Technology Archive

Pinnacle TPN Compounder

  The Pinnacle compounder provides a Windows-based user format along with a flat screen control panel with touch-screen and drop-down menus. Additionally, the Pinnacle compounder makes the process easier and faster, preparing one liter of TPN formulation in less than one minute.

The Pinnacle™ total parenteral nutrition (TPN) Management System was announced in 2004 and made generally available in 2007. A full system, not solely a device, the Pinnacle TPN Management System can streamline the TPN process from computerized physician order entry and pharmacist approval, to IV solution compounding and bar-coded TPN containers that work with barcode compatible infusion devices. The TPN management system is flexible and can work in several configurations, from single-user to multiple compounds and from network to Internet. Interfaces are also available to existing software systems.

The Pinnacle TPN Management System automates all TPN calculations including nutritional assessment, aluminum calculations/warnings, and calcium/phosphate (Ca/P) check.

With the Pinnacle system, pharmacists write the orders on the charts at the different nursing units and scan them down to the pharmacy where they are printed out. The pharmacist then enters the patient-specific order into the Pinnacle program, which helps to formulate the entire TPN. At that point, the technician begins the compounding process.

In the compounding room, the technician scans the 2-D barcodes on the order sheet, which queues and pumps the pre-hung macro-nutrients (i.e., lipids, dextrose, sterile water, amino acids) and they manually draw up any other additives (such as electrolytes and calcium) specified on the order. The pharmacist comes in at this point to verify the amounts. This is a very straightforward process as neither the technician nor the checking pharmacist needs to make any calculations; the compounder has already done this. Lastly, Pinnacle generates two sets of labels: one for the chart and the other to attach to the bag.

The Pinnacle TPN Management System to help reduce the time required for TPN formulation and preparation while enhancing patient safety.

 
  Gold Award winner, 2007 Medical Design Excellence Awards

The Pinnacle TPN Compounder System is available from B.Braun Medical, Inc.