Sensor technology for medical devices: How fiber optic and electromechanical sensors can be used to improve patient outcomes

 

Medical procedures continue to advance with the development of new technology and manufacturing capabilities. These advancements led to a need for more device feedback and data during procedures to help guide clinicians 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, strain, and temperature. The integration of these sensors has become more challenging as devices increase in complexity and decrease in size. Resonetics can support companies that are looking to add sensor capabilities to their device through the design, manufacturing, and integration of fiber optic and electromechanical sensors.

Fiber Optic Sensors

Fiber optic sensors are comprised of a sensor, fiber optic cable, and a signal conditioner. The signal conditioner sends light through the fiber optic cable to the sensor, which contains a mirror to reflect the light back to the signal conditioner. The change in light from the sensor is measured by the signal conditioner and converted into a measurement. There are many applications where a fiber optic sensor would be the best sensor choice. One example is catheter delivery systems where the thin glass fiber requires very limited space inside the catheter. The flexibility of the fiber will resist kinking while going through tortuous anatomy inside the body. Fiber optics sensors are commonly used to measure pressure and temperature at the tip of a catheter.

Advantages of Fiber Optic Sensors:

• No electrical current passing through the fiber
• Sensor not affected by microwave radiation, radio frequencies, and electromagnetic interferences
• Sensor is passive and will not affect other components
• Excellent sensitivity and reliability

Resonetics has been manufacturing fiber optic sensor products that are used in FDA and CE Mark approved devices for over 15 years. The company offers a variety of off-the-shelf sensors and readout units that can purchased for immediate testing and use. Resonetics can also customize the fiber optic 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. An electrical current is passed through the circuit and the resistance of the circuit is measured and then converted into the desired data output. Electromechanical sensors can contain multiple sensors per circuit, which can measure different inputs simultaneously. The sensors also have a small footprint which is ideal for use in minimally invasive surgery. Resonetics has an engineering team that can design custom electromechanical sensors, integrate them into a device, and develop testing 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 footprint
• Low power consumption
• Great field strength/force
• Low electromagnetic emissions
• Low susceptibility to RF fields

In addition to electromechanical sensors for measurement, Resonetics can also manufacture Near Field Communication (NFC) wireless connectors. These are inductive coupling coils that are used for contactless secure data transmission. These are beneficial for applications where a wire connection is not possible such an implant inside the body.

With leading industry experts and light-speed design and manufacturing processes, we enable limitless innovation for unique and complex medical device applications. Committed to providing customers with innovative and reliable solutions for various measuring parameters in harsh environments and challenging applications, Resonetics accelerates time-to-market with unmatched efficiency and flexibility in the industry.