Medical Sensors: Types and Functions in Healthcare

This article explores the various types and functions of medical sensors. Medical sensors play a critical role in diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment within the medical field. Examples of medical sensors include those measuring blood pressure, EEG activity, oxygen saturation, heart rate, magnetic fields, and temperature.

What are Medical Sensors?

Introduction: Medical sensors are specialized devices used in the medical domain to diagnose, monitor, or treat diseases. Medical devices are categorized based on their risk profile, ranging from Class I (lowest potential risk) to Class IV (highest potential risk).

Let’s delve into the features and functions of different types of medical sensors.

Silent Features of Medical Sensors

Medical sensors must adhere to strict standards and specifications. Key features include:

• Compliance with IEC 60601-1 safety standard: Ensuring patient and operator safety.
• Compliance with statutory specifications: Including standards for quality management, risk management, usability, and functional safety. This ensures the device functions correctly in response to given inputs.
• Precise Measurement with High Accuracy: Delivering reliable and accurate data for informed medical decisions.
• Highly Stable and Quick Measurement: Providing fast response times for real-time monitoring and intervention.
• Digital Outputs: Offering digital outputs like I2C for seamless connectivity with microcontrollers/microprocessors.

Functions of Different Types of Medical Sensors

Below is a description of the functions of different types of medical sensors and their applications:

• Temperature Probes: Used for measuring body temperature. This helps in providing better medication and treatment of patients. These are commonly known as thermometers.
• Force Sensors: Used in kidney dialysis machines.
• Airflow Sensors: Used in anesthesia delivery systems, laparoscopy, heart pumps, etc.
• Pressure Sensors: Used in infusion pumps and sleep apnea machines. Many pressure sensors are integrated with embedded systems. They are used for medical diagnosis, blood pressure monitoring, infusion pumps, etc.
• Implantable Pacemaker: A real-time embedded sensor system that delivers a synchronized rhythmic electric stimulus to the heart muscle to maintain an effective cardiac rhythm.
• Oximeter: Measures the fraction of oxygen-saturated hemoglobin relative to the total hemoglobin count in the blood.
• Glucometer: Measures the approximate blood glucose concentration.
• Magnetometer: Specifies the direction of a user by examining changes in the Earth’s magnetic field around them.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG) Sensor: Measures the electrical activity of the heart.
• Heart Rate Sensor: Counts the number of heart contractions per minute.
• Electroencephalogram (EEG) Sensor: Measures the electrical activity of the brain.
• Electromyogram (EMG) Sensor: Records electrical activity produced by skeletal muscles.
• Respiration Rate Sensor: Counts how many times the chest rises in a minute.