Drug and infusion pumps
[Image from Medtronic]
The drug pumps deliver pain medication to the intrathecal space where fluid forms around the spinal cord to release medication directly to the pain source and stop pain signals before they get to the brain.
Drug pumps have been FDA approved for chronic pain since 1991.
Infusion pumps on the other hand continuously deliver fluids like nutrients and medications into a patient’s body in controlled amounts, according to the FDA. They are commonly used in clinical settings like hospitals and nursing homes.
There are different types of infusion pumps, including large volume, patient-controlled analgesia, elastomeric, syringe, enteral and insulin pumps. Some of the pumps are designed to be stationary at a patient’s bedside while others can be portable or wearable.
Many infusion pumps are also equipped with alarms that can alert the nurse or patient if there is a problem, such as air or another blockage in the IV tubing.
