Medical Pump Remote Programming Permissions
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Solution Overview
Problem
The process of programming and loading medical pumps is time-consuming and prone to errors, especially when dealing with multiple pump designs and models, which can lead to safety issues and drug wastage, particularly in large facilities and home settings.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for remote programming and loading of medical pumps by a specialist, allowing the pump to be pre-loaded and programmed with a drug container attached to an IV line, then shipped to a healthcare professional for easy installation and connection to a patient, with verification steps to ensure proper setup and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If healthcare professionals program and load multiple different pump models manually, then the pumps can be operated at various locations, but the process becomes time-consuming and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is pre-programmed with infusion parameters and pre-loaded with the drug container and IV line connection at a centralized location before being transported to the patient care area. This preliminary preparation eliminates the time-consuming manual programming and loading steps that would otherwise be performed at the point of care.
Solution Approach 2:
A centralized pharmacy or preparation area acts as an intermediary between the drug supply system and the patient care location. This intermediary performs the complex programming and loading tasks in one location, then transfers the prepared pump to the care area, separating the complex preparation steps from the simple deployment steps.
2Speed
If healthcare professionals program and load pumps at the point of care, then immediate patient treatment is possible, but errors in dosing and mechanical installation increase safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The critical programming and loading functions are extracted from the point-of-care environment and relocated to a centralized preparation area. This separation removes the risk factors associated with hurried or inexperienced programming at the patient side, while the physical pump deployment remains quick since it arrives pre-prepared.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump is designed to accept the drug container and IV line connection through self-aligning mechanical interfaces that automatically ensure proper positioning and secure attachment. This self-service mechanism eliminates manual dexterity requirements and reduces the risk of improper mechanical connection at the point of care.
3Adaptability or versatility
If specialized pump programming knowledge is distributed to all healthcare professionals, then any professional can operate any pump, but the complexity of managing multiple pump types increases
Solution Approach 1:
The workflow is segmented into two distinct phases: centralized preparation (programming and loading) and decentralized deployment (installation and activation). This segmentation allows specialized knowledge to be concentrated where it is most needed during preparation, while the deployment phase requires only simple mechanical installation skills that any healthcare professional can perform.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for delivering intravenous drugs to a patient provides for remote loading and programming of IV pumps that may be shipped in a loaded and programmed configuration to a remote site for use with the patient. A special carrier may be provided for pneumatic delivery of the preloaded pump. Password enabled customizing of pump features according to specific user's need may be provided to prevent undesired changing of the pump parameters at the remote site.