Originally Published EMDM May/June 2009
Industry Intelligence: Sensing Progress
Pressure Sensors Unveiled for Respiratory Applications
A family of nano-airflow differential pressure sensors targeted at medical respiratory applications enables accurate sensing of low differential pressures over a wide dynamic range. The flow-impedance is predefined at the die level, requiring 2.5 nl/sec of airflow. Developed by Microbridge Technologies Inc. (San Jose, CA, USA), the sensors incorporate a thermal anemometer element and CMOS analogue conditioning circuitry with a microflow channel. Though the device can be used for a number of respiratory applications, the first application of the MB-LPS-11 sensor will be devices used to treat sleep apnea, which the company explains can be made quieter using the technology.
The sensor can be constructed with flow impedances of up to several hundred thousand pascal. Key advantages of this nano-airflow approach are the virtual elimination of leakages, reduced susceptibility to poor filtration, a small footprint and support for low-cost package options. Additionally, the Microbridge approach facilitates the use of long hoses, dissimilar diameters, with or without filtration and with no impact to calibration. These sensors are suited for medical respiration applications where it is necessary to measure full-scale differential pressures of approximately 15 in. H2O, with a greater than 104 dynamic range and with resistance to contamination. The sensor will be offered at a price of less than US$10 per unit when ordered in high volume.
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