Electromagnetic Blood Flow Meter

Introduction

In many industries, accurately measuring the flow of liquids is very important. The ability to conduct accurate flow measurements requires the use of a special liquid flow measurement instrument. One such instrument is known as the electromagnetic flow meter. This flow meter became an attractive instrument in a variety of industries because of its ability to record an instantaneous volume flow of fluid.

Today, the volumetric measuring of blood flow rate in animals and humans is done without the need of puncturing the vessel wall. This is done by exposing the blood vessel of anesthetized human or animal subjects and placing the probe around an intact blood vessel. Since blood is adequately conductive for induced voltages to be measured, an alternating magnetic field is used to eliminate polarization at the electrodes, and an electric field is created.

Description

The electromagnetic flow meter developed in this project provides a replacement for the flow meters once used by the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMC). The new flow meter is constructed using UMC's original flow meter, which is no longer available, as a reference. Therefore, the new device provides the same results, if not better. The flow meter is first calibrated to measure the volumetric flow rate of water through a pipe. The device is later calibrated using a saline solution to simulate the electrical conductivity of blood. The completed electromagnetic flow meter allows UMC to continue their research applications of measuring blood flow through a dog's aorta.