Modifying an Infusion Only Syringe Pump With a TI MSP430 Launchpad to Allow for Both Infusion and Withdrawing of Fluids

Syringe pumps are used in scientific and clinical environments to expel (infusion mode) and refill (withdraw mode) fluids from and into a syringe for specific volumes and rates. For example, in clinical environments, syringe pumps can be used to deliver drugs in a well controlled manner over time, and in scientific experiments, they can be used to move fluids through microfluidic devices at well defined rates. Syringe pumps that only expel fluids are more common due to their decreased cost when compared to similar syringe pumps that are able to both expel and withdraw. One such infusion-only syringe pump, the Harvard Apparatus Model 11 was modified to allow for both infusion and withdrawing of fluids by modifying the internal control circuitry. The modifications involved replacing some of the existing control circuitry with a Texas Instrument MSP430 microcontroller and integrating the new microcontroller into the system existing syringe pump. The modified syringe pump was found to have accuracy and precision comparable to commercially available syringe pumps that have both infusion and withdrawing capability.