The COVID-19 pandemic has caused mass shortages of ventilators and PPE globally, but now healthcare workers are starting to see the effects of the pandemic on supplies of infusion pumps. Hospitals are starting to see their supply of infusion pumps, which are critical in providing medications and fluids, start to dwindle...

1. Infusion Pump Shortages
By: Madison Wheeler
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused mass shortages of ventilators and PPE globally, but now
healthcare workers are starting to see the effects of the pandemic on supplies of infusion pumps.
Hospitals are starting to see their supply of infusion pumps, which are critical in providing
medications and fluids, start to dwindle. As the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients
increases, hospitals are seeing unprecedented demand for these pumps to support the continuous
infusion of medications, nutrition, and/or fluids to patients.
The FDA recently issued a guidance on infusion pumps and accessories with the intent of
expanding access to the devices during the pandemic. Like other enforcement policies issued by
the agency during the COVID-19 public health emergency, the guidance on infusion pumps
relaxes the regulatory requirements for the devices. Most notably, the guidance allows
manufacturers with pumps already in the market to make low to moderate risk changes to the
device without submitting a new 510(k).1 These changes could include but are not limited to, a
modification in design, intended use, material, energy source, or manufacturing process.
In addition to expanding supply, the guidance also aims to promote remote monitoring
technology of infusion pumps so healthcare workers and COVID-19 patients can maintain a safe
distance. Changes covered under the guidance, that can be implemented without submitting a
new 510(k), include modifications to implement Bluetooth capability, addition of accessories for
remote adjustment of infusion parameters, and increased battery capacity.2 All of these changes
will make it possible for healthcare providers to continuously monitor, and adjust, infusion
pumps without entering rooms or coming into close contact with patients. Some hospitals that do
not have the infusion pumps with remote technology have resorted to putting the pumps in
hallways and using long tubing fed under doors or through makeshift holes in walls.3 The
obvious risks to this tactic include delays and inaccurate delivery of drugs, which remote
monitoring technology can mitigate.
If you need help understanding how your device can fit into the changing regulatory landscape of
the COVID-19 pandemic, EMMA International is ready to assist. Contact us at
info@emmainternational.com or call 248-987-4497 to see how we can help!
1 FDA (April 2020) Enforcement Policyfor InfusionPumps and Accessories during the COVID-19 Public HealthEmergency
retrieved on04/20/2020 from: https://www.fda.gov/media/136701/download
2 Kelly, MedTechDive (April 2020) FDA Allows for InfusionPumpModifications to Prevent Shortages retrieved on04/20/2020
from: https://www.medtechdive.com/news/coronavirus-fda-infusion-pump-modifications-to-prevent-shortages/575511/
3 Slabodkin(April 2020) The Latest Coronavirus Shortage: Hospital InfusionPumps retrieved on04/20/2020 from:
https://www.medtechdive.com/news/the-latest-coronavirus-shortage-hospital-infusion-pumps/575891/