Infusion pumps that are designed to deliver a predetermined amount of analgesic drug on demand, i.e., when requested by the patient. These pumps are typically connected to infusion pump tubing designed specifically for use with patient-controlled analgesic (PCA) infusion pumps; this tubing is connected to a infusion catheter or other infusion device (e.g., epidural catheter, subcutaneous injection/infusion port). Typically, PCA pumps are programmed to deliver in any one of the following modes: demand dose, demand dose plus continous infusion, or continuous infusion; these pumps can also be programmed to deliver one-time doses (i.e., bolus doses). PCA pumps are designed with specific safeguards that restrict the amount of drug that can be requested and delivered over a specific period of time, e.g., 1 mg of drug every 6 minutes for a total of 10 mg per hour. The software inherent in the PCA pump is typically capable of storing cumulative data regarding number of doses delivered, date/time of each dose delivered, number of requests received, and total volume of drug delivered.
Definition (SPN)
An infusion pump is a device used in a health care facility to pump fluids into a patient in a controlled manner. The device may use a piston pump, a roller pump, or a peristaltic pump and may be powered electrically or mechanically. The device may also operate using a constant force to propel the fluid through a narrow tube which determines the flow rate. The device may include means to detect a fault condition, such as air in, or blockage of, the infusion line and to activate an alarm.