What a Sensor Sees in Medical Applications

Making Ideal Conditions

TE has worked with medical device designers to create a sensor that monitors the ideal temperature and humidity levels within a newborn’s incubator. Precisely maintaining this critical environment is just one of the many ways we’re advancing medical and healthcare technology.

Did You Know?

Over the years, the pediatrics medical industry has discovered that carefully controlling the local environment of a newborn improves medical outcomes and mortality rates. There are several environmental parameters that are monitored and/or controlled in an incubator – temperature, humidity, oxygen concentration, CO2 concentration, and infant weight. Temperature and humidity are the most important because if they fall outside the “comfort range,” it results in stress on the infant. The HTU21D humidity and temperature sensor provides an accurate reading of both parameters in a very small unobtrusive package. The data from our sensors is used to control the cabinet temperature (much like the thermostat in your home) and the humidity (much like a humidifier in your home). Our sensor uses a digital interface which makes it easy to connect to the incubator control electronics.

Learn More: The HTU21D Digital Humidity Sensor

The HTU21D is a new digital humidity sensor with temperature output. Setting new standards in terms of size and intelligence, it is embedded in a reflow solderable Dual Flat No leads (DFN) package with a small 3 x 3 x 0.9 mm footprint. This sensor provides calibrated, linearized signals in digital, I²C format. HTU21D digital humidity sensors are dedicated humidity and temperature plug and play transducers for OEM applications where reliable and accurate measurements are needed.

Medical Sensor Applications

Electronic systems in medical equipment, devices and probes rely on sensor signals as a basis for control activities, accurate diagnosis and treatment. TE Connectivity designs and manufactures sensors to exacting specifications for the rigors of medical applications, with ISO 13485 certification and FDA registration for various products. Our engineers provide full support of application-specific, standard and custom requirements, from product concept through manufacturing.