Response Speed Optimization Of Thermal Gas-flow Sensors For Medical Application

Gas-flow sensors, for medical applications (respiration monitoring), require a relatively large bandwidth (10-300 Hz). Fast flow changes occur e.g. at the start of inspiration. Thermal gas-flow sensors are very favourable for medical applications. Due to the small size, they have a small influence on the total system (small obstruction in a tube). On the other hand, the response speed of these sensors is not automatically large enough: temperature changes take a relatively long time. Optimization of the response speed is necessary.