Thermopile flow sensor
AssigneePacesetter, Inc.
InventorHerman L. Renger
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Abstract
A flow sensor adapted for placement along a pacing lead or other catheter comprises a thermopile formed on the outer surface of a tubular substrate. The thermopile comprises a plurality of interconnected conductors of an alternating metal type. Junctions between conductors of the thermopile are alternately located near the longitudinal ends of the flow sensor, so that a voltage generated by the thermopile indicates the difference in temperature between the ends of the flow sensor. To measure blood flow with the flow sensor, an alternating current is induced through the thermopile to heat the flow sensor in a generally symmetrical manner. A voltage generated by the thermopile is then measured to obtain a sample of the magnitude and direction of the velocity of blood flow.
Claims9
A flow sensor, comprising:
- a series of interconnected thermocouples which form a series of junctions, said series of junctions comprising first and second sets of junctions, said first set of junctions spatially separated from said second set of junctions in a direction of flow to be sensed, wherein said series of interconnected thermocouples comprises means for heating said flow sensor when an alternating heating current is passed through said series of interconnected thermocouples, wherein said series of thermocouples is formed on a substrate, wherein junctions of said first set are proximate to a first end of said substrate and junctions of said second set are proximate to a second end of said substrate, and wherein said series of thermocouples is arranged on said substrate such that a polarity of a voltage generated by said series of thermocouples indicates a polarity of a temperature difference between said first and second ends.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.