Innovative Sensor Technology

Innovative Sensor Technology IST AG combines thin-film or thick-film technology to manufacture a wide variety of sensor elements for temperature, flow, conductivity, humidity and biological metabolite monitoring. To provide the optimal solution for individual application requirements, IST AG offers a variety of technology and material variants throughout the production process.

Their sensors are characterized by their accuracy and consistency in various measurement conditions. In addition to development and manufacturing of standard sensors, their highly qualified technical team offers consulting and Research & Development, tailored to specific customer requests in the field of sensor technology.

With the new product range of Peristaltic Micropumps and with the acquisition of IST Innuscreen in Berlin, a life science company specialized in nucleic acid isolation and molecular diagnostics, IST AG recently widened its medically compliant product portfolio. A few examples of where IST AG products are used:

Temperature Sensors for Real-Time Remote-Health Monitoring Systems (RHMS)

Platinum thin-film RTD temperature sensing elements with small size, long-term stability, and simple algorithmic signal processing, are the best choice of technology for medical temperature monitoring in real time These sensors can also be integrated within semiconductor devices designed specifically for these medical applications. 

IST AG offers miniature surface mount sensing elements with Bondsens, the smallest SMD Pt1000 sensing element worldwide at 0.75mm x 0.75mm chip size.

Flow Sensors for Monitoring Breath Intake – respiratory rate (RR)

Respiratory rate (RR) is a clinical sign representing ventilation (air moving in and out of the lungs). A change in RR is usually the first sign of patient deterioration as the body attempts to maintain oxygen delivery to the tissues. A monitoring device will detect the early signs of patient deterioration and trigger an alarm.

High prevalence of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPDs) are some of the major factors driving the demand for respiratory monitoring devices.

IST AG`s calorimetric flow elements MFS02 & SFS01 are designed specifically to measure the flow volume of each breath intake. The MFS02 thermal flow sensor can be used in a wide flow range from 0 to 150 m/s (CTA mode) and in a temperature range from -40 °C to +80 °C. The SFS01 is particularly suitable for low flow velocities up to 3.5 m/s (in gases). This sensor displays rapid measurement results of the flow rate as well as the flow direction.

The Silicon Flow Sensor SFS01 offers very fast response time 5 ms, very low energy consumption, and easy system integration including temperature compensation.

Flow Sensors for Respiratory Care – Anaesthesia gas blender

IST AG’s FS7 flow sensor is ideally suited to measure gas flow and offers excellent long-term stability. and a fast response time. The FS7 sensor series works on the anemometric principle and consists of two platinum resistors on one chip which is immersed in a flow channel – a small resistance which is used as heater and a high resistance which is used for the measuring of the gas temperature.

The anemometric principle is based on a function of the flow speed and utilizes heat transfer principles to determine the flow velocity. The heater is set to a constant temperature difference above the ambient temperature detected by the temperature sensor.

With simple signal processing and calibration, the FS7 sensor is also available with a housing which is easily implemented into various applications.

Previous

Next

Conductivity Sensors for Continuous Critical Care Treatment

A planar 4-electrode design with biocompatible materials makes IST AG`s conductivity sensors such as the LFS1305, ideal for a wide range of applications in biomedical devices where biofilm and clogging issues are a risk. The LFS1305 conductivity sensor consists of four current electrodes and four measuring electrodes.

This basic sensor design can be adjusted to specific applications and requirements. It features a wide conductivity and temperature range, providing for fast response time, optimal accuracy, high chemical resistance, and excellent long-term stability.

Biosensors for extracorporeal monitoring – Point of care testing (POCT)

IST AG ‘s electrochemical enzymatic biosensors – sensors that combine the robustness of electrochemical techniques with the specificity of biological recognition processes, offer great advantages due to size, cost, sensitivity, selectivity, and fast response. They are ideal for all these sampling and integration strategies.

Biosensors with a microfluidic flow cell, such as a glucose & lactate LV5 sensor can be delivered with factory calibration, while strip sensors, such as IV4 can be miniaturized and packaged with a connector for simple electronic integration.

Peristaltic Micropumps for liquids and gases

The circular peristaltic micropumps warrant small flow rates for various liquids and gases in medical applications. Their small form factor and weight of 3-5 g enables their direct integration in any fluid system. Since the pumped fluid is in the pump and only in contact with a medical grade silicon tube, the CPP1 microfluidic pumps keep the biocompatibility of the fluid system. The bidirectional pumps come in various pump rate calibrations from 150 nl up to 180 μl/min. 

DNA/RNA extraction kits for pre-analytical step before PCR manual testing

IST AG offers RNA Extraction kits for the isolation of viral RNA from tracheal swabs. The extraction kits isolate viral nucleic acids from starting materials either for manual or automated extraction on the KingFisher FLEX platform.

Precise, reliable and cost-efficient: Micro heaters are tailor-made

Micro heaters are used in devices requiring a small but accurate heat source with precise temperature control, such as optical interactive assistance systems. They are a precision heat source for gas and humidity sensors, biopsy, or tissue samples for medical analysis, or used in malignant tumor treatment. 

IST AG is not your typical sensor manufacturer. Our difference:

• We develop physical, chemical and biological sensors fitted to application-specific requirements
• We offer support by product specialists – from development to after-sales
• We manufacture small and large quantities within a short development and production time
• We offer technology development and consultation out of our state-of-the-art facilities
• We develop and manufacture sensors that are compatible across the entire product range

With more than 30 years of experience Innovative Sensor Technology IST AG is one of the globally leading manufacturers of physical, chemical and biological sensors. Headquartered in Ebnat-Kappel, Switzerland, IST AG employs over 450 employees worldwide. IST AG is a subsidiary of the Endress+Hauser Group.

White Papers

Innovative Sensor Technology IST AG – Company Brochure

With more than 25 years of experience Innovative Sensor Technology IST AG is one of the leading manufacturers of physical, chemical and biological sensors. Our objective is to be the global leader in standard and customized sensor technology – empowering our customers to provide new levels of innovation and product design to deliver to their markets worldwide.