Intelligent Patient Controlled Analgesia System

NYP's School of Engineering has collaborated with the KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) to develop an advanced Patient Controlled Analgesia ( PCA) System to manage the operation of an infusion pump system to allow for intelligent patient controlled delivery of analgesics such as epidural.

The system leverages a high performance Windows Mobile platform to allow for robust multi-tasking and reliable operation. A custom developed .NET Compact Framework application provides the necessary graphical user interface for trained medical personnel to operate the PCA system. Intelligent software algorithms enable the system to monitor and control the various parameters of the infusion pump including setting safe infusion rates, accurate infusion profiles and delivering precise dosages.

A specially designed Remote Bolus Controller interfaces with the controller to allow patients to administer controlled amounts of analgesics, subject to safety regimes imposed by the system. Through intelligent software control of the infusion pump, medical personnel can ensure that patients receive the correct dosage of analgesics.

This way, pain relief is available to the patient round the clock without the need for medical personnel to be present. The ability to control the analgesic infusion profiles also reduces the overall medication needed to relieve pain. Studies have shown that this results in faster recovery of patients.