Medical procedures continue to advance with the development of new technology and manufacturing capabilities. This progress has led to the need for more device feedback and data during procedures so that clinicians can be guided to more successful patient outcomes. There are several different types of sensors that can be integrated into medical devices to measure critical inputs such as pressure, stress and temperature. The integration of these sensors has become increasingly challenging as devices become more complex and smaller in size. Resonetics can support companies that want to add sensor capabilities to their device through the design, manufacture and integration of optical and electromechanical sensors.
optical sensors
Optical sensors consist of a sensor, an optical cable and a signal editor. The signal conditioner sends light through an optical cable to a sensor, which contains a mirror that reflects light back into the signal adjuster. The signal conditioner measures the change in light from the sensor and converts it into a measurement. There are many applications in which a fiber optic sensor would be the best choice of sensor. One example is catheter delivery systems where thin glass fiber requires very limited space inside the catheter. The flexibility of the fiber will resist bending as it passes through the winding anatomy inside the body. Fiber optic sensors are commonly used to measure pressure and temperature at the top of the catheter.
Advantages of optical sensors:
- There is no electric current passing through the fiber
- The sensor is not affected by microwave radiation, radio frequencies and electromagnetic interference
- The sensor is passive and will not affect other components
- Excellent sensitivity and reliability
Resonetics has been producing optical sensor products that have been used in FDA and CE-approved devices for more than 15 years. The company offers a range of standard sensors and reading units that can be purchased for immediate testing and use. Resonetics can also customize optical sensors to meet specific measurement requirements.
Electromechanical sensors
Electromechanical sensors are circuits that can be used to measure specific parameters such as stress, strain and temperature. Electric current is passed through the circuit and the resistance of the circuit is measured and then converted to the desired data output. Electromechanical sensors can contain several sensors per circuit, which can measure different inputs at the same time. The sensors also have a small footprint that is ideal for use in minimally invasive surgery. Resonetics has an engineering team that can design custom electromechanical sensors, integrate them into the device, and develop test protocols to ensure measurement accuracy. Resonetics’ electromechanical sensors also require low power consumption and can be combined with contactless data transmission.
Advantages of electromechanical sensors
- Small print
- Low energy consumption
- High power / field strength
- Low electromagnetic emission
- Low sensitivity to RF fields
In addition to electromechanical measuring sensors, Resonetics can also produce wireless connectors for near-field communication (NFC). These are inductive coupling windings used for contactless secure data transmission. This is useful for applications where a wire connection is not possible, such as an implant inside the body.
With industry-leading experts and fast design and manufacturing processes, we enable unlimited innovation for unique and complex medical device applications. Dedicated to providing customers with innovative and reliable solutions for a variety of measurement parameters in harsh environments and challenging applications, Resonetics speeds up time to market with unmatched efficiency and flexibility in the industry.
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