公开(公告)号：EP0734225A1

公开(公告)日：1996-10-02

申请号：EP95901933.0

申请日：1994-11-23

Applicant: MODERN TECHNOLOGIES CORP.

Inventor： SCHNURER, John H. ,  FREUND, Robert F.

IPC: A61B5 ,  G01F1

CPC classification number: G01F1/64 ,  A61B5/026 ,  A61B5/027 ,  A61B5/742

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the flow rates of fluids is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a probe (10) which may be placed in a fluid inside a vessel, such as a blood vessel. The probe (10) comprises at least one pair of conductors (16, 18) to which the circuit (15) provides a small current. As ions are disordered or migrate between at least one of the conductors and the fluid, a current or charge is caused to flow between the conductors (16, 18). The circuit (15) measures this current using a differential amplifier (66) and generates an output signal corresponding thereto. The output signal is then displayed on a monitor (80). Because the current flow is closely related to the rate of flow of the fluid past the probe, an accurate measurement of the flow rate is obtained.