EBME Forums Forums Maintenance Technical Assistance Baxter Colleague Volumetric Infusion pumps

It would appear that we are starting to see error codes being generated when Baxter Colleague Infusion pumps are inappropriately handled. (No surprise there then)
What is happening is that users are prone to using the manual tube release far too frequently (possibly nursing scenario).
This event is recorded in the unit’s event history. Repeated attempts to reset the manual tube release fail.
I had been informed that the internal processor is fooled into thinking it has not been reset. This can occur when too many manual tube releases are performed, so the only sure way to do it is to follow the documented procedure, then do a full Processor power down. This is achieved by disconnecting the power to the Processor PCB along with the Comms/ data edge connector to this board.
I have successfully attempted this once previously, only after having seeked advice from Baxter.

An additional fault is when the unit is powered up from internal battery (i.e. mains supply disconnected). This shows an error code similar to “531:320:831:0000” on the LCD and worded FAILURE on the LED channel display; with a constant single tone alarm.
I have been informed by their service department that this could be due to either one of two faults. The internal battery failing (my first thought) or the charging PCB failure.

I would like to know if any other establishments have these pumps, and what type of failures you are witnessing? :p

Chris-H

Chris,
We don't have many, but those we do have tend to be user error.

With staff retention not as good as it should be, nurses seem to be constantly changing, which makes it difficult to keep them trained.

The colleague could do with some sort of update to stop nurses from being able to use the tube release. If it required a tool to release the tube, untrained nurses would not be able to tamper with it.

Colleagues are very sensitive to their battery charge level. If the level drops, it can 'fail' and as the battery recovers a little after having been delivered to our lab, it powers up and runs fine. We always charge them overnight before attempting any investigation. Certainly the history mode is very useful at revealing how badly the staff are at setting them up.

Personally I feel they are overly complex, physically big, heavy and very susceptible to fluid ingress.

now if only they had fixed the bugs on the DCR...

How do other departments test the Baxter colleague pump as we have been informed by Baxter that the IDA4 plus is not the correct way to test
the colleague pump

We use an IDA2 but we also have a volumetric balance which is the way baxter test accuracy. We tend to use the IDA unless it is out of tolerance.

Then we check it with the balance.

Hi All

Like John, we use either IDA2 or IDA4 to test all infusion pumps, starting with acceptance testing.

Only if there is a deviation do use alternitive test method either burette or balance methods.

One warning, do not trust automatic test procedures built into some models.

We like to keep it simple and consistent, a burette, stopwatch and a pressure guage is all we need.

We have an IDA but as they introduce their own errors, we only use it for long term testing. Not so much for the numbers, but instead the regular pumping action as displayed on the PC monitor.

Having said that, I've never had a problem in this with Colleagues, but it was very useful in spotting AVI 270 pumping problems in a pump that would give the right numbers during a ppm but would fail later in use. Usually it was dry cams or motor related problems.

My Dear "COLLEAGUES",

I won't hear a thing said against them, as another real colleague said to me, in the tone of the immortal words of Sir Winston Churchill - Never in the field of NHS conflict, have so many people had something worked so far up them, by so few.

In reply to Graham, Member # 548 and all other interested fellow Tech's.

We have two test methods for the Baxter Colleague, the first, which is basically the preferred Baxter method, is a specially purchased Avery Berkel, model TA3001A scale, with a resolution of 0.1g and a tolerance of + or – 0.3g. The pump discharges into a 500 ml Pyrex flask.

This scale is connected to a dedicated Test PC, running an in-house Access developed system on Windows 95. The display is along the lines of the IDA4+ but to our requirements and provides; average rate, % error, volumetric error and many other customised details for record storage purposes and is linked via our Hospital Intranet to our EBME Data Management System.

The scale is calibrated in-situ, annually, by Avery Berkel, the results are excellent, providing a graphic record plus a Tabular one, to an accuracy demanded by Baxter, without the hassle of stop watches or standing over it waiting for results.

Having said the above we also have the, not to be disparaged, IDA4+, which gives excellent results also, to an accuracy very compatible with our own system.

Why develop our own you may say, well Baxter can't admit to the accuracy of all the IDA systems in use, for the very simple reason that a large percentage of users don't have them calibrated by Ultramedic on an annual basis, and also their "housekeeping' methods are probably dubious. They need to be used ONLY with non-saline based solutions, demineralised water or distilled water for the best results.

After use they should be flushed out and preferably blown dry with a small air pump to clear the system of all water deposits which can leave marks on the micro pipette measurement system. Failure to do this will result in errors building up. We can say this with all the confidence in the world – our head of department previously serviced and calibrated them at Ultramedic, and knows all about neglect by users. Nurses can't have all the credit for bad custom & practice.

Baxter say in their; "Colleague Pump – Volume Delivery Accuracy Test Document', dated November 2001 and I quote, “ As with all measuring equipment it is important to ensure routine maintenance and calibration is carried out to ensure the tester remains with in its operating accuracy”.

To reply to Chris-H, Member 176, yes we are seeing a lot of error codes, mainly caused by the darling nurses doing things wrong and causing lock-outs and tube misloaded faults causing the usual manual tube release messages and lock-up problems. Also using the pump until the battery is exhausted.

Though the latest stated failure message, purported to be in the LED display, is ITP, any clues any one, as to what ITP refers, the Pump History record shows nothing? Other wise accuracy has been in the last year our main problem, although with the new more accurate giving sets now in use from Baxter this hopefully appears to be a thing of the past.

Ian-C

Hi Ian, How about Inebriated Technical Personnel !!!! Regards to Dave & Little Al. Tony.

This small air pump Ian,

I guess you wouldn't recommend a 7 bar air line with some bubble tubing and a luer lock on to blow the little water droplets out with.

I wonder if Ultramedic went into car production would they recommend you bleed the petrol out of your engine every night to save corrosion of your fuel system.