A smart medical sensor is a device that detects a physiological variable and employs built-in computing capabilities to perform predefined function upon detection of this specific variable and then processes the data before passing it on to the next component in the measurement system.
Smart sensors have tight coupling between sensing and computing elements hence their characteristics include: some level of decision making, temperature compensation, amplification, calibration, self-diagnostic, testing capability and the ability to communicate interactively with the external digital circuitry.
The 3 Important roles played by smart sensors in biomedical instrumentation are:
- Signal conditioning
- Monitoring/Diagnosis
- Tightening feedback loops
Signal Conditioning
Smart sensors play an important role in signal conditioning. As a signal conditioner, smart sensors convert one type of electronic signal to another type of signal. Functions such as signal processing (i.e. amplification, filtering, linearization, etc.) and temperature compensation done.
Monitoring/Diagnosis
Smart sensors that employ pattern recognition and statistical techniques can provide data reduction, change detection and a compilation of information for monitoring and diagnostic purposes for medical uses.
Tightening feedback loops
Communication delays can cause problem for systems that rely on feedback or those that must react or adapt to their environment. By reducing the distance between the sensor and processor, smart medical sensors bring about significant advantages to those types of applications.
Related: The application of Microprocessors in Medical Instrumentation
Bottom line
By and large, smart sensors divert much of the signal processing capacity away from the general purpose computers. They offer a reduction in overall package size and improved reliability.
