Hello

I need to get a new Infusion Pump Tester, but which one would you recommended?

Hervé

They all seem to have problems and as we use Alaris pumps we follow their test procedure and use mechanical guages to measure the plunger displacement and force.

We've used the Ultramedic analyser in the past with the intention of saving time - but in fact we found that we were spending a lot of time chasing false failures caused by air bubbles, sticking syringes, eroneous readings etc.

The old fashioned way seems to be the best - even if that means purchasing an electronic stopwatch to alarm when you need to measure the fluid in the burrette !

I find the metron lagu very good but do your own research to make sure it is suitable for you.

http://www.metron-biomed.com/products.php?m_name=lagu&lang=Eng

Denis.

Hi guys,
I've tried a few testers too including the IDA and SPC-1 - which one are you refering to Roy?
I have to say the IDA has never caused me any problems as long as you prime it right using the old pre-in-line syringe method - the SPC-1 is pretty good but can be complicated in my opinion and has a habit of giving odd readings with some worm driven infusion pumps.
Indeed sometimes its always better to go back to basics and use raw tools but give the IDA1/2 a try. Hope this helps.
Cheers
Andrew

We use the IDA 4+, but only for volumetric pumps. With correct use you should have no problems. For syringe drivers I have previously used Ultramedics syringe driver tester Ultramedic
In both cases these devices are for checking & verification. For calibration & setup you need to follow the manufacturers recommendations.

i am using metron lagu in our hospital. Do not like its noise very much. And limited function and data can be achieved.

I used IDA4 plus in another hospital. The Hydrograph Graphics Software is very good for testing pumps' stabilization.

Could someone please guide me from where i can download the same software??

I think you will find that people are talking about hardware for testing - or do you mean software for a perticular tester?

RoJo sir,
I am aware of that the discussion is regarding the hardware available to test Infusion Devices...
I have 2 IDA 4+ devices with me... but with out the software the efficacy of the unit is rather low...

The Hydrograph IDA4 + copyrighted software is available from your Fluke Biomedical service agent, it is not freeware, or freely available in the public domain.

The IDA4 + works fine without Hydrograph, I would dispute your assertion that "with out the software the efficacy of the unit is rather low"

Some things are free, and some things you have to pay for, (that's just the way it is).

I wish I had an IDA-4 Plus (or, even a Minus)!

Geoff
I award you an A+
You will never need an IDA, a burette, stopwatch and a set of scales is all you will ever need (unless those damned bolus's are involved).

I wasn't aware that the Hydrograph was not an freeware.. And anyways considering the fact that we are registered with fluke for both our IDA4+'s and other equipments, i was under the impression that a copy of the software would be availabele to me...

About my statement on the efficacy of unit, i am sorry that i formed the statement wrong... I meant the efficacy of the process is low.. since the reports that i get now is in the table format and not the graphical.. The data interpretation of the data becomes troublesome for understanding...
Also without the software the process of entering the data is a cumbersome process...

Myself I continue to get good results from old IDA-1's (and 2's) together with the 143k DOS-based graphical program from 1992. That's version 2.0, I believe.

Meanwhile (and whilst I'm on), I'm always on the look out for old pump testers of all types (eg, Datrend Infutest, Metron QA-IDS etc.).

I hear what you're saying there, Sean. However, I must admit that I find the IDA graphics software invaluable in being able to (literally) see what is going on, especially when comparing the performance of pumps of the same type, and when checking out pumps of the older Argus/Codan and Arcomed varieties (that is, watching to see if the doors hold the pressure, if you know what I mean). The IDA doesn't even need to be calibrated to the n-th degree - it's the shape of the "waveform" that is of interest there. Rising sawtooth versus ragged zig-zag that fails to reach occlusion pressure levels, etc., etc.

Ah yes... seen that... In fact once when we were doing acceptance testing to a customer, all the pumps in the batch were giving me a good saw-tooth waveform... with the peak being around 230mmHg...

It's always interesting to watch the IDA graph when testing the occlusion pressure (but, as you have indicated, very difficult to "see" this from a printout of figures, or simply observing the digits on the tester itself). Pumps with peristaltic mechanisms may work fine at normal pressures (and the users may never complain), but (as I say) sometimes they won't "hold the pressure" and/or never attain enough pressure to reach the occlusion alarm.

Myself, I generally tend to look at the occlusion pressure first. If it reaches alarm levels, then at least the pump is "man enough", as it were. If that's OK, then I take a look at the average flow rate and its inseparable friend, volume delivered. Following that, of course, is when the "fun" begins. That is, getting the flow rate accurate (which is usually easy enough with many - but not all - volumetric pumps) ... and then, the occlusion pressure (easy on some pumps, "not so easy" on others).

Hey ho. As I say, (many) happy hours of fun!

salut Hervé :-)
we are using the IDA4 tester , with the Hydrograph software , it's very usefull for long time tests at low flow , and with PdfCreator we store the reports on a server and just add a link to the Cmms database.
calbration every year by Manumesure , not so expensive , and changed once the power supply (stay on 24/7 for 6 years :-).
my only whise : to add two other channels so that PPM on syringes pumps can be performed like in Chaplin' "Modern Times" style !

An interesting post, Jean Michel.

I've not seen the Hydrograph software myself. Does anyone have any information about it? Or better yet, a link?

So you're saving .pdf's records to a server. Dare I ask "why"? That is, does anyone ever ask to see them (I'm assuming they are graphical)? Or is this some sort of CYA thing going on where you are? If so, how long do you plan to keep them? I am immediately reminded of the popular pastime of many biomeds years ago of filling up hard-drives (expensive back then) with EST results that no-one ever referred to (I wonder what became of all that useful data?).

I've not heard of Manumesure before. What's this ... a calibration house?

And lastly, I think I can go one better. I'm already working on a ten channel tester. My prototype involves ten IDA-1's and a corresponding number of monkeys!

well we are recording the test results to justify that the device as been seviced and complies with the manufacturer specs.
by the past , some incidents (mostely user related) with medical devices send biomeds in custody , so now , we record everything , purchase order for spares , delivery notes , test records , we even scan the papers taped on the syringe pump where the nurse wrote "not working"...
i like the idea of having monkeys in the workshop !we already have some in the offices , so they will have friends to talk to :-)

Ha, ha. Yes (nice one)!

Are the nurses still in custody, I wonder?

Remember "Monkey See, Monkey Do"?*

But I must say, it all sounds a bit like CYA in extremis to me. Ten minutes real work, and thirty (or more) "documenting" it!

The bottom line surely must be (the question):- do they want the kit fixing, or not?

* Or, never slaughter a chicken in front of a monkey!

No, they want some one to blame, when it goes wrong!

Yes, but Jean Michel is (I believe) talking about places like Afghanistan and Haiti. So I'm presuming a "charity" type role, not the British NHS et al.

In my experience (and by their very defintion), charities want the work done for "F-all". So (as I have been known to point out), if they want it doing to "manufacturers' standards" - best contact the manufacturer, then!

Well Geoff sir,
It could be a contractor role too... And if that is the case what jean sir is doing is spot on...
And about your prototype, could i get a go at it???

We use the IDA4 as the software is good, does what it says on the tin. The data is then saved on a hard drive or printed whichever you prefer.