The Go Medical Springfusor® Syringe Infusion Pump and Flow Control Tubing (FCT) is intended to provide constant Intravenous (IV) or Subcutaneous (SC) infusions in either a 10ml, 30ml or 50ml configuration at a variety of pre-set flow rates to cater for all needs.

The Springfusor® syringe infusion pump is a low cost, non-sterile, reusable pump that requires no programming or external power source. It is simple to use and setup and requires only minimal training to load and operate (see video).  The Springfusor® system is lightweight and portable, and can be worn around the patient’s neck or strapped to their arm to improve mobility during treatment.

The Springfusor® syringe infusion pump is designed to be used with Go Medical FCT and accompanying syringe (sold separately) which can be easily connected to a patient’s cannula/port via standard luer lock fittings. The FCT and accompanying syringe are supplied sterile for single patient use and are available in a variety of flow rates and sizes depending on the variety of Springfusor® pump used.  Flow rates range from 10ml/5min to 10ml/72hours for the Springfusor® 10-28, 30ml/5min to 30ml/96hours for the Springfusor® 30-AB, and 50ml/15min to 50ml/2h for the Springfusor® 50/60

The infusion of fluids by the Springfusor® system is powered by the potential energy stored within a spring at the heart of the device. In the Springfusor® 10-28 & 30-AB, the spring is compressed by the action of loading the Springfusor® with the compatible syringe and FCT.

The Springfusor® 50/60 incorporates two constant-force springs, which are extended when a syringe is loaded by hand into the cavity of the device.

The Springfusor® is loaded by hand with the accompanying syringe attached to the required FCT. Fluids are delivered to the patient via the FCT attached to the patients cannula/port by the energy stored in the spring, which provides a constant force to the barrel of the loaded syringe. The flow rate is controlled by the FCT; with the operator selecting the required flow rate from the range of colour coded FCT’s available.

Once the specific flow rate and corresponding FCT is selected, the solution that is to be infused is draw up into the syringe, attached to the FCT via luer lock fittings and loaded into the Springfusor® pump. Once this has been completed, there is no provision for the end user to re-programme the Springfusor® system to alter the set flow rate.

Product History

In 1986 a need was identified by Dr. George O’Neil from Go Medical Industries for a mechanical infusion pump device that would be reusable, safe, easy to use, affordable and would permit full patient mobility which would improve common medical procedures. At that time, infusion pump devices available in the market were electronically controlled mechanical systems that were expensive, relatively complicated to operate, prohibited patient mobility, and presented the risk of inadvertent drug download due to operator error or control system failure. The Springfusor® Syringe Infusion Pump designed by Dr. George O’Neil sought to directly address these issues.

Research into making the first prototype was undertaken from 1986 until 1990. Following design validation and verification in 1990, the first license to manufacture and distribute was issued to Go Medical by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. Over this period a varieties of Springfusor® Syringe Infusion Pump sizes have been manufactured by Go Medical Industries. Currently only the 10ml Springfusor 10-28 and 30ml Springfusor 30-AB are being manufactured.

The new Go Medical Springfusor® 50/60 Syringe Infusion Pump and corresponding Flow Control Tubing (FCT) is an extension of the Springfusor® device family. It is designed to allow the infusion of fluids up to 60ml.  

R&D is currently underway to produce a 100ml version of the Springfusor® Syringe Infusion Pump with accompanying FCTs to give a similar range of flow rates currently available. For more information on these products please feel free to contact us.

Indications

The Springfusor is intended to be used in conjunction with Go Medical FCT (sold separately).  When used in conjunction with FCT’s, the Springfusor is intended to provide constant Intravenous (IV) or Subcutaneous (SC) infusions at the specified flow controlled rate of the device.  There is no provision for the end user to programme the Springfusor to alter the manufacturer’s set flow rate.

Contraindications

The following conditions would preclude use of the Springfusor:

• Infusion volumes / rates to be printed or stored in memory
• Adjustable infusion rate settings and profiles required
• Infusion accuracy greater than ±20% required
• Audio and visual alarm system required to alert clinicians of device failure
• A “down pressure” sensor required to detect when the patient’s vein is blocked
• Multiple infusions required at the same time
• Where frequent flow rate adjustment is necessary (e.g. dose titration)
• Intramuscular (IM) injection

Device Variants

Springfusor® Syringe Infusion Pump

Description	Product Code	eIFU's*	Image
Springfusor® 10-28	SF 10-28	LA SF 104
Springfusor® 30-AB	SF 30-AB	LA SF 390
Springfusor® 50/60	SF 5060	LA SF 775
*Electronic Instructions For Use (eIFU)

Flow Control Tubing (FCT)

Go Medical FCT's are sold separaterly from the Springfusor® device.

The FCT is a fine bore tube designed to provide a metered constant flow for intravenous (IV) or subcutaneous (SC) infusions when used with a Go Medical Springfusor® Infusion Pump. FCTs are manufactured with luer lock fittings to allow for easy, direct connection to the patient’s cannula or port. Nominal flow rate is calibrated for infusion of normal saline (unless otherwise stated) at a set temperature to a supine patient. The flow rate accuracy of the FCT will be affected by changes in temperature and the viscosity of the drug solution. Please refer to the Go Medical Springfusor® eIFUs for more details. 

The following FCT's variants are currently available. 

Video

 This is an Instructional video on how to use the Go Medical Springfusor and Flow Control Tubing (FCT), with examples of setting up for different clinical uses, drug solutions and flow rates.

Reference Material

The following papers report on the safely and clinical effectiveness of the Go Medical Springfusor and FCT device.

1. Capes, D., Martin, K. & Underwood, R., 1997. Performance of a restrictive flow device and an electronic syringe driver for continuous subcutaneous infusion. Journal of pain and symptom management, 14(4), pp.210–7. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9379068
2. Capes DF, Asiimwe D. Performance of selected flow-restricting infusion devices.   Am J Health-Syst Pharm. 1998;55(4):351-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9504194
3. Dean A, Martin K, Yuen K, Oldham L, Ewence K. Clinical Evaluation of the Springfusor 30 for Drug Delivery in Palliative Care. On behalf of the WA Hospice Palliative Care Association Research Group
4. Eagle, C.C. & Capes, D.F., 1993. Use of a new syringe pump (Springfusor) for muscle relaxant infusion. Anaesthesia and intensive care, 21(4), pp.444–6. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8105718
5. Freebairn, R. et al., 1994. A double-blind comparison of vecuronium administered by the Springfusor infusion device to vecuronium by intermittent bolus injection in critically ill adult patients. Anaesthesia and intensive care, 22(5), pp.580–5. Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7818063
6. Forbes, A.M. et al., 1992. Clinical Assessment of Springfusor a New Mechanical Syringe Pump. Australian Journal of Hospital Pharmacy, 22(6), pp.440–445.
7. Maddocks, I. et al., 1994. Evaluation of a Spring-Driven Syringe Infusion Pump in Palliative Care. Australian Journal of Hospital Pharmacy, 24(5), pp.400–404.
8. Mundle, S. et al., 2012. Treatment approaches for preeclampsia in low-resource settings: A randomized trial of the Springfusor pump for delivery of magnesium sulfate. Pregnancy Hypertension: An International Journal of Women’s Cardiovascular Health, 2(1), pp.32–38. Available at: http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S2210778911002339
9. PATH, 2012. Technology Solutions for Global Health Spring Infusor Pump for Anitibiotic Treatment of Osteomyelitis, available at: http://www.path.org/publications/files/TS_update_spring_infusor.pdf