An infusion pump is a medical device used to administer fluids into a patient’s circulatory system in controlled amounts. Common fluids delivered using iv pump include nutrients, medications, antibiotics, hormones, pain relievers, and chemotherapy drugs.

While the two most basic categories of infusion pumps are the large volume pumps and small volume pumps, experts categories the different types of IV pumps based on three main factors. These include.

• Mobility
• Fluid volume
• Application
  Types of Infusion Pumps Based on Mobility
  • Stationary Infusion Pumps are majorly used in hospitals for patients with serious conditions, that force them to be bedridden and require frequent medication or nutrition infusion.
  • Ambulatory Infusion Pumps is used to deliver medications on the go. It’s ideal for people who want to resume their normal lives but still under medication throughout the day.

  Types of Infusion Pumps Based on Mobility

  • Large volume infusion pumps are used to deliver large volumes of substances into a patient. It normally uses positive replacement pump which is controlled either by a computer or a set of fingers. This allows smooth regulation of the flow of the medication based on the patient’s needs.
  • Small volume infusion pumps As the name suggests, small volume infusion pump also referred to as a syringe infusion pump, delivers a small amount of medication controlled by a motor mechanism. Unlike other different types of IV pumps, before the medication reaches the patient, its first pushed through a syringe then it goes into the tube.

  Types of Infusion Pumps Based on Their Applications
  There are two different types of iv pumps in this class of infusion pumps, namely traditional pumps, and specialty pumps.

  • Traditional Infusion Pump are applied in a medical setting as well as home infusion therapy and its usually used to infuse fluids for hydration, antibiotics, chemotherapy drugs, pain relievers and others.
  • Specialty Infusion Pump is popularly used in home infusion therapy as its designed to address specific patient’s needs. Under this category, there are other different types of iv pumps, which include implantable infusion pumps, insulin infusion pumps, and enteral feeding pumps.

  Different pumps are designed to operate in different ways. There are those that are powered electrically, while others are operated mechanically. Depending on a patient’s needs, a doctor may recommend any other above types of infusion pumps.