Glossary of Terms

Ambulatory Infusion Pumps
An electrical or battery operated device which is used to deliver solutions containing a parenteral drug under pressure at a regulated flow
Anticoagulants
Inhibit the ability of blood to clot, or coagulate
Arterial
Pertaining to the blood in the pulmonary vein, in the left side of the heart, and in most arteries, having been oxygenated during its passage through the lungs and being normally bright red
Biocompatibility
The capability of coexistence with living tissues or organisms without causing harm
Cannulae
A flexible tube that is inserted into a bodily cavity, duct, or vessel to drain fluid or administer a substance such as a medication
Central System Vacuum Pump
Tubing is installed inside the walls and connected to a vacuum pump which is not directly connected to the vacuum
Chemical Resistance
The ability of the tubing to withstand exposure to acids, alkalis, solvents
Cytotoxic
Having a toxic effect on cells
Durometer
A device for measuring the hardness of materials
Dynamic Pump
A pump that uses the momentum of the fluid to move from inlet to outlet
Elastomeric Pumps
Small, lightweight, non-electronic, disposable pumps which are used for the continuous delivery of medication to patients
Electrode Vacuum Pump
An electrically conducting element of an electronic device (vacuum), connected to an external circuit, which emits, collects, or influences the flow of the current in the device
Embolism
Occlusion of a blood vessel by an embolus
Embolus
A loose clot or air bubble or other particle
Entrapment Pumps
Captures gases in a solid or absorbed state
Extracorporeal
Occurring or situated outside the body, as a heart-lung machine used to oxygenate the blood during surgery
Fluid Evacuator
Operates on compressed air to create a powerful vacuum for evacuating fluids and liquids from small tanks or reservoirs
Gastric Suction Pump
Used to empty patients’ stomachs in preparation for surgery and in emergency treatments
Hematocrit
The ratio of the volume of red blood cells to a given volume of blood
Hemolytic
Causing the destruction of red blood cells
Hemolysis
The breaking down of red blood cells with liberation of hemoglobin
Hydrostatic Pressure
The pressure exerted by a fluid at equilibrium at a given point within the fluid, due to the force of gravity
Implantable Infusion Pumps
An infusion pump in which the pump is surgically placed beneath the subcutaneous tissue and a catheter is placed or threaded into the right position for intrusion
Inside Diameter
The measurement of the inner wall of tubing
Insulin
A hormone produced in the pancreas that regulates the amount of sugar in the blood by stimulating cells to absorb and metabolize glucose
Intravenous
A drug, nutrient solution, or other substance administered into a vein
Leachables
Chemicals released from tubing that may contaminate fluid being pumped
Membrane
A thin sheet of natural or synthetic material that is permeable to substances in solution
Membrane Oxygenator
Is a device used to add oxygen to, and remove carbon dioxide from the blood
Momentum Transfer Pumps
Uses high speed jets of dense fluid or high speed rotating blades to knock gaseous molecules out of the chamber
Negative Pressure
Pressure that is less than ambient pressure
Nutrition Therapy
Total parental nutrition and enteral nutrition
Occlusion
Momentary complete closure at some area in the pump tubing, causing stoppage of the flow of air and accumulation of pressure
Operatory Suction Pumps
Used during surgical procedures in which central vacuum systems cannot be used
Opiate
Any of various sedative narcotics containing opium or one or more of its natural or synthetic derivatives
Oral Cavity Evacuator
A pump is driven with a cleaning head in the oral cavity to suck residual matter in the oral cavity and drain it into a waste liquid tank in order to clean the oral cavity
Outside Diameter
The measurement of the outer wall of tubing
Oxygenate
To treat, combine, or enrich with oxygen
Pain Management
Patient-controlled analgesia in cancer, AIDS, and postoperative surgery patients
Perfusionists
A medical technician responsible for blood transfusion and the heart-lung machine during cardiopulmonary surgery
Positive Displacement Pump
A pump that forces fluid from one sealed chamber to another with little leakage by reducing the volume of the first chamber while increasing the volume of the second and producing a constant flow regardless of the intake pressure or outlet pressure
Positive Pressure
Pressure that is greater than atmospheric pressure
Pulmonary
Relating to, functioning like, associated with, orcarried on by the lungs
Pyrogenic
Showing measurable traces of bacterial endotoxins
Permeability
The rate of flow of a liquid or gas through a porous material
Renal
Of or pertaining to the kidneys or the surrounding regions
Rotar
A rotating member of a pump
Solute
A substance dissolved in another substance
Spallation
The generation of particles from the inner bore of the tubing
Stator
A portion of a pump that remains fixed with respect to rotating parts
Subcutaneous
Performed or introduced under the skin
Suction Canisters
Hold body fluids and saline solution that are suctioned out of a patient by an aspirator during surgical procedures and patient care
Suction Pump
Used for drawing up a liquid by means of suction produced by a piston drawn through a cylinder
Syringe Pumps
Operated by a syringe plunger mechanism which is powered by a motor-driven screw that progressively forces the plunger into the syringe barrel
Theoretical Flow Rate
The flow rate that a pump is rated to deliver during operation
Thoracic Suction Pumps
Used for post-operative thoracic drainage and removing air and fluids from the pleural cavity
Tolerance
The permissible range of variation in a dimension of tubing
Torque
To cause to rotate or twist
Transfusion Therapy
The process of transferring whole blood or blood components from one person (donor) to another (recipient)
Urea
End product of protein metabolism and is the chief nitrogenous component of the urine in mammals and other organisms
Vacuum Pump
A pump that removes gas molecules from a sealed volume in order to leave behind a partial vacuum
Vacuum Rating
Venous System
Vessel that carries blood from the body to the heart in the circulatory system
Viscosity
The property of a fluid that resists the force tending to cause the fluid to flow
Wound Suction Pumps
Manually operable having inlet and outlet ports, and a pliable fluid storage bag for removing fluid from the wound