes by factor of six or
eight.



10] System and unit testing of software and hardware PRIOR to release



11] Software and hardware having a 24 hours of 'live' usage test PRIOR
to release



12] Doctors and Nurses who had to self-inflict before teaching others
how to do such.



13] Insulin pump support groups.



14] Pumps that do NOT set off every possible alarm and/or panic button
when worn in vacinity of .....



15] Pumps that do NOT lose it* when worn within 250 feet of a 'high
power' electric transmission line

* - losing it includes forgetting all settings, delivering all
contents of reservoir, resetting all internal settings,
'blowing out' internal circuit board, etc



16] Pumps that do NOT require a driver license to carry.



17] Pumps that do NOT look like dangerous accessories



18] Pumps that are not taken away by nursing staff prior to carpul
tunnel or other 'minor' operations due to the fact that 'You stupid kids
take those tape recorders everywhere with you'.



19] Auto-inserters for catheters



20] Auto-Lancet devices (try a week of stainless steel 'catheters' and
then pretend you don't need to send 0.25 in)







[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]