Description:

The Baxter Sigma Spectrum is a pole-mounted large-volume infusion pump that marries a linear-peristaltic mechanism with smart-pump software. Its compact 6-inch footprint and 1.7 lb chassis free bedside space yet deliver rates from 0.5 to 999 mL/hr in 0.1-mL increments. A 240 × 270-pixel color HRTFT screen walks clinicians through setup, while the on-board drug library and Dose Error Reduction Software (DERS) impose hard/soft limits, single-step titration and secondary-container checks to curb programming mistakes. Integrated IEEE 802.11b/g lets the pump auto-program from the EMR and upload logs, and the 7.4 V lithium-ion pack powers about four hours of mobile use. Safety features include ultrasonic air-in-line sensing, three user-selectable occlusion levels (6, 13, 19 PSI) and a max working pressure of 28 PSI.

Economic Advantage:

Sigma Spectrum’s claim to fame was lowering the total cost of IV therapy while boosting medication safety. Unlike rival pumps that required proprietary tubing or add-on safety modules, it works with standard Baxter gravity sets and embeds DERS natively—cutting disposable spend and avoiding the licensing fees or maintenance overhead of external libraries. Faster programming and auto-documentation shaved nursing minutes per infusion, and the near-100 % drug-library compliance many hospitals achieved translated into fewer adverse-drug-event costs and shorter stays.