Overview

The Gansulin Pen (甘舒霖笔) is a reusable injection pen from Tonghua Dongbao Pharmaceutical, an insulin maker in Jilin, China, founded in 1985. The pen itself is built on the ServoPen platform from Ypsomed of Switzerland. Ypsomed lists the Gansulin Pen as the first product launched on that platform, in 2010.

It is a spring-driven pen. Twist the knob to set the dose, then press the button and the mechanism pushes the dose through the needle on its own. It takes a 3 mL (300-unit) cartridge and dials from 1 to 60 units, one unit per click.

This is the green push-button Gansulin Pen, with “Gansulin Pen” printed on the cap and 甘舒霖笔 on the case. It is a different device from Dongbao’s later dial-and-dose Sulin Pen (舒霖笔).

Key features

• Click dial. The pen clicks once for every unit as you turn the knob, and you can feel each step.
• Correct a dose without wasting anything. If you dial past the number you want, turn the knob back the other way until the display shows the right number.
• Remaining-volume stop. The knob will not turn past the amount left in the cartridge, so you cannot set more than the cartridge holds.
• Spring-driven delivery. Press the button and the pen delivers the dose. You hear a click when it finishes and the dial returns to zero.
• Dose display. A window shows the dose you set. If an injection is interrupted, the display shows how much is left to deliver.
• Quick cartridge change. The cartridge holder uses a twist-and-pull bayonet fitting, and the lead screw slides back when you load a fresh cartridge.
• Metal outer housing with a green finish and a black cap, dial knob, and cartridge holder.
• Registered with the Jilin Provincial Medical Products Administration (吉械注准20192140079), renewed in 2024. The manufacturer states dose accuracy in accordance with ISO 11608-1.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: Tonghua Dongbao Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Tonghua, Jilin, China
• Platform: Ypsomed ServoPen (Switzerland)
• Type: reusable, spring-driven pen injector with push-button delivery
• Cartridge: 3 mL / 300 units. The manufacturer specifies its own Gansulin 3 mL cartridges; the ServoPen platform is specified for standard ISO 11608-3 3 mL cartridges.
• Dose range: 1 to 60 units per injection
• Dose step: 1 unit, with an audible and tactile click per unit
• Dose correction: dial back without expelling liquid
• Needles: screw-on pen needles. The manufacturer names its own Dongbao pen needles (32G x 4 mm and 31G x 6 mm are listed on its site); the ServoPen platform is specified for standard ISO 11608-2 pen needles.
• Hold time after pressing the button: at least 6 seconds
• Storage: above freezing and below 30°C, out of direct sunlight
• Note: the manufacturer states that components may contain traces of latex
• Country of origin: China

What’s in the box

• 1 Gansulin Pen
• 1 zippered nylon carry case
• Certificate of conformity card (合格证)

Cartridges and pen needles are sold separately.

How to use

1. Load a cartridge. Pull off the pen cap. Twist the cartridge holder and pull it away from the body until it clicks free. Remove any empty cartridge and insert a fresh 3 mL cartridge. Push the cartridge and holder against the pin head so the screw slides back into the body, then twist the holder back on until it clicks.
2. Attach a needle. Peel the seal from a new pen needle and fit it onto the holder tip until it is seated. Remove the outer needle cap, and the inner cap when you are ready to inject.
3. Prime the pen. Dial 1 or 2 units. Hold the pen with the needle pointing up and tap the cartridge holder so any air rises. Press and hold the button until the dial returns to zero and you hear the click. A drop should appear at the needle tip. If it does not, repeat up to four more times, then try a new needle. Do this every time you change a cartridge or a needle.
4. Set the dose. Turn the knob clockwise and read the number in the display. Turn it back the other way to lower the dose. If the knob stops, the cartridge has less left than you are dialing. Do not force it.
5. Inject. Insert the needle, press the button down until you hear the click, and check that the dial is back at zero. Keep the needle in place for at least 6 seconds before withdrawing. A drop or two at the needle tip afterward is normal and does not change the delivered dose.
6. Remove the needle. Put the outer cap back over the needle, unscrew the cap and needle together, and dispose of the needle. Use each needle once. Put the pen cap back on.

Care and storage

• Wipe the pen with a soft, damp cloth. Do not use alcohol or other cleaning agents, and never put the pen in water.
• Store between freezing and 30°C, away from direct sunlight and extreme heat or cold. If the room is warmer than 30°C, the manufacturer says a loaded pen can be kept in the refrigerator.
• Keep the pen in its case when not in use, remove the needle after every injection, and put the cap back on.
• Do not try to repair the pen yourself. Contact us if it is damaged.
• Each cartridge and needle should be used by one person only.