Autoclavable Flow Meters for Medical Applications

Sensirion, the world's leading manufacturer of high-quality sensors and sensor solutions for the measurement and control of humidity, gas and liquid flows, will be at the COMPAMED 2015 trade fair to present its new autoclavable mass flow meters, the SFM3200-AW and the SFM3300-AW, for the first time. The autoclavable and washable sensors boast high precision and robustness. They are especially well-suited for measuring respiratory flows in medical applications such as artificial ventilation or anesthesia. 

Sensirion’s new SFM3200-AW and SFM3300-AW mass flow meters are autoclavable, meaning they can be sterilized and reused. Comprehensive tests with outstanding results have verified that the sensors remain fully functional after repeated wash and autoclaving cycles.

The SFM3200-AW and SFM3300-AW mass flow meters are particularly well-suited to expiratory or proximal flow measurements and flow measurements for drug delivery. They offer high-precision flow measurements of air, oxygen and other non-aggressive gases. The SFM3200-AW is designed for an extremely low pressure drop in the sensor element, making the flow meter especially well-suited to expiratory flow measurements in medical applications. The sensor boasts high precision at very low flow rates and also at rates up to 250 slm. It offers a very fast signal processing time and robustness to rough handling and adverse conditions.

The SFM3300-AW is entirely bidirectional, with the capacity to measure flows of up to 250 slm in both directions. It is particularly well-suited to measuring proximal flow in medical ventilation and other respiratory applications since the dead space with respect to the pressure drop has been kept to a minimum. The somewhat greater pressure drop compared to the SFM3200-AW offers greater stability for varying inlet conditions such as those occurring with the proximal measurement. Both sensors can be connected via medical cones for the pneumatic connection to the breathing cycle and have a mechanical interface for a user-friendly electrical connection.

Like all Sensirion sensors, the SFM3200-AW and SFM3300-AW are based on the patented CMOSens® Technology, which enables the integration of sensor and signal processing circuitry on a single tiny CMOS silicon chip. The result is an ultra-precision system that offers long-term stability for sophisticated and cost-sensitive applications. The technology can also withstand considerable environmental effects, which is why CMOSens® based flow sensors are perfect for use as sterilizable sensors.

Come and visit Sensirion from November 16 to 19 2015 in Düsseldorf at the COMPAMED trade fair, hall 8a, booth H19.6 and find out more about the new autoclavable mass flow meters for medical applications. For more information, go to www.sensirion.com/aw-sensors.

About Sensirion

Sensirion AG, headquartered in Staefa, Switzerland, is the world's leading manufacturer of digital microsensors and systems. The product range includes humidity and temperature sensors, mass flow controllers, gas and liquid flow sensors, and differential pressure sensors. An international network with sales offices in the USA, Germany, China, Taiwan, Japan and Korea supplies international OEM customers with tailor-made sensor system solutions for a vast range of applications. Among other things, these include analytical instruments, consumer goods and automobiles, as well as the medical and HVAC industries. One of the hallmark features of Sensirion products is the use of patented CMOSens® Technology. CMOS-based sensor elements and systems permit intelligent system integration, including calibration and a digital interface. Sensirion's credentials as a reliable OEM supplier are underscored by its ISO/TS 16949 certification.