Types of infusion pump
The term ‘infusion pump’ is synonymous with any medical
infusion device that is used to administer IV medication to a
patient.This may take the form of a volumetric pump (using
IV bags of medication), a syringe pump (using syringes thatuser a range of alarms and adjustments that can be tailored
for each type of therapy.
The pumping mechanism varies in infusion pumps; from
a computer-controlled threaded bar turned slowly (used
in a syringe pump) to a peristaltic pumping mechanism to
manipulate the fluid through a series of plungers or fingers
moving at a set rate (volumetric infusion pump). Accuracy
and consistency is assured with the more sophisticated and
often more expensive mechanisms. When speed is of the
essence, roller-peristaltic devices (e.g. enteral feed pumps,
and some dialysis devices) are used to move large volumes
sometimes at the expense of accuracy (MHRA, 2013a).