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Syringe pump actions

Introduction

As you may know, a procedure can include actions, some of which can affect a syringe pump - these are detailed below.

Actions

Start the syringe pump

Starts the syringe pump in the current direction at the current flow rate. The pump will continue to run until either:

the target volume is infused (or withdrawn), assuming a target volume has been set

the pump is stopped by an action

the test ends

the pump stalls (reaches the limit of its travel).

If the syringe pump is already running, this action has no effect. Starting a pump does not affect the current volume infused (or withdrawn). For example, if a pump has a target volume of 3ml and has so far infused 1ml when it is stopped, then when it is started again, it will continue to run until a further 2ml have been infused. If a pump which has stopped because the target volume was reached is started again, it will immediately stop (because the target has still been reached). To start the pump in these circumstances, you must either set the target volume again (using a Set target volume action) or clear the target volume, so there is no target (using a Clear target volume action).

Stop the syringe pump

Stops the syringe pump. If the syringe pump is already stopped, this action has no effect. Stopping a pump does not clear the current volume infused (or withdrawn). For example, if a pump has a target volume of 3ml and has so far infused 1ml when it is stopped, then when it is started again, it will continue to run until a further 2ml have been infused.

Set direction to infuse

Sets the direction of syringe pump to infuse (liquid will come out of the syringe). If the pump is currently set to infuse, this action will have no effect. If the pump is running when the direction is changed, then it will, typically, stop for a moment, change direction and then start again in the new direction. If the pump is not running, then this action sets the direction it will move in when next started. If the pump has a target volume set, then this action will reset the current volume (the amount withdrawn so far) to zero, and the pump will run in the new direction until the target volume has been infused.

Set direction to withdraw

Sets the direction of syringe pump to withdraw (liquid will be drawn into the syringe). If the pump is currently set to withdraw, this action will have no effect. Not all syringe pumps can withdraw; if you perform this action on a syringe pump which doesn't support it, then it will have no effect. If the pump is running when the direction is changed, then it will, typically, stop for a moment, change direction and then start again in the new direction. If the pump is not running, then this action sets the direction it will move in when next started. If the pump has a target volume set, then this action will reset the current volume (the amount infused so far) to zero, and the pump will run in the new direction until the target volume has been withdrawn.

Reverse direction

Switches the direction of the pump so if it was infusing, it will start to withdraw and vice versa. Not all syringe pumps can withdraw; if you perform this action on a syringe pump which doesn't have a withdraw mode, it will have no effect. If the pump is running when the direction is changed, then it will, typically, stop for a moment, change direction and then start again in the new direction. If the pump is not running, then this action sets the direction it will move in when next started. If the pump has a target volume set, then this action will reset the current volume (the amount infused or withdrawn so far) to zero, and the pump will run in the new direction until the target volume has been infused or withdrawn.

Set flow rate

Changes the flow rate to the rate specified in the action's parameter. The flow rate is always specified in units of µl/min; if you want a rate in some other units, then you will need to convert it - for example, a rate of 3ml/min would be entered as 3000. Any target volume is unaffected by this action; in other words, the current volume infused (or withdrawn) will be retained and the pump will stop when the total volume infused (or withdrawn) reaches the target. If an action sets a flow rate that is outside a pumps limits (e.g. it would require the pump to move faster than its maximum speed), then the flow rate will become the pump's maximum speed. If the pump is running, then ANY-maze will attempt to change the flow rate without stopping it; however, if the pump does not allow this, then it will be stopped briefly, the rate will be changed and then it will start again. If the pump is not running, then the rate will be used the next time it starts.

Set target volume

Sets a new target volume for the pump to the volume specified in the action's parameter. The volume is always specified in units of µl; if you want a volume in some other units, then you will need to convert it - for example, a volume of 3ml would be entered as 3000. This action always resets the current volume (infused or withdrawn so far) back to zero, and then infuses (or withdraws) the entire target volume specified. If the pump is running, this action will simply change the target volume and the pump will continue to run without any interruption. If the pump is not running, then this volume becomes the target volume which will be infused or withdrawn the next time it starts.

Update target volume

Changes the target volume for the pump to the volume specified in the action's parameter. The volume is always specified in units of µl; if you want a volume in some other units, then you will need to convert it - for example, a volume of 3ml would be entered as 3000. This action does not alter the current volume (infused or withdrawn so far). For example, a pump has a target volume of 5ml and has so far infused 3ml when the target volume is updated to 10ml; the pump will continue to run until a further 7ml are infused, and it will then stop. Note that if the updated target volume has already been infused, then the pump will stop as soon as the target volume is updated. For example, a pump has a target volume of 5ml and has so far infused 3ml when the target volume is updated to 2ml - it has already infused more than 2ml, so it will immediately stop. If the pump is not running, then the adjusted target volume becomes the target volume which will be infused or withdrawn the next time it starts.

Clear target volume

Sets the pump to have no target volume, so it will then run continuously until either stopped by an action, or the test ends, or it stalls (reaches the limit of its travel).

ANY-maze help topic T0265