Ultrasonic transducers in air-bubble detectors (ABD)

The piezo plays detective

PI Ceramic (PIC): In medical engineering it is often necessary to ensure there is an undisturbed flow with no air or gas pockets. This is achieved with the aid of ultrasonic technology in so-called bubble or air-bubble detectors (ABD). Piezoelectric components from PI Ceramic are used as the ultrasonic transducers. They generate and receive the ultrasonic waves for these sensors.

The sensors are mounted on the outside of flexible tubes and operate under sterile conditions without coming into contact with the medium to be transported; they therefore do not interfere with the flow rate, nor is there any danger of contamination. The bubble detector detects air bubbles in flexible plastic tubes filled with liquid, regardless of the color of the medium. Permanent monitoring of the flow is particularly essential for dialysis, transfusion pumps or heart-lung machines.

PI Ceramic (PIC) is one of the world's leading companies in the field of piezo ceramics. The PICMA® multilayer actuator technology, which received an award for its reliability, is one of many inventions of PIC. Since 1992, PIC has been developing and manufacturing piezo ceramic materials and components for standard and OEM solutions: Piezo components, ultrasonic transducers, actuators and system solutions. PI Ceramic, a subsidiary of Physik Instrumente (PI), is located in the city of Lederhose, Thuringia, Germany.