PCA Pump Device Prototype

Mechanical Design

From the precise outer shell to the rack and pinion mechanism, the pump was designed with meticulous attention to balance protection and function.

Structural Design: The shell was designed in Solidworks using a ‘Box Joint’ method, planned to minimise footprint while ensuring stability and ease of access for maintenance.

Rack and Pinion Mechanism: Developed to drive the syringe plunger. Calculations for the pitch and tooth profile were crucial to ensure smooth, linear motion with minimal backlash.

Locking Mechanism: Implemented to prevent unauthorised access to the syringe featuring a key-operated lock.

Control System

The integration of electronics for accurate medicine delivery and patient control.

Microcontroller: An Arduino UNO was used as the core of the pump, processing inputs from control switches, sensors, and managing outputs to the stepper motor and display.

User Interface: Simple but effective, including nurse and patient-operated buttons, each providing clear visual feedback. The LCD screen displays information about infusion status and speed settings.

Power Management: The system uses a dual power supply to separate high-power and low-power components: 9V battery drives the motor, and 5V supports the microcontroller and display.

Safety & Monitoring

Techniques implemented to safeguard patients and maintain the pump’s reliability.

Protective Measures: The syringe is enclosed within a lockable case to avoid tampering. Observation windows allow visual monitoring of the syringe volume without compromising security.

Alert Systems: Audio alerts via a piezo speaker and LED indicators inform users of system states and emergencies, like misplaced syringe or completed infusion, providing redundancy to avoid user errors.

Reliability Testing: TThe device was subjected to various performance tests, including stress tests on the motor and functionality checks on the control buttons.

Contact Me