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Metrology for drug delivery

Short Name: MeDDII, Project Number: 18HLT08
Image of an infusion pump in a hospital ward
Infusion pump

New calibration methods and improved knowledge for reducing fatalities caused by dosage errors


The EMRP project MeDD showed that the accuracy of drug delivery devices is critical to patient safety. Commercial devices can detect issues such as blockages in intravenous tubes, but more accurate and precise measurements of fluid path pressure are needed. It’s recognised that IEC standards need revising, plus new flow rate measurement technologies are needed to improve dosing accuracy and for traceable measurements of volume, flow and pressure; both for existing drug delivery devices and inline sensors operating at very low flow rates.

 

The project developed calibration methods to enable traceable flow rate measurements. It also investigated fast-changing flow rates; the physical properties of mixtures of liquids and occlusion (blockage) phenomena in multi-infusion devices (that administer more than one substance directly into the veins of patients over one access point); and expand the metrological infrastructure. A better understanding of the causes of dosage errors will lead to increased accuracy and fewer errors. Lives will be saved by uptake of traceable calibrations of both low and ultra-low flow infusion devices, especially for multi-infusion systems.

 

Project website
Publications
Metrology in health: challenges and solutions in infusion therapy and diagnostics
2022

Biomedical Engineering / Biomedizinische Technik

Calibration of insulin pumps based on discrete doses at given cycle times
2022

Biomedical Engineering / Biomedizinische Technik

Calibration methods for flow rates down to 5 nL/min and validation methodology
2022

Biomedical Engineering / Biomedizinische Technik

Assessment of drug delivery devices working at microflow rates
2022

Biomedical Engineering / Biomedizinische Technik

Holographic PIV/PTV for nano flow rates–A study in the 70 to 200 nL/min range
2022

Biomedical Engineering / Biomedizinische Technik

Improving infusion dosing accuracy for patient safety
2021

European Pharmaceutical Review

Ultra-low flow rate measurement techniques
2021

Measurement: Sensors

Calibration of Syringe Pumps Using Interferometry and Optical Methods
2020

International Journal of Biomedical and Biological Engineering

New EMPIR project – Metrology for Drug Delivery
2020

Flow Measurement and Instrumentation

Calibration of insulin pumps
2019

Journal of Diabetes and Treatment

Other Participants
Bronkhorst High-Tech B.V. (Netherlands)
DNV Netherlands B.V. (Netherlands)
Hahn-Schickard-Gesellschaft für angewandte Forschung e.V. (Germany)
INESC Microsistemas e Nanotecnolgias-Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas de Computadores Para os Microsistemas e as Nanotecnologias (Portugal)
Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (Korea, Republic of)
Technische Hochschule Lübeck (Germany)
Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht (Netherlands)
University of Strathclyde (United Kingdom)

Information

Programme
EMPIR
Field
Health
Status
completed
Call
2018
Duration
2019-2022