Flow sensor system
US5558099A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 6, 1995 |
| Grant date | Sep 24, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 6, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/49099
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A plurality of flow sensors are fabricated on a single substrate. The substrate is laid out to provide the proper physical relationship of the individual sensors. The resulting multiple sensor structure may be effectively used as respiration detector by positioning a different sensor element at each of the airflow orifices (i.e., two nostrils and mouth) of a patient. In the preferred embodiment, the sensors are thermoresistive elements, which are screened on the substrate using conductive ink. The change in temperature of the air flow in relation to the ambient at each orifice provides an indication of the flow and may be used to determine the extent of the flow. The substrate is packaged in a single piece adhesive strip which provides ease of proper attachment by the patient.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.