Catheter Type of Flow Sensor for Measurement of Aspirated- and Inspired-air Characteristics in Bronchus Region

MEMS技术被用来制造一种导管流量传感器，该传感器可用于经支气管测量吸气和吸气的气流特性，以便准确评估COPD。该导管流量传感器是在生物相容的对二甲苯羟色胺薄膜上制作的。该薄膜安装在直径1.94 mm的热收缩管的表面内。导管流量传感器系统集成了流体的流量和温度传感功能。在流量传感器和温度传感器之间还形成了用于隔热的凹槽结构。将制作的导管流量传感器通过适配器插入到小鼠的呼吸道中，直接测量通过管内的空气流量。通过增加温度补偿功能，呼气量和吸气量紧密匹配。这些实验是根据名古屋大学动物实验规定进行的。

MEMS technologies was used to produce a catheter flow sensor that could be used to trans-bronchially measure aspirated- and inspired-air flow characteristics in order to precisely evaluate COPD. The catheter flow sensor was fabricated on a biocompatible parylene HT film. The film was mounted inside the surface of a thermal shrinkable tube 1.94 mm in (outer) diameter. Both functions of the flow and temperature sensing of the fluid was integrated on the catheter flow sensor system. The groove structure was also produced between the flow- and the temperature-sensors for the thermal isolation. The produced catheter flow sensor was inserted into the air passage of a mouse by using an adapter, and the air flow passing through the tube was directly measured. By adding the temperature compensation function, the volumes of the expired- and inspired-air closely matched. The experiments were conducted under the regulations set forth for Nagoya University Animal Experimentation.