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Accessible Infusion Pump User-Interface - Biomedical Engineering ...

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There is also a risk of the infusion pump not stopping after the designated time orvolume to be infused. This means that an emergency stop will need to beprogrammed into the interface to send an extra stop signal to the infusion pumpjust in case the normal stop signal doesn’t register.5 Impact of <strong>Engineering</strong> SolutionsThe optimal design for the <strong>Accessible</strong> <strong>Infusion</strong> <strong>Pump</strong> <strong>Interface</strong> would greatlyincrease demand for home infusion pumps from biomedical corporations. Themajority of infusion pump users find using the current pump interface tedious,difficult and intimidating. The attractive easy-to-learn nature of the <strong>Accessible</strong><strong>Infusion</strong> <strong>Pump</strong> <strong>Interface</strong> in addition to the relatively low cost of the device wouldallow many new patients to consider undertaking their infusions on the own athome. Not only would the device appeal to patients previously intimidated by,but capable of, operating their own infusion pump, it would allow patients withdisabilities, who formerly would have found it impossible to operate an infusionpump, to take on the task. This would widen the narrow market of direct-topatientdevices sales and could in the end result in more devices becomingaccessible and available on a direct-to-patient basis. This would allowbiomedical corporations to supplement hospital sales and increase profits.<strong>Infusion</strong> pump problems have occurred related to FDA’s recall of eightColleague models of the medical infusion pump manufactured by BaxterHealthcare Corporation issued in July 19 2005. The devices have been known tohave flaws in their user interface. As a result, the device would allow the user toaccidentally turn off the medical infusion pump when planning to begininfusion. The ON/OFF button of the medical infusion pump is in close proximity tothe START button, thus allowing the accidental powering-off of the device. Suchdefects can be life-threatening to patients and/or users with visual and/orphysical disabilities. About nine people have been seriously injured or killed dueto the medical infusion pump defects. The optimal design for the <strong>Accessible</strong><strong>Infusion</strong> <strong>Pump</strong> <strong>Interface</strong> will eliminate risk accidental turn off due to itsdistinguishable tactile cues and intelligent button placement. If implemented byBaxter Healthcare Corporations, the final device will eliminate the company’saforementioned problems and greatly increase the reliability of their medicalinfusion pump for patients, thus allowing them to increase in market shares in aneconomic perspective.Human error is one problem found with most infusion pumps leading toerroneous delivery of medication, a life-threatening risk. The optimal design willprovide safeguards in verifying the accuracy of the input values through agraphical LCD visual display. In addition, the user interface will be easy to usedue to intuitive ‘walk-through’ software architecture that guides the patient101

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