Infusion pumps play a vital role in controlling the fluids and medications given to patients. Because medical infusion pumps are used to deliver many medications, there are several types of infusion pumps used for different purposes and environments.

Infusion pumps are used to deliver fluids in both large and small dosages. They are also used to deliver nutrients or medications, such as insulin, antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, and pain relievers. Some are designed to be stationary and deliver the necessary fluid or medications at the patient’s bedside. Others are designed to be ambulatory and can be moved around or worn if necessary. In addition, there are also infusion pumps designed to be used for specific purposes. These types of infusion pumps include:

• Enteral Pump: Used to deliver liquid nutrients and medications to a patient’s digestive tract.
• Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA) Pump: Used to deliver pain medication, with the patient in control to self-administer a controlled amount when needed to relieve pain.
• Insulin Pump: Used to deliver insulin to patients with diabetes. These types of pumps are generally used at the patient’s own home.

Depending on their design and purpose, infusion pumps can be powered electrically or mechanically. Different pumps are intended to operate in different ways. For example:

• Syringe Pump: The fluid is held in the reservoir of a syringe with a movable piston that controls fluid delivery.
• Elastomeric Pump: The fluid is held within a stretchable balloon reservoir. Pressure from the elastic walls drives the fluid out of the reservoir for delivery.
• Peristaltic Pump: A set of rollers are used to pinch down on the length of the tubing, forcing the fluid forward, to the patient.
• Multi-Channel Pump: Different fluids are stored in different reservoirs, which can then be delivered from the reservoirs at different rates.
• Smart Pump: This type of pump is equipped with safety features designed to alert the user when there are safety concerns. If there is a risk of an adverse drug interaction or if the pump’s parameters are set outside of the manufacturer’s specified safety limits, the safety features will alert the user.

Because infusion pumps are so widely used and are an important part of healthcare, it is important that they are maintained to ensure fluids are being accurately delivered to patients.

At Coast BioMedical, we sell both new and refurbished infusion pumps to keep your facility at peak performance. If your infusion pumps need to be serviced, we do that too! Check out our selection of infusion pumps and have peace of mind knowing that your equipment will work the way it should.