Syringe Pumps

Topics

Diagrams
Principles of Operation
Applications
Safety
Operation
Preventive Maintenance
Common Failure Modes
Troubleshooting
New Technology

Diagrams

Principles of Operation
Syringe pumps use a series of sensors and a
motor driven plunger head to infuse liquid at
a precise rate
Inputs

Outputs

AC

Moving Plunger

Full syringe

Liquid released at
steady rate

Principle of Operation
Chassis contains:
LCD screen
Alarm to alert user of failures and other
issues that need attention
Power supply
2 power distribution boards
Memory capabilities
Records doses, rates, and settings

Principles of Operation
Chassis contains:
Flange clamp sensor
Determines if syringe flange is present

Barrel clamp sensor

Determines if barrel of syringe is present
Determines size of syringe

Position sensor
Determines how far plunger head is from
chassis

Principles of Operation
Chassis contains:
Motor and worm gear
Smoothly moves plunger head outwards
Unidirectional

Pyramid shaped reflective counter

Rotates with motor
Counts rotations by reflecting light back at a sensor

Principles of Operation
Plunger head contains:
Force sensor
Syringe plunger pushes
against sensor
Springs attached to
plunger flippers and
force sensor detect
presence of syringe
plunger

Clutch & lever to allow

and prevent plunger
from moving freely

Applications
Infuse fluids, medication or nutrients into
circulatory system
Administers fluids more reliably than humans
Improve patient safety by increasing
consistency and accuracy
Assist in investigation of incidents by collecting
data in memory

Safety
Always use PPE
Read manual before using

Operation
Place syringe in three clamps (flange,
barrel, plunger flippers)
Designate infusion settings on screen
Press start
Bolus option: quickly moves plunger head to
prime syringe

Always pay attention to alarm warnings

Use Biomed option for troubleshooting help

Preventive Maintenance

Replace IV tubing, cassette, and/or syringe

Clean machine and chassis of any solution residue
Verify software and menu settings are appropriate for
clinical application
Examine controls and switches for proper function
Confirm lights, indicators, and displays are working
Verify flow stops when device is turned off
If device includes a feature that requires the IV set to be
closed before it is disconnected (either automatically or
manually), verify that this mechanism is operating properly
Check rollers and tubing to see if replacement is necessary
Run self-test, if equipped

Preventative Maintenance
Examine plug and line cord
Verify battery chargers and indicators are working
Check suggested replacement date for the battery to see
if the date is passed or approaching
Calibrate machine as necessary
Check for unusual noise or vibration
Examine internal cables and connectors
Lubricate as required by syringe pump manufacturer

Common Failure Modes

No power
Battery not holding charge
No display
Bad keypads
Broken handles
Flash memory errors
Plunger sensor errors (syringe)

Troubleshooting