Metrology for Drug Delivery

Between 2012 and 2015, a consortium of 7 metrology institutes, the University Medical Center Utrecht and the Lübeck University of Applied Sciences worked successfully on the development of a metrological infrastructure for accurate drug delivery using infusion. More specifically, drug delivery involving low flow rates (lower than 10 ml/h) and ultra-low flow rates (0.5 ml/h), which is of importance, especially in neonatology. For further details, please have a look at the project summary.

Parameters influencing accurate flow using infusion

As part of the development of the metrological infrastructure, the researchers investigated parameters that influence the accuracy of the treatment. This included parameters that are related to human behavior and equipment, e.g. the compliance of syringes. When using components (syringe, tubing, filters) with a large compliance and/ or a large flow resistance, especially the syringe will expand during set point changes which delays the treatment. Set point changes in multi-infusion setup can furthermore result in unexpected variations in the flow rates of all the drugs being administered.

Sharing our knowledge

Besides the development of the metrological infrastructure, the consortium would like to share the knowledge and experience gained with the neonatology and IC community in Europe to help improve the accuracy in drug delivery for vulnerable patients.