Methods for measuring perfusion circuit pressure: mechanical gauges; transducers

 

1.                   Mercury Manometer

a)                   Definitive pressure reading

b)                  Easy observe oscillations

c)                   Requires no power source

d)                  Limited to approx 400 mmHg

e)                   Low pressure area of pump

f)                    No zero drift

g)                  Gives direct aortic mean pressure

h)                  More accurate measurement of pump occlusion

i)                    No alarm status

j)                    Cannot measure negative pressure

 

2.                   Aneroid (‘a-neros-without liquid’) Gauge

a)                   Requires no power source

b)                  Able to measure higher pressures than mercury manometer

c)                   Drift of zero during pulsatile flows (not designed for pulsatile flows)

d)                  No alarm system to turn off pump

e)                   Cannot measure negative pressure

 

3.                   Electronic Pressure Monitor

a)                  Jostra Pressure monitor

i)                    Designed to measure arterial pressures and cardioplegia pressures in heart-lung machine

ii)                   Activates an alarm at low & high pressure limits set by limit indicators

iii)                 Alarm activates an alarm signa which can stop the blood pump

iv)                 Built in transducer

v)                  12V DC; max 3 W consumption

vi)                 Range -50 to 450 mmHg; -100 to 900 mmHg

vii)               ‘Unlatched’ alarm system

viii)              Maintenance

a)                   An external reference pressure instrument is required to check its accuracy

 

b)                  Electronic diaphragm transducer system

 

c)                  Sarns 8000

i)                    ‘Alert’ & ‘Alarm’ states

ii)                   User-set alerts & alarms warn of impeding overpressure with visual and audio signals or actually stops the pump

iii)                 The system retains the settings & recalls them after the next power up

iv)                 ‘Latched’ alarm system; requires restarting of pump module after alarm state

v)                  Range -45 to 990 mmHg

vi)                 Uses  transducers

vii)              Disposable

viii)            Non disposable (Wheatstone bridge)

ix)                  Can measure a higher pressure

x)                   Must be calibrated

 

Precautions required to prevent decontamination to the perfusion circuit by pressure devices including: Filters; Membrane isolators

 

 

1.                   Isolators

a)                   Ensure is properly primed; devoid of air

b)                  Must be predominantly empty of pump fluid prior to connection to transducer - otherwise membrane may become taut & not indicate true pressure

c)                   Prevents contamination of transducer & sterility of circuit

 

 

2.                   Filters

a)                   Hydrophobic type

b)                  Seen on dialysis machines

c)                   May become blocked