EBME Forums Forums Free discussion Free discussion Researching defibrillators - need help with my des

Here's one that we haven't heard much about recently. Perhaps it's because people couldn't see much point in using training software when there's so much of the actual kit laying about!

Nice to see that they too use (a variation of) the "monkey see, monkey do" approach. So I'm vindicated after all!

Geoff (and anyone who uses Draeger equipment,
Draeger do a nice simulation of some of their vents, you can operate all the controls, as if driving the real thing, and see the results without harming a patient.
This is not a training package but it gives that valuable commodity - experience.
For those who use the McKinley T34 I have seen a demo of their traiing software which seems very good. The nice thing about this is that it is provided customised to how each Trust uses the equipment. So the end users do not have to worry about features they do not use. This is sometinmes the problem with genetric educational material.
Robert
Robert

Continuing from what Robert has said about the McKinley interactive training on their pumps (not just the T34), once it is set up for a hospital/Trust it can be monitored by a designated administrator to see who and how many people have logged on and completed the programme.
By the way Robert, you still need to read back your replies for spelling and grammatical mistakes.

Emily,
You might be interested in the Global Harmonization Task Force .
"The Global Harmonization Task Force (GHTF) was conceived in 1992 in an effort to respond to the growing need for international harmonization in the regulation of medical devices."
Robert

Hey guys,
thank you for all your ideas and replies. I'm sorry it has taken me a while to reply myself. We have had a lot of deadline recently for other projects including dissertation!

Any way this idea of colour coding tubing seems like a plausible idea. The point about training is also a good issues to look at. Maybe there is need for some kind of key to go with the colour coding as a reference point for the nurses to refer back to.

Are there many diffrent types of tubing? Where would I be able to find out more about the diffrent types of tubing?

Emily

In some respects this is a good opportunity because there is no standard tubing or connector colour - current manufacturing standards do not insist on any particular scheme.

All I can suggest is that tubing be kept transparent and that the connectors on tubing/suction apparatus, filters, components etc, be colour-coded appropriately.

Transparent tubing allows the operators to check for blockages/contaminated tubing, etc, during checks. Colour coding parts that need to be connected with the same color, with different colours per union, is an option for example.

Suction controller manufacturers are required to specify the type of tubing and accessories that can be used with their controllers.

I guess in practice the operators would select their own tubing from hospital supplies/logistics catalogues.

I have spoken to my classmate and we have decided to try and design a standard colour coding for medical tubing. I have tried researching tubing and I am completely confused by it. All I can find is manufactures stating what the tubes are made from and the size, nothing to say what they are used for.

It would be great if maybe you could give us a list in complete layman’s terms of tubing uses in hospitals.

Also, why are there different sizes? Is it in case the tube is needed for babies or children or adults so they need to be different sizes? Some of the tubes have different sections, I think they called them ‘lumen’, why are there different sections? I am really lost, I’m guessing there is just so much tubing used in hospitals.

Would it be possible to put them into categories like blue for all oxygen tubing and yellow for all feeding tubing etc? This whole project needs to be in on the 16th so we have to get a move on with the final designs.

Thank you for your help.

P.S. A list of the type of machines the tubing is connected to would also be a huge help. Then we can apply our design to them as examples for our deadline.

Emily
The only area that currently has a colour coding for tubing is in Cardiac Surgery for use on the Heart-Lung Machine:
Red = Arterial
Blue = Venous
Green = Gas (mixture of Oxygen & Air)
Yellow = Suction or Vacuum
The tubing can be supplied with the appropriate colour coding applied as a stripe down the length of the tube or as tape applied at each end.
In Intensive Care a colour coding system is used for invasive monitoring lines and some infusion lines:
Red = Arterial
Blue = Venous
Yellow = Epidural
With regard to the different types and sizes of tubing, there are hundreds of combinations dependant on the application. In general, the ID and wall thickness of the tubing is stated for any tubing with an ID of 1/16" and above. For tubing below this size, it is only normal to state the ID in mm. It is also important to know the material used for the tubing as different materials have different properties and applications. The majority of medical grade tubing is made from PVC.
In addition to all of this, there are "standard sizes" that are used for certain applications eg. 3mm ID PVC for IV infusions.
With regard to your project, it may be worthwhile looking at one area of a hospital, such as Intensive Care, and look at the devices etc. that are not colour coded and try and tackle these.

Yeah there seems to be so much it seems like a good idea to focus on one area.

So there is already some coding used in Intensive care. Is there a need for more? What other things would need to be coded? What other machines do they use? I guess breathing apparatus. What else? What would happen if a nurse was confused and used a red tube on venous infusion? Would it harm the patient?

I'm sorry I have to keep asking so many questions, I just have absolutely no idea about all this stuff. And we have to make sure we have every problem sorted out and covered.

Thank you for being so patient with me.

Emily
As I have indicated in my previous reply, there is some colour coding already present in Intensive Care for invasive monitoring lines and epidural infusions.
However, there are other possible infusion lines and monitoring lines that may not be colour coded which may add to confusion, particularly in an emergency. There are also "hook ups" to the patient such as ventilator circuits, urinary drainage, wound drainageetc. which may be invasive or not. With most of these, it is pretty obvious which tube is which.
The biggest areas of risk are any lines (tubes) that are connected to the vascular system or epidural space, which if confused could lead to the injection/infusion of incorrect drugs/fluids to the wrong area resulting in death or injury to the patient. There is also the risk of air entraining on any of these lines which again could prove to be fateful.
Although the lines may be clearly marked and colour coded, accidents have happened in the past due to a drug or infusion being placed through the wrong line due to inadequate knowledge or care.