Design and Development of a Suction Pump Equipped with an Error Memory

Abstract

Suction pumps are essential medical devices widely used to remove fluids, secretions, and blood from patients’ airways during surgical procedures and emergency care. However, their performance may be compromised by tubing occlusion or a full collection tank, potentially reducing suction efficiency and increasing patient safety risks. This study presents the design and implementation of an Arduino Uno–based suction pump integrated with an error memory system for real-time monitoring and fault recording. Negative pressure was measured using an MPX5700AP pressure sensor, while fluid level detection was performed using a water level sensor. System status, pressure values, fluid level, and recorded errors were displayed on an OLED screen, accompanied by an audible buzzer alarm to notify users of abnormal operating conditions. Experimental evaluation demonstrated that the developed system generated adjustable suction pressure ranging from –74.40 kPa to –3 kPa. The fluid level monitoring system successfully detected a full collection tank with an accuracy of ±10%, while tubing occlusion was reliably identified when the negative pressure reached –30 kPa, triggering both visual and audible alarms. Measurement uncertainty values were 10.8% at 3 kPa, 1.472% at 50 kPa, and 0.679% at 78 kPa. The integrated error memory feature effectively stored and displayed fault information, automatically stopping pump operation when critical conditions occurred. These results indicate that the proposed system can improve device reliability, facilitate biomedical maintenance, and enhance patient safety in clinical environments