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Applications of sensors in the medical field

Sensors have become a standard part of our daily lives, and the medical field is no exception.

From monitoring vital signs to aiding complex surgeries, these tiny technological marvels are revolutionizing healthcare. Keep reading to learn more about the applications of sensors in medical field and the diverse types used to diagnose, treat, and improve patient outcomes.

List of sensors used in medical field

The medical field utilizes a vast array of sensors, each tailored for specific purposes.

Here's a glimpse into the diverse sensors in medical field:

Biophysical Sensors

Biophysical sensors measure physical parameters like temperature (think thermometers), pressure (used in blood pressure cuffs and catheters), and blood flow (employed in pulse oximeters and non-invasive blood pressure monitors).

As most sensors used in medicine, they play a vital role in patients’ health.

Image Sensors

These sensors convert light into digital signals for X-rays, ultrasounds (piezoelectric sensors convert electrical signals to sound waves and vice versa), and other imaging techniques like CT scans (which use multiple X-ray images).

Biometric Sensors

Used in several industries and connected directly to safety and security, not only for patients themselves but for their personal data as well, biometric sensors play a key role in the medical field.

Fingerprint scanners and iris recognition systems enhance patient identification and security in hospitals and clinics, preventing medication errors and unauthorized access to patient records.

Environmental Sensors

Some of the most common sensors for medical application are environmental sensors.

These monitor air quality, temperature, and other environmental factors in healthcare settings to ensure patient comfort, prevent infections, and optimize treatment efficacy.

For instance, sensors can be used to monitor air quality in operating rooms to minimize the risk of infections or to regulate temperature in intensive care units (ICUs) for patient comfort.

The power of perception: Sensors for medical application (H2)

Sensors play a crucial role in multiple medical applications.

Continuous Monitoring

A critical application of sensors in medical field is monitoring.

Different types of sensors can be embedded in wearables like smartwatches and medical devices like pulse oximeters to enable real-time tracking of vital signs like heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels.

This allows for early detection of potential problems, such as arrhythmias or respiratory difficulties, and timely intervention. Imagine a smartwatch that can not only track your steps but also alert you and your doctor if your heart rate spikes unexpectedly.

Improved Diagnostics

Biosensors are sensors in medical field that can detect specific molecules in blood, tissues, or even breath, aiding in disease diagnosis and treatment monitoring.

For instance, glucose sensors implanted under the skin or continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems help people with diabetes manage their condition by continuously tracking blood sugar levels.

Similarly, breathalyzers used for DUI detection can be considered a type of biosensor, albeit a non-implantable one, that detects the presence of alcohol in a person's breath.

Enhanced Treatment

Sensors can be integrated into medical devices to deliver precise drug dosages or regulate therapy.

Insulin pumps for diabetics and pacemakers for regulating heart rhythm are prime examples of sensor-driven treatment tools. Insulin pumps use continuous glucose monitoring to automatically adjust insulin delivery based on real-time blood sugar levels. Pacemakers, on the other hand, employ sensors to detect the heart's electrical activity and deliver electrical pulses to regulate the heartbeat.

Advanced Imaging

Imaging techniques like X-rays, ultrasounds, and MRIs all rely on sensors in medical field to capture detailed images of the body's interior.

These images play a vital role in diagnosing fractures, tumors, and other abnormalities. X-ray sensors convert X-ray radiation into visible light, while ultrasound sensors emit and detect sound waves to create an image of internal organs. MRI scanners use powerful magnets and radio waves to produce detailed cross-sectional images of the body.

Robotic Assistance

Another important application of sensors in medical field is robotic assistance.

Surgical robots employ an array of sensors, including force sensors, vision sensors, and joint position sensors that provide surgeons with greater precision and control during minimally invasive procedures.

For example, force sensors allow surgeons to feel the pressure they are applying to tissues, while vision sensors offer a magnified view of the surgical site.

The list of sensors used in medical field is already long, but we can only imagine what the future will hold, since the continued development of sensor technology promises even greater advancements in healthcare.

From miniaturized sensors for ingestible diagnostics to biocompatible sensors that seamlessly integrate with the body, the future of medicine is brimming with possibilities thanks to the power of sensors.

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How to calculate volumetric flow rate

You don’t have to be a physicist or an engineer to ask this question.

You may want to know how to calculate volumetric flow rate if you need to find out the flow rate of a hose or a shower head, or even how much blood your heart pumps every minute.

You may want to find out how much air passes through the ducts of your HVAC system.

Doing math is fun and a calculation can come up every now and then.

So how *do* you calculate the volumetric flow rate?

Before we answer this question, let’s see what volumetric flow rate actually is.

What is volumetric air flow rate?

The volumetric flow rate is the volume of a given fluid that passes through a cross-sectional area per unit of time.

So, usually, we want to know how much fluid is passing through a specific area usually per second.

To make it more specific and clear, here’s the equation:

volumetric Flow Rate (Q) = Flow Velocity (V) × Cross-sectional Area (A)

What does this all mean? Let’s break down the volumetric flow rate units you’ll need to know in order to calculate the volumetric flow rate:

Q, is the Volumetric Flow Rate in m3/s

V, is the Air Velocity in m/s

A, is the cross-sectional area in cm

Let’s see an example:

If a gas has velocity (V) 10 m/s and is passing through a pipe of 25cm inner diameter (A) then the volumetric Flow Rate (Q) would be:

Q=V*A

Q=0.491 m3/s

When you can calculate the volumetric flow rate and also know the density (ρ) of a fluid, then you can also calculate the mass flow rate, using the following equation:

Mass Flow Rate (ṁ) = V × A × ρ

How do we know this?

If we keep in mind the previous equation and combine it with the following, we can prove it.

Here’s what more you need to know:

Q = ṁ/ρ

Where,

ṁ, is the mass flow rate in kg/s

ρ, is the density in kg/m3

From the two equations we conclude that:

ṁ = V × A × ρ

Why it’s important to measure velocity and calculate volumetric flow rate?

· You will be able to improve your pressure and gas flow system’s performance

· You can manage to increase energy efficiency and/or cost savings (think HVAC in your home)

· You may maintain proper airflow rates to ensure comfort

· In more life-threatening situations, you can measure airflow and see if something’s wrong (think hospitals or oxygen tanks!)

So as you can see, math can indeed be fun or even life-saving.

Don’t knock it till you try it!

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How does a flow meter work?

Flow meters are everywhere around us these days, measuring everything that has to do with gases and liquids. 

It’s true that different types of flow meters rely on different principles in order to measure flow – so, how do we choose which one to use?

What is a flow meter?

First we need to understand what flow meters do: Flow meters measure either volume or mass. 

Mass flow rate is the key consideration in many cases, especially in chemical reactions, combustion engines in aerospace, or in the medical field.

How to decide what flow meter to use?

Depending on the gas flow measurement we need or the type of application, we may decide what gas flow meter to use.

Questions to consider:

Do I have to measure liquid, gas or steam?

Do I have to measure a very large flow or a small one?

What is the temperature or pressure of the gas or liquid I need to measure?

How precise does my measurement need to be? 

After answering these, you will be able to determine which gas flow sensor to use.  

How does a flow meter work?

Now, depending on your answer above, you may choose one of the following gas flow meters and see how they work. 

Capillary Thermal Mass – This method uses the heat between gas passing through a very small tube and a set of resistance temperature detectors to measure the mass flow.

Immersible Thermal Mass – This method uses the heat from a heated sensor immersed in the flow to measure the mass flow of the gas.

Vortex Shedding – Here we measure the mass flow and/or volumetric flow of a gas or liquid, using vortices shed from a sensor immersed in the flow and a computed fluid density.

Transit-Time Ultrasonic – Here we measure the speed of a fluid passing through a pipe using ultrasound, thus eliminating the need for pipe cutting.

Now you know how to take a liquid or gas flow measurement, so all you need to do is to choose the appropriate liquid or gas flow sensor!

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Industrial sensors: Types & uses across the board

Have you ever wondered what an industrial sensor is, and where it’s used?

A sensor in an electronic device that receives a signal or notification (input) regarding a physical activity or change and transmits it to other devices (output). 

Industrial sensors are regularly referred to as transducers because they actually transform energy from one form to another. For example, the force applied to a pressure sensor, will be measured and converted into an electrical output!

Now that you know what a sensor is, let’s see their different types and where they are most commonly used.

Industrial Sensor Types – Which ones are the most common?

Sensors used in industries play a crucial role today, especially when it comes to automations. Automations are all around us, even in everyday life, but they are particularly important in the industrial field. 

Here are the most common types of sensors used in industry:

Industrial Pressure Sensors

A pressure sensor detects the pressure of gases or liquids and provides an electrical signal to the controller.

Industrial pressure sensors are extensively used in the medical field in order to control drug flow or in the industrial field in order to monitor fluids that need to be filtered, among other things.

Temperature Sensors

A temperature sensor is a device that collects information concerning the temperature. They are commonly used in the industrial field to measure the temperature, or even the humidity, of a medium or area.

Industrial Flow Sensors

A flow sensor (also known as a flow meter) is an instrument that measures the gas flow rate in a tube. By using a gas flow sensor, we ensure a safe, efficient, and environmentally compliant operation in all industries.

Industrial flow sensors can be used to measure the flow rate and control the dosing of any gas with precision.

MEMS Sensors

MEMS (standing for Micro-electro-mechanical Systems) sensors are very important, with a plethora of applications today, widely used in the automotive industry (for example ABS technology and airbags).

The most common type of a MEMS sensor is a motion sensor! It can be used to measure and record any physical activity or movement and is present in everyday life as well. 

Industrial sensors are especially important in plant automations and measurements today. 

While factories are looking to maximize performance and reduce their negative impact on the environment (for example by reducing carbon dioxide emissions), sensors used in industries will be getting more and more popular and precise. 

Industrial sensor types are an integral part of our lives today and will continue to be in the years to come, with thousands of applications in the medical, aerospace, automotive, industrial etc. field.

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What are the differences between a sensor, a transmitter, and a transducer?

You may have heard different terms that describe electronic pressure detectors. Sensors? Transducers? Or transmitters? Are those the same, or are they different from each other?

The truth is, there are different types of devices in the pressure sensing industry. Even though their names can be confusing, in what these three terms mean, understanding the difference is important.

Only this way, you can pick the best device for your application. Of course, regarding the cost, power consumption, susceptibility to noise, and any other constraints.

So how could you identify their major differences?

What you need to know at first, is that all of these terms are specific to variable capacitive sensing technologies. They are often employed on applications where a high degree of accuracy is paramount, going as low as ±0.07% of full scale.

Further reading: Capacitive vs Piezoresistive Pressure Sensors

What is a Pressure Sensor?

A pressure sensor can be described as a device used to measure the quantity of force expressed on a surface area per unit and convert it to an electrical signal. It includes a stainless – steel diaphragm, which is used as a measuring component that absorbs the applied pressure and converts it.

More examples of pressure sensors

http://www.belimo.gr/sensors/pressure-sensors/

https://keller-druck.com/en/products/pressure-transducers

https://esenssys.com/products/pressure-sensors/

What is a Pressure Transducer?

By definition, a transducer is a device that translates primarily nonelectrical quantities into electric signals. We often use pressure transducers to translate energy values to another kind, like voltages, across a high-impedance load. 

For example, a commonly used transducer device is a microphone. It is used to convert sound waves into electrical signals that an amplifier later processes and converts into sound waves from a loudspeaker. You can find different types of transducers like input transducers and output transducers. 

What is a Pressure Transmitter?

There are not so many differences between transmitters and transducers.

A transmitter is used to translate pressure values into currents (generally 4-20 mA) across a low-impedance load that is why it is easily operated. In general, it is often preferred when sending a signal over relatively long distances. Moreover, it has low susceptibility to noise and typically higher power consumption than transducers.

There are multiple things still to consider once you have decided between pressure transmitters, transducers, and sensors. 

But at least now you understand the basic differences among them.