If you’ve received infusion therapy more than once as a patient or are a professional working in a hospital, you know there are different types of IV pumps.
These types can vary in design, the volume of fluid delivered, the mode of fluid delivery, and how they operate.
Despite these differences, all types of infusion pumps have the same function. They deliver medication and nutritive fluids directly into the patient's circulatory system with enhanced safety and accuracy under controlled conditions.
The list of infusion pump types is long, and some are more common than others. This article has 6 of the most common types of IV pumps, with a brand example of each type.
Let’s start with the oldest and simplest of IV pump types.
Gravity infusion pumps are the predecessors of modern-day IV pumps. They consist of an infusion bag or bottle placed on a clamp above the patient. The bag is attached to an infusion set, and the pressure created by gravity drives fluid from the bag through an infusion tubing that connects to the vascular access device on the patient.
The clinician can count the drops from the reservoir bag in the drip chamber, and the roller clamp adjusts the tubing to control fluid flow to the patient.
Gravity IV pumps don’t have the precision of other programmable IV pumps. Any change in tube length or patient movement can disturb the flow rate. As such, they are best when used with drugs where the flow rate is not critical and minor alterations will not cause adverse effects to the patient.
However, compared to pumps that operate by the peristaltic mechanism, gravity pumps are less susceptible to
subvisible particle generation in the drug fluid.
Healthcare facilities usually purchase gravity IV administration sets to connect to fluid or medication bags. These sets can come in different designs, like those produced by the
B. Braun manufacturer.
