Nowadays, the number of domestic infusion pump manufacturers is on the rise, and the domestic infusion pump industry continues to expand. The market share of domestically-made infusion pumps has gradually rebounded in recent years, which is a source of joy and pride for all practitioners in this field. As the new year begins, all colleagues should keep working harder and making progress, and strictly control product quality. We will serve medical workers and the whole society with advanced technologies, reliable quality and sound credibility.

There are dozens of domestic infusion pump brands. Infusion pumps and syringe pumps were originally imported medical devices with relatively low technical barriers. After over a decade of development and improvement, their technology has become more mature and overall performance more stable. Nevertheless, restricted by national conditions, such clinical auxiliary devices are still in the initial stage of application in China. Many hospital staff lack adequate understanding and operating experience, resulting in frequent operational problems. Accordingly, I have summarized the basic features and operating points of domestic infusion pumps, hoping to help medical staff master the operation, effectively reduce workload and improve service quality.

Domestic infusion pumps adopt similar working principles and basic structures. Regardless of the differences in performance and quality among products from different manufacturers, I hereby summarize common problems encountered during operation.

1. Selection of Infusion Sets
Strictly speaking, most domestic infusion pumps cannot fully adapt to all types of domestic infusion sets. Hospitals use different infusion sets with inconsistent performance and quality due to practical situations. The ideal infusion set for infusion pumps shall have excellent elasticity and firm texture, which will not lose elasticity or get damaged after long-term extrusion, so as to guarantee infusion accuracy. Some domestic infusion pumps claim full compatibility with ordinary domestic infusion sets, yet the infusion accuracy will decrease in use. It is recommended to choose infusion sets with good elasticity and reliable quality. The infusion set type displayed on the pump must be consistent with the one in actual use. If there is no matching option, select the custom mode and complete infusion set calibration before use to avoid increased infusion errors.

2. Placement of Drip Chamber and Preset Volume Setting
Keep the drip chamber more than 10 centimeters away from the inlet above the pump door. An improper distance will affect infusion accuracy. Since the marked volume of infusion bottles is not completely standard and the tubing needs to be fully filled with liquid, the preset volume should be slightly less than the total volume of the medicinal liquid to prevent the completion alarm from failing to activate after the liquid runs out. The air bubble alarm of the pump is highly sensitive. If the alarm malfunctions accidentally, air may enter the patient's body and cause air embolism, which will threaten the patient's life.

3. Regular Adjustment of Infusion Tubing
Hospitals shall adopt flexible management measures according to the specifications and quality of infusion sets. Some manufacturers suggest pulling the ordinary infusion tubing down every 7 to 8 hours. For maximum safety and accuracy, the same section of ordinary PVC infusion tubing shall not be squeezed continuously for more than 4 hours. Such tubing has mediocre elasticity and uneven quality. Long-term extrusion will easily cause deformation or even rupture, which will greatly compromise infusion accuracy and safety. This adjustment method is scientific and practical when dedicated infusion sets cannot be fully popularized.

Operating Steps：

First close the control valve on the infusion tubing, then open the pump door (ignore the door-open alarm). Release the flow stop clip and pull the tubing about 10 centimeters up or down. Keep the tubing straight without bending or sagging, otherwise large errors will occur. Close the pump door and open the control valve to resume infusion.

4. Selection of Infusion Modes
Common modes of infusion pumps include: flow rate mode (ml/h), drop rate mode (drops/min), total volume & time mode (Total Volume – Hour) and weight-based medication mode. The flow rate mode is the international standard, and all other modes will be converted to it eventually. Medical staff can select modes according to personal habits or drug instructions. Simple and stable functions are preferred, as overly complicated programs are prone to malfunctions, just like a vehicle with excessive configurations. Practicality is the top priority, and medical institutions may select equipment based on actual demands.

5. Troubleshooting for Common Alarms

Main alarm types: Air bubble alarm, occlusion alarm, door-open alarm, low battery alarm, power disconnection alarm, abnormal flow rate alarm and program error alarm.

Troubleshooting principle: Solve problems pertinently.
Air bubble alarm: Check for trapped air bubbles, ensure tight fit between tubing and slot, remove residues on the tube surface and clean the air bubble sensor. If the alarm persists, reposition the tubing or expel air before the liquid enters the patient.
Occlusion alarm: Check if the flow regulator is fully open, inspect the tubing for blockages, and confirm the puncture needle is not displaced.
Deal with door-open alarm, low battery alarm and power disconnection alarm on site. Contact the manufacturer’s technical staff for maintenance in case of abnormal flow rate alarm or program error alarm.

6. Battery Use and Maintenance

Use the built-in battery in a standard way. Like mobile phone batteries, the battery of infusion pumps will age over time. Please follow the instructions strictly to prevent premature damage. Different devices have different charge and discharge settings: some only charge the battery when connected to mains power and switch to battery power after power failure; others work and charge simultaneously once powered on.

When the charging indicator is on, do not turn off the power switch or unplug the power cord even if the pump is idle. Keep it powered on until the indicator goes out. Interrupting charging midway will reduce battery service life.

7. Regular Accuracy Calibration
The infusion accuracy will drift after long-term operation due to the device structure and programs, which is not a quality defect (except for excessive original errors). It only needs to re-calibrate the infusion set for parameter resetting. Calibration methods, duration and operation complexity vary among different brands, while the purpose is to improve infusion accuracy and operational stability. We appreciate the understanding from medical institutions.