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Published on: September 2, 2009
An introduction to the Micrel Micropump MP Daily portable syringe driver
1West Lancs, Southport, Merseyside, UK. kegroves@doctors.org.uk
Abstract:
In this article the author describes the Micrel Micropump MP Daily (MP Daily) portable syringe driver. This follows the author's experience of a 4-month pilot of the device by an inpatient palliative care unit. Portable syringe drivers are commonly used to deliver continuous subcutaneous infusions in palliative care situations. Those in current use are not without problems and serious adverse events have occasionally been reported, mainly resulting from confusion between models. The MP Daily syringe driver addresses some of these issues while remaining small, lightweight and inexpensive, with a long battery life and fitting into the pocket of a shirt of pyjama jacket. Improvements over current models include an on/off button, the absence of facilities to set a zero rate or change the rate once the syringe driver is running, and the absence of a boost button. In addition, there are improved alarms, a message display system and a configuration menu. Although confusion remains a problem, and the ideal has not yet been reached, the MP Daily goes some considerable way towards reducing risks and opportunities for human error.
Insights
The Micrel Micropump MP Daily is a new portable syringe driver for palliative care. It aims to reduce errors and improve safety in continuous subcutaneous infusions.
Area of Science:
- Palliative Care Medicine
- Medical Device Technology
Background:
- Portable syringe drivers are essential for continuous subcutaneous infusions in palliative care.
- Current syringe drivers present challenges, including potential for serious adverse events due to model confusion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the Micrel Micropump MP Daily (MP Daily) portable syringe driver.
- To evaluate the MP Daily's performance and potential for reducing errors in palliative care settings.
Main Methods:
- Pilot study of the MP Daily device over 4 months in an inpatient palliative care unit.
- Qualitative assessment of the device's features and usability compared to existing models.
Main Results:
- The MP Daily is small, lightweight, inexpensive, and has a long battery life.
- Key improvements include an on/off button, absence of zero rate setting or rate change functions during operation, and no boost button.
- Enhanced alarms, a message display system, and a configuration menu are incorporated.
Conclusions:
- The MP Daily addresses some issues with current syringe drivers, aiming to reduce risks and human error.
- While not perfect, the MP Daily represents a significant step towards safer infusion delivery in palliative care.
