Infusion Pumps Research Paper

Infusing excellence to Infusion pumps

A Tata Elxsi perspective

Introduction

Infusion pumps are used to infuse necessary fluids, which include medications and/or nutrients, to a patient's circulatory system. Infusion pumps are used in situations where continuous monitoring and treatment by caregiver would be expensive, impractical, or unreliable. They are used for everything from very simple requirements such as rehydration to more complex requirements such as those needed for chemotherapy and pain management. Accuracy and consistency when delivering medications and other fluids are essential due to the possibility of severe consequences. Infusion pumps provide a precisely controlled rate of fluid delivery to the patient

There are different types of infusion pumps which are used for a variety of purposes and in various environments.

Infusion pumps may be capable of delivering fluids in large or small amounts, and may be used to deliver nutrients or medications such as insulin or other hormones, antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, and pain relievers. Some infusion pumps are designed mainly for stationary use at a patient’s bedside. Others, called ambulatory infusion pumps, are designed to be portable or wearable.

A number of commonly used infusion pumps are designed for specialized purposes. These include:

• Enteral pump - A pump used to deliver liquid nutrients and medications to a patient’s digestive tract.

• Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA) pump - A pump used to deliver pain medication, which is equipped with a feature that allows patients to self-administer a controlled amount of medication, as needed.

• Insulin pump - A pump typically used to deliver insulin to patients with diabetes. Insulin pumps are frequently used in the home. Infusion pumps may be powered electrically or mechanically. Different pumps operate in different

In this phase clear definition of what the system is required to do and the constraints are defined.

• Feasibility study

Identify and estimate to see if user can be satisfied using current techniques and technologies

• Requirements analysis:

 The process of deriving the system requirements through observation of existing systems, discussion with users and customers, task analysis, and so on

Clinical functions and Intended Use of the device:

 Requirements which have been highlighted as problematic are discussed and the stakeholders involved present their views about the requirements

• Requirements definition:

Translating the information into a requirements document

• Requirements specification:

 Define system requirements using a consistent, precise and complete way

 Using some requirements specification method

Tata Elxsi’s proven expertise in requirements engineering, usability and human factors is capable of answering the challenges that the infusion pump manufacturers are facing in freezing the specification of the devices at the onset of the design