Medical Sensor Is Put On Blood Bags
January 27, 2010 by admin
Filed under Level, Liquid Level, Safety
Schweizer Electronic AG, situated in Schramberg, Germany, and SIEMENS AG Österreich, with registered offices in Vienna, Austria, have agreed to extensive cooperation for the manufacture and marketing of RFID transponders with the integrated sensor technology known as “SEAGSens”. Schweizer Electronic is responsible for the manufacture of the transponders developed in collaboration with the Hochschule Offenburg (Offenburg university) and SIEMENS. SIEMENS will assume the distribution and marketing. The SEAGSens will be used in seamless temperature monitoring, tracing and the clear identification of blood bags, medications or foodstuffs, among others. Schweizer Electronic is to operate the RFID business in the context of a “Schweizer Tracking and Tracing Solutions” business unit.
After having completed extensive tests and pilot projects, Schweizer Electronic has now finalised the qualification of the SEAGSens (see pictures). The first series production order has already been received.
In principle, the RFID-based measuring instrument monitors and verifies temperatures as required in this logistical application of blood products. Reliability is the all-important decisive factor here. The SEAGSens fulfils the highest requirements of clinics and blood banks. The temperature-based quality assessment of donor blood on their entire route from the donor to the patient markedly reduces the discard rate of blood products which leads to considerable cost savings.
In addition, the clear identification of the stored blood effectively prevents the serious consequences of incorrect blood transfusions caused by mistaking blood bags. The same technology can also be used to monitor the transport and logistical processes of other industries and applications for which temperature is of critical importance.
RFID sensor tag SEAGsens on blood bag
To achieve the required quality level of temperature-sensitive pharmaceutic products, monitoring of the complete cold chain has to be ensured. Therefore, Schweizer Electronic designed the requirements for a tracking and tracing system for blood products in close collaboration with Siemens AG Österreich and ‘Universitätsklinik für Blutgruppenserologie und Transfusionsmedizin’ located in Graz.
The complete temperature profile of blood bags has to be monitored from vein of donor to vein of recipient. Thus, the monitoring device must be able to withstand the centrifugation processes necessary for blood fraction (up to 5,000 G) without malfunction. The operation costs per run have to be low.
Together with Siemens AG Österreich and University of Offenburg Schweizer Electronic developed SEAGsens, a temperature data logger with RFID frontend.
How does it work?
A digital sensor is measuring the temperature very accurately at a freely selectable time cycle. The microcontroller is analysing the temperature/time data and stores up to 30,000 measurement readings in a memory chip. The memory can be read out contactlessly at any time via the RFID wireless interface (HF frontend). Schweizer Electronic developed a special housing and battery technology to ensure centrifugation ability. The qualification process and the clinical field test have been terminated successfully. The benefit: monitoring of long periods through high memory and battery capacity.
The SEAGsens RFID sensor tag provides highest level of functionality, safety and quality. Due to the long operation time, costs per run are comparatively low. The integrated battery allows a continuous useability of more than 3 years. The temperature focused quality control reduces the wastage rate of blood products considerably. By the unique identity of each single blood bag, incorrect transfusions with all their harmful consequences are efficiently eliminated.
Sensor Detects Ozone In Air, Water & Explosive Gases
In Freiburg, Germany, scientists have developed a highly sensitive, miniaturized mobile Ozone sensor. This sensor can be used not only in air, but also in water and in the vicinity of explosive gases.
Ozone is a powerful oxidizing agent and can cause a wide range of symptoms in humans, including lacrimation, irritation of the mucous membranes in the mouth, throat, and bronchial tubes, headaches, coughing and even deterioration in lung function.
The main sources of ozone pollution are industrial and transport emissions. Particularly in warmer weather, these react with intensive UV radiation to form ground-level ozone.
But laser printers and copiers, machines so prevalent in modern-day offices, can also emit ozone.
The European Commission has announced its intention to cut the guideline value for ozone in the air from the current level of 90 parts per billion to 60 parts per billion by 2010, and when this new regulation comes into force, there will be an increased demand for inexpensive ozone sensors.
But, according to project manager Dr. Volker Cimalla of the IAF, “Since ozone is, at the same time, an agent with high application potential, novel sensors are required, which have to be compact and affordable.”
Sensors are essential equipment in industrial settings such as wastewater treatment facilities and water sterilization units, where they are used to monitor the ozone concentration – firstly to ensure the required concentration for the relevant application is maintained, and secondly to guard against exceeding hazardous thresholds for humans.
According to Project manager Cimalla, “The ozone sensors currently available on the market employ extremely laborious and complex measuring procedures such as UV absorption and are therefore very expensive.”
“By contrast, the more affordable ozone sensors have to be heated up to 300 degrees Celsius and produce inaccurate readings or only work in limited areas of application,” he said.
“We’ve done away with the need for heating by instead applying blue/violet light radiation to trigger the chemical process necessary for regeneration on the sensor surface. This allows the sensors to operate at room temperature,” he added.
The scientists built on the existing knowledge that molecules absorbed on the surface of a sensing layer alter its electrical resistance – and can also be removed again by light irradiation.
The result is a highly-sensitive, miniaturized sensor capable of measuring the low ozone levels that occur in environmental and ambient air monitoring just as accurately as the high levels associated with industrial process control.
Since the sensor is extremely small, it can even be integrated into mobile equipment.
Liquid Sensor Has No Moving Parts
January 23, 2010 by admin
Filed under Flow, Level, Liquid Level
A precision off-the-shelf liquid level sensor, developed for motorsport, military and industrial applications the ‘R-Series’ is now available from Gill Sensors. The sensor has no moving parts, utilising advanced capacitive technology to accurately monitor the liquid level.
Compatible with fuel, oil, water and other specialist liquids, the R-Series liquid level sensor features an SAE 5-bolt flange mount as standard and is manufactured to the end users’ exact length requirement, avoiding the need for any mechanical adjustment by the user. With fully integrated electronics producing a configurable 0-5V analogue output, the R-Series is seen as an ideal ‘drop-in’ solution for most liquid level applications.
In addition to the standard R-Series sensor, Gill Sensors has also introduced an ‘Rxl’ variant for applications where a very long sensor is required. This variant of the R-Series utilises the same SAE 5-bolt mounting pattern but introduces additional mechanical strengthening features to support the longer probe. This sensor targets industrial applications that require precision liquid level measurement of storage tanks up to 3m in depth, says the company.
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US ARMY To Have Portable Toxic Gas Sensor Developed
January 18, 2010 by admin
Filed under Featured, Industry News, Safety
The US Army has awarded a contract to Platypus Technologies for the development of a portable sensor that can detect deadly gases and other toxins.
Under the $2.2m contract, Platypus will continue to develop sensors that have an ultra-thin layer of gold film coated with receptors that make it turn lighter or darker when it comes in contact with a targeted substance.
The sensor will use tiny liquid crystals, which are used in LCD television and computer screens, for the changes in the color intensity.
Platypus president and chief executive Richard S Schifreen said the company also developed a prototype of a handheld device for reading the sensors and refining the technology for certain applications, including military uses.
Work under the one-year contract will be carried out by Platypus in collaboration with Edgewood Chemical and Biological Center in Maryland.
Leadership in Engineering
January 15, 2010 by admin
Filed under Featured, Industry News
Leadership in Engineering
This is the 3rd annual Leadership event announcing the winners in the 2009 Leadership Awards Program. The Design World User Community have cast their votes and we are pleased to announce the winners.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
Da/Pro Rubber is a custom manufacturer of precision rubber, TPE, and plastic molding products. The proprietary Da/Pro process adjusts for rubber compound and rubber part configuration variables so that it can produce high tolerance parts of consistent quality. The company offers complete in-house capabilities from design for moldability, rubber compound development, lab testing, mold construction, subassembly, and quality assurance.
Digital Manufacturing
Proto Labs’ quick-turn Protomold® injection molding and First Cut® CNC machining services are the fastest in the world at providing design engineers with real parts based on their 3D CAD models. We achieved this unique ability by applying proprietary software and parallel processing technologies to the automation of standard manufacturing processes, so engineers can finally have it all : real parts in as little as one day.
Electrical & Electronic
Since 1976, Glenn Taylor’s vision of an enterprising engineer has been our guiding force. Our goal is to design and manufacture standard industrial control products that meet or exceed customer and industry specifications for quality and operation. We engineer more features, more functions and more flexibility into our products, and we are able to offer a lifetime warranty for them.
Fastening & Joining
Bal Seal Engineering, Inc.’s original product was a plastic ring with a groove to house a coiled spring. Today, the company’s patented canted coil spring energized PTFE is at the core of its product offerings. Bal Seal offers custom-engineered sealing, connecting, conducting, and shielding products for medical electronics, medical device aerospace/defense, energy management, automotive, and industrial applications.
Fluid Power
Norgren’s vision is to create competitive advantage for its customers. By exploiting the potential of motion and fluid control technologies. For Norgren customers this means better results, faster/more efficient machines, improved machine performance, increased reliability/uptime and lower cost of ownership. Application specific solutions frequently involve integrated or modular combinations of actuator, control valve and air preparation technologies. Within the field of motion control Norgren develops solutions for automation applications and within the field of fluid control Norgren combines proven brands to offer solutions for handling air, water, oil and other fluids.
Mechanical
Arrow Gear Company is among the most technologically advanced gear manufacturers in the world. With a facility of over 145,000 square feet, Arrow is equipped for a full range of precision gear machining, heat treating and inspection capabilities for spiral bevel gears, spur and helical gears, curvic couplings – as well as complete gearboxes.
Arrow has earned a reputation for providing high precision gears to the global market for a wide variety of aerospace and commercial applications.
Arrow’s advanced technologies reach beyond machine tools alone. Arrow is equipped with design and development capabilities that are on the leading edge of the industry. Utilizing Gleason CAGE, GAGE, MINIGAGE, Finite Element and Fully Loaded TCA software, Arrow engineers can create computer models which accurately predict gear design performance. This process for contact pattern development is dramatically more efficient than conventional methods.
Motion Control
PBC Linear is a leader in providing linear and rotary solutions, specializing in everything from out-of-the-box components, to mechanical sub-assemblies, to complete linear systems. PBC Linear’s team of expert engineers draws experience from years of mechanical and design engineering both in the classroom and in the field. Their skilled staff, sophisticated tools, and innovative products create long lasting solutions for the toughest motion control problems.
Software
COMSOL Group provides software solutions for multiphysics modeling. A fast growing engineering software company with a proven track recor, Comsol was founded in July 1986 in Stockholm, Sweden, and has offices in Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, India, Italy, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and U.S.A.
Switches & Sensors
MTS Sensors, a division of MTS Systems Corp., is the global leader in the development and production of magnetostrictive, linear-position and liquid-level sensors. Using MTS’s patented Temposonics® technology, the Sensors Division is continually developing new ways to apply magnetostrictive sensing technology to solve critical applications in a variety of markets worldwide, including steel, wood, plastics, metalworking, automotive, and off-highway. It also applies megnetostrictive technology to the packaging, oil, gas, food and beverage, and medical industries. MTS Sensors Division has facilities in the U.S., Germany, and Japan, and is an ISO 9001 certified supplier committed to providing innovative sensing solutions that deliver customers with reliable, cost-effective position-feedback devices.
Test & Measurement
Omega is a major US company that manufacturers more than 80% of its product offerings in house ─ and this percentage is continuously increasing. At a time when “outsourcing” seems to be the foundation of many US manufacturers, Omega Engineering, headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, remains a notable exception. Omega enjoys this leadership position because it strongly advocates process automation to achieve high productivity and create quality products. When commercial equipment is used, in-house automation handles the input and output processes. Omega’s automation engineers are among the most talented, and it has invested substantially in the model shops and labs needed to support them. Working with an equally talented staff of software engineers, they produce a wide range of custom automation equipment.
Multi-Touch ‘Resistive’ Touchscreen Controller Chip
As the latest high-tech devices such as smartphones, mobile internet devices and netbooks adopt multi-touch touchscreens to support increasingly sophisticated ‘apps’ and games,STMicroelectronics has introduced a multi-touch ‘resistive’ touchscreen controller chip to optimize the Bill of Materials of the electronics supporting this advanced capability. The STM32TS60 is the first member of ST’s new STMTouch family, which offers a broad portfolio of solutions including multi-touch devices and proximity and touch-key sensors.
The new multi-touch controller detects up to ten simultaneous touches with fingers, nails or stylus, enabling application designers to replace complex menu sequences with more direct and natural user controls. Actions made easier with multi-touch capabilities include browsing and selecting options, handwriting and data entry, arranging and sizing windows, picking up and dragging images, and fast and intuitive game play. Other abilities include drawing pictures, using touch pressure to adjust line thickness.
Employing resistive touch-panel technology, the STM32TS60 controller offers customers a real alternative and complements the recent industry trend for using capacitive touch technology. Resistive technology is a cost effective and mature high-volume solution that has seen dramatically improved performance over the past few years in terms of durability and display transparency. In addition, it easily overcomes EMI (electromagnetic interference) noise issues, which can be an inherent limitation with alternative touch technologies. Resistive technology is already widely used in PDAs and similar touch-enabled devices and the screens are readily available in standard LCD sizes and at competitive prices.
The new chip combines the company’s STM32 microcontroller architecture with PMatrixTM Multi-Touch technology from ST‘s partner Stantum to achieve fast response times while minimizing system complexity and component count.
The STM32TS60 single-core microcontroller is an added-value solution compared to other expensive multi-core processor or digital signal processors (DSPs) requiring specialized programming expertise.
The STM32TS60’s high EMI immunity makes it suitable for use in multi-function wireless products such as cellphones, notebook PCs, netbooks and mobile Internet devices. Moreover, its low power consumption helps to maximize operating times and recharge intervals, and is a direct benefit of the STM32’s energy-saving design features and ARM® Cortex™-M3 processor conceived for power-sensitive embedded applications. In addition, very-low-power idle mode with ‘wake-up on touch only’ helps further extend mobile battery life.
The STM32TS60 is housed in a 7 x 7mm 144-pin UFBGA package, and is now sampling to lead customers. Volume production is expected for Q2 2010.
Differential Pressure Sensor for Wet Media & Low Pressure Ranges
American Sensor Technologies, Inc. (AST) has recently created the 
AST5100 Wet / Wet differential pressure sensor (also termed differential pressure transducer or transmitter) for differential pressure measurement ranges as low as 0 to 5 inches of water column (0 to 0.18 PSI) and up to 0 to 15 PSID.
AST uses a Macro Sensors LVDT (Linear Variable Differential Transformer) to measure the movement of bellows and digitally amplifies the signal with new AST electronics. The LVDT is known throughout the sensor industry as a measurement device with accurate, repeatable measurements as low as a few millionths of an inch. The AST5100 is compensated from 0 to 55°C (30 to 130°F) using the same advanced electronics as the AST20HA pressure transducer. With its advanced linearity correction and thermal compensation, the AST5100 series meets the demanding performance characteristics industrial applications require.
The AST5100 is available with 1/8″ NPT female pressure ports and two mounting holes for easy installation. With an optional 4-20mA or 0-5V output signal, the AST5100 is compatible with most PLC’s and controllers. Each product is packaged with an M12×1 Eurofast electrical connection. AST also supplies the mating cable assembly in either a four foot or ten foot length.
Built to withstand a line pressure up to 200 PSI, the AST5100 series is designed for a variety of applications including; filter monitoring, flow calculation across an orifice and level measurement. By positioning the high pressure side (or upstream side) of the AST5100 before the filter and the low pressure side (or downstream side) after the filter, the cleanliness of the filter can be measured. As the pressure decreases, the output signal will increase. Pneumatic systems for clean rooms or water filtration equipment commonly utilize this type of device. With the use of an orifice, the AST5100 series can be used to measure flow rates of liquids or gases based on the size of the orifice. Level measurement of sealed tanks can be measured by mounting the high pressure side to the bottom of the tank, with the low pressure side connected into the top of the tank. The AST5100 series can also be used as a gauge pressure sensor. By leaving the low pressure side of the differential pressure sensor open to atmosphere, the AST5100 series will measure the differential pressure between the high side and atmosphere.
Position Sensors Ensure Accuracy of Down Hole Drilling Equipment
US-based manufacturer of LVDT Linear Position Sensors and Rotary Position Sensors and Transducers, Macro Sensors, is now serving the petroleum industry with LVDT-based linear position sensors that are used for position feedback control of down hole drilling equipment such as bore scopes that measure the ID of the drilled hole.
SQ 1250 Series Heavy Duty LVDT Position Sensors
The LVDT linear position sensors for down hole applications are custom built to survive high temperatures and high pressure. Units are rated for pressures to 20,000 psi, in electrically non-conductive, chemically benign media, at continuous temperatures as high as 400 degrees F. The high temperature ratings are achieved by using special construction materials for the linear position sensors that include special high melting point soldering. To accommodate high pressures, the sensor case is vented to equalize pressure inside and outside of the LVDT linear position sensor.
Offering a compact 3/8” diameter design, these AC-operated LVDT linear position sensors serve well as an integral part of devices with tight space restrictions. A lightweight low mass core also makes the small, contactless linear position sensors ideal for applications having high dynamic response requirements. Units operate with any conventional differential input LVDT signal conditioners to provide position feedback back to operators at the surface.
For more information on LVDT linear position sensors built for down hole and other refinery applications, contact Macro Sensors at postionsensors@macrosensors.com.
