Evaluation of infusion pumps and controllers

An evaluation of infusion pumps and controllers is being undertaken for the UK Department of Health and Social Security within the Bath District Health Authority. The technical performance and safety assessments are being made at the Bath Institute of Medical Engineering, and the user assessment at various hospitals in the Bath area. The first batch assessed was constituted of devices which achieve control by means of detecting drip-rate (the Frenshore IC2 and Ivac 231 controllers and the Imed 911, Ivac 531, Graseby Dynamics MP20 and Vickers (DC2 pumps), and the second batch to be assessed was constituted of syringe pumps (the Braun Perfusors ED2 and V1, Fresenius Injectomat 30 and 50, Graseby Dynamics MS16 and its MS18 variant, Sage 242A and its 242E and 240E variants, and Vickers Treonic 1 P3). The results of these assessments were reported in 'Health Equipment Information' ('HE1') 96 (September 1981) and 106 (October 1982) respectively. We reproduce below a review of controlled infusion techniques, from the first report, and extracts of the report of the assessment of syringe pumps.