[Current status of portable disposable infusers]

Portable disposable infusers are widely used for treatment of various types of pain including postoperative pain and cancer pain, because they are simple to use, of lightweight, and inexpensive. In Japan, nine series of infusers are available from eight manufacturers. Volumes and flow rates of various infusers used for pain therapy widely vary from 40 to 500 ml and from 0.5 to 15 ml x hr(-1), respectively. Several infusers have flow selectors and/or patient-controlled analgesia circuits. Such a wide variety enables us to select optimal infusers for individual patients and thus to offer adequate pain control to those patients suffering from severe pain.