Medtronic Inc. said Monday that a continuous glucose monitoring system recently received European regulatory approval.

The Fridley-based medical technology giant said the Sentrino system -- the first minimally invasive continuous glucose monitoring system designed for use in hospital critical care units -- received CE Mark approval, meaning the system is now available for sale in Europe. The Sentrino system is not yet available in the United States.

The Sentrino system provides real-time trend data that serves as an early warning system if a patient's glucose readings fall outside a target range specified by a doctor.

While glucose control is a standard of practice for diabetic and non-diabetic patients in hospital critical care units, Medtronic said it is difficult to achieve.

The Sentrino system also provides doctors with trending data that helps hospitals provide optimal glucose management practices, the company said.

The market for continuous glucose monitoring in critical care units has the potential to exceed $1 billion annually, Medtronic said in a news release.

JANET MOORE