Section 1 • Introduction
10
bolus volume
11
, (4) lockout time, (5) volume to be infused and, if a PIB-IL
v1.5
pump, (6) interval
limit.
The goal of the bolus or dose is to infuse the medication at an increased rate — mimicking an
injection as much as possible. The purpose of the increased rate is generally to flood a greater
area with analgesic medication or to increase the concentration of the medication. The flow rate
at which the ambIT
®
PIB
v1.5
pumps infuse a bolus or dose is dependent on the energy state of
the batteries.
The bolus/dose infusion rate will be 210 ml/hr until the low battery alarm is activated if a
new, unused set of AA alkaline batteries are used at the start of the infusion. After the low
battery alarm is activated, the bolus/dose infusion rate may be reduced from the 210 ml/hr to
about 180 ml/hr. On a new, unused set of alkaline batteries, the low battery alarm will not be
reached until at least 500 ml have been infused. If one or both batteries have been previously
used, non-alkaline batteries are used, or the pump is repeatedly cycled off and on, the bolus/
dose infusion rate may drop to a minimum of 125 ml/hr prior to the low battery alarm being
activated. The purpose of allowing the infusion rate to drop is to maximize battery life. The
pump will NOT inform the user that the bolus/dose infusion rate has dropped. No other
parameters are affected as the batteries are depleted.
CAUTION:
If the medication being infused requires the bolus/dose infusion rate to be 210
ml/hr, only new alkaline batteries should be used and the batteries should be
changed immediately when the low battery alarm occurs.
CAUTION:
Repeatedly cycling the pump off and on may cause the bolus/dose infusion
rate to drop below 210 ml/hr. In extreme cases, the bolus/dose infusion rate
could drop as low as 125 ml/hr.
A new, unused set of alkaline batteries will infuse at 210 ml/hr. For a minimum of 500 ml, the
bolus and dose flow rate will be 210 ml/hr. Once the batteries have been depleted, the flow rate
may decrease. The lowest flow rate the pump will reach is 125 ml/hr.
The different parameters for each mode interact with each other to create an infusion pattern.
Examples of the infusion patterns for the different modes are provided graphically in Figures
1-1 through 1-6 that follow. The flow rates, volumes, lockout times, and intervals listed are
examples only.
11 If the bolus volume is set to zero (0.0), then the lockout time is automatically bypassed and the pump will only deliver
doses (like PIb mode).
