Micro‑Force FMA Sensors: Precision Force Sensing for Medical Infusion Pumps

Applications of Micro‑Force FMA Sensors in Healthcare

In today’s healthcare landscape, the demand for reliable, high‑precision medical devices continues to grow. At the heart of many life‑supporting instruments are force sensors that provide critical data on fluid delivery, ensuring both patient safety and operator efficiency.

Force Sensors in Infusion Pumps

Infusion pumps—used in hospitals, ICUs, emergency wards, and home care—deliver medications, nutrients, or fluids at exact rates. Key types include ambulatory pumps, enteral feeding pumps, dialysis machines, and portable units.

Within these devices, precision force sensors measure pressure in the delivery tube to:

1. Verify accurate delivery of fluids, nutrients, or medications.
2. Detect blockages or obstructions promptly.
3. Signal when the fluid bag requires replacement.

Design requirements for these sensors include high accuracy, sensitivity, reliability, and compliance with medical standards.

Micro‑Force FMA Sensors Overview

Honeywell’s Micro‑Force FMA series delivers piezoresistive force sensing tailored for medical precision. Each sensor offers configurable analog or digital (I²C/SPI) outputs, with optional amplification and temperature compensation. An onboard ASIC maintains calibration, offset, and non‑linearity corrections across temperature variations.

Available force ranges—0–15 N, 0–5 N, and 0–25 N—enable fine‑tuned resolution and sensitivity. Features include direct mechanical coupling, a corrosion‑resistant stainless steel sphere interface, selectable supply voltages, and low power consumption (14 mW). The sensors meet ISO 9001, REACH, RoHS, MIL‑STD‑202 Method 214 (20.71 Gms) for vibration, and Method 213 (50 G) for shock.

Benefits for Infusion Pumps

Integrating Micro‑Force FMA sensors into infusion pumps offers:

• High Accuracy: Precise fluid flow rates guarantee correct dosage.
• Early Blockage Detection: Enhanced safety through timely alerts.
• Long‑Term Stability: Consistent performance over extended use.
• Ease of Maintenance: External placement isolates media, reducing cleaning and sterilization needs.
• Compact Design: 5 mm × 5 mm form factor suits tight‑space applications.

The need for reliable, precision medical devices will only increase. Honeywell’s Micro‑Force FMA sensors are engineered to meet this challenge and are also suitable for laboratory instruments, touch panels, load sensors, compression sensing, weight measurement, and force‑grip equipment.

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