Occlusion warning

[Fixbyprincess]

Hi I use the spirit combo pump and the last few times I've changed the cartridge and cannula I've had the warning "occlusion". I use the flex link cannulas. Anyone else experienced this?

 

[iHs]

I always get my cartridges up to body temperature first before trying to flick the air bubble out. I attach a new tube into the black cartridge adaptor first and then hold the cartridge upright and flick the bubble up to the centre where the bottom of the luer neck is and then with the blue screw in plunger, push the air bubble up into the tube and then load the cartridge into the pump and activate the piston to move forward to the base of the cartridge. Look to see how much insulin is in the cartridge before doing so and then take note of the amount so that the piston can align correctly.
Press the prime function and watch the insulin and bubble travel into the tube and out the other end of the tube clip. This should sort out the occlusion caused by air in the cartridge. The other type of occlusion is caused by damaged cannula so will need to be removed and replaced before the matter is ok again. A good way to deal with occlusions is to try to prime some insulin through the tube. If the insulin travels ok, then the problem will be with the set.

 

[anniehi41]

Hi I use the spirit combo pump and the last few times I've changed the cartridge and cannula I've had the warning "occlusion". I use the flex link cannulas. Anyone else experienced this?

I followed the advice given to me by iHs with regards to eliminating air bubbles and it REALLY works, especially getting the insulin up to body temperature. I also bought a set of watchmakers magnifying eye loupe from Maplins, it's easy to spot and remove air bubbles with the 10xmagnification eye piece.

 

[Fixbyprincess]

Thanks everyone for advice. Already are doing what you suggested so going to ask accu check for info on new cannulas

 

[iHs]

Hi I use the spirit combo pump and the last few times I've changed the cartridge and cannula I've had the warning "occlusion". I use the flex link cannulas. Anyone else experienced this?

Just wondering if the occlusion warning is to do with the way the cartridge is being filled. If you are injecting air downwards into a vial that is full, the pressure of air being injected downwards will be too much and if you are not really quick to flip the vial up the other way, what will happen is that the cartridge will fill with air and insulin and even if you try to inject the air back into the vial, you will start to see a bulge build up under the rubber on the vial which will need to be released by inserting an insulin pen needle into the rubber with the needle cover off and listen for the hiss of air coming up through the needle releasing it and then the bulge will go.
Have a look at the cartridge by removing it from the Combo (leave the piston where it is) and see if there is a gap of air at the luer end and if there is, that will cause the occlusion as the piston won't be able to push insulin through the air gap.