title: The Panomat P-10 micro-volumetric infusion pump is suitable for continuous drug administration at minimal flow rates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the performance of the Panomat P-10 micro-volumetric infusion pump for its use in drug administration at minimal flow rates (microL x hr(-1); e.g., intrathecal application).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fluid delivery at steady state conditions, and after vertical displacement of the syringe pump by -50 cm was determined gravimetrically. The Panomat P-10 infusion pump was evaluated at 4, 10, 20, 50 and 100 microL x hr(-1), and compared to a conventional syringe pump assembly at 100, 200, 500 and 1000 microL x hr(-1). Measurements were repeated twice with two different devices of each syringe pump system, and with two syringes. Data are reported as mean +/- SD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Steady state fluid delivery of the Panomat P-10 infusion pump revealed less than 5% deviation to set flow rate at 10, 20, 50 and 100 microL x hr(-1), and 12% deviation at 4 microL x hr(-1). Mean zero-drug delivery time (ZDDT) after lowering the pump by 50 cm at 4 microL x hr(-1) flow rate was 38.4 +/- 7.3 min. At 100 microL x hr(-1) and with original infusion line ZDDT was almost 20 times shorter when compared to the conventional syringe pump assembly (1.5 +/- 0.5 min vs 28.5 +/- 5.0 min).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The tested Panomat P-10 micro-volumetric pump shows an acceptable flow accuracy as well as a low susceptibility to vertical displacement, and is therefore suitable for continuous drug administration at minimal flow rates. The technology used in this pump carries potential implications for a new generation of syringe pumps.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Neff
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fellmann
authors.forename: Rudolf M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Fuechslin
authors.forename: Andreas C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Gerber
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weiss
mesh_terms: D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D007260:Infusion Pumps; D013594:Syringes