Sapphire^™ Frequently Asked Questions 

The Sapphire infusion pump system provides a complete solution for multiple clinical settings and multiple clinical uses. It can be programmed for various clinical infusion therapies, as well as pre-programmed to specific treatments. Sapphire can be tailored per patient with six different delivery modes (Continuous including piggyback option, PCA, intermittent, TPN, PCEA, epidural intermittent and multi-step) and flexible treatment parameters for each mode.

Yes. The Sapphire multi-therapy pump is the flagship product in a line that also includes dedicated models for TPN, PCA and Epidural, as well as pumps dedicated to specific needs of various market segments, such as SapphirePlus and SapphireH100. Details about the different pumps in the product line can be found here.

The Sapphire user interface is available in several languages, including English, French, French-Canadian, Italian, Swedish, German, Polish and more. The Sapphire technology enables Eitan Medical to implement a new language within a very short period of time, once a qualified translation of the relevant strings is completed.

The Sapphire pump stands out from other volumetric infusion pumps on the market in several key areas. While most volumetric infusion pumps are relatively large and heavy, the Sapphire is one of a very few that provides high-end volumetric pump functionality in a lightweight and compact form. Specific areas in which Sapphire provides top performance compared to others include:

• Small size and low weight of 418 g (14.74 oz), without the battery (504 g with the battery) – Enables easy handling and transfer around the ward/hospital, and saves a lot of real estate where many pumps are needed

• Accuracy of ±2.5% at all rates vs.5-10%

• Battery life of 24hr vs.4-8hr

• Full-color screen – Use of color scheme enhances ease of use and clarity, helping to eliminate operation errors.

• Future ready  – The Sapphire features built-in extra slots for all forms of connectivity, pump locator and other smart capabilities, and software that can be easily adapted and upgraded

• Full care area solution – Sapphire can be configured and tailored to specific clinical needs

• Easy and intuitive setup, navigation and programming, designed and tested by Human Factors standards

• Safe to use – programmed to diminish the risk of human error by offering a step-by-step decision making process to the user.

• Additional benefits include:

  • Double free flow protection

  • Very clear and visible alarms that are easily distinguished

  • Single-handed insertion of administration set

  • Display of “Time to End of Treatment”, keeps patients informed of how long treatment will continue

  • No restriction on operating position

  • Easy patient mobility – Support for manual priming, small size and weight, and position-independent operation allows patients to move around and continue daily activities while attached to the pump

  • Fast prime (600 ml/hr)

The Sapphire infusion system is controlled via an intuitive touch-screen interface. The interface is designed to enable fast setup and adjustment, simplifying the user decision-making process in order to eliminate complexity and errors. Changing parameters mid-infusion is also very easy, requiring just a few strokes on the touch-screen.

The pump mechanism in a volumetric infusion pump must create a continuous accurate flow even as different levels of force are required during different stages of the peristaltic cycle. The inherent challenges in achieving this mean that most volumetric pumps utilize highly complex mechanisms that carry a high cost of ownership in terms of energy consumption and wear and tear; or they have more simple, but significantly less accurate systems with non continuous and non linear flow control capabilities. Eitan Medical’s magnetic flow control mechanism is by comparison, a streamlined design that ensures exceptionally accurate flow, with low energy consumption.

The Sapphire offers high accuracy of ± 2.5% at all ranges (subject to external conditions such as tubing, rate, bag position relative to the pump, humidity and temperature). This is similar to leading syringe pumps, and is better than most volumetric large volume and ambulatory pumps.

The Sapphire might look like an ambulatory pump but it is a large-volume infusion pump, used for ambulatory needs as well. It is small in size, but it is big in performance! It provides all the functionality of a volumetric infusion pump, with the advantages of a much smaller size and lighter weight.

The Sapphire infusion pump is designed primarily for hospitals, where bedside space is often at a premium. The small size of the pump leaves more room for using multiple pumps on a single IV pole and other devices and monitors, enabling a more organized bedside area, which is easier for health care teams to manage. Additionally, its small size and light weight facilitate patient mobility. Patients can more easily push around the pole (or move without a pole altogether) as they walk on the ward, with less likelihood the pump will be bumped into walls and doors.                                                                                           

Sapphire is also widely used for homecare and for ambulation in hospitals. It can easily be carried in a pouch, allowing the patient to move around easily.

No. Eitan Medical’s dedicated sets must be used with the Sapphire pump.

Alternatively, administration sets from different manufacturers that are regulatory cleared and labeled for use with the Sapphire infusion system, can be used as well. The list of regulatory cleared sets needs to be obtained from the official manufacturer’s publication such as manufacturer’s website, catalog or any other formally published document.

Using dedicated sets provides several advantages:

• Eitan Medical sets have built in safety features that standard IV sets do not have and that provide free flow protection.

• Eitan Medical sets play a key role in the superior accuracy of Eitan Medical infusion pumps.

• Gravity operation can be performed with many of Eitan Medical sets, when the Anti-Free-Flow Valve (AFFV) is in the open position, reducing the need to switch sets and reducing wastage.

• Eitan Medical sets reduce power consumption due to the unique design of the AFFV.

• Unlike other pumps, with Eitan Medical sets there is no need to move or rearrange the tubing in order to ensure ongoing accuracy and safety.   

The drug library is programmable according to the requirements of each individual hospital. The Drug Library Editor (DLE) allows each hospital to customize its own drug library per clinical care area, including drug profiles and pump configuration settings and download it to one pump or a group of pumps within the hospital.

Yes, the Sapphire infusion pump is ready for the future. Software-driven control and the touch-screen user interface ensure ready adaptability to meet evolving market and regulatory requirements. The Sapphire is ready for enhanced connectivity, including Wi-Fi, enabling online calibration, upgrades and service. It is barcode reader-ready, to facilitate infusion management and improve safety; and it is locator technology-ready, which reduces the risk of loss. It also can be cost-effectively upgraded, including the addition of new infusion modes of operation.