A Continuous, Impedimetric Parylene Flow Sensor

A continuously recording, impedimetric thermal liquid flow sensor fabricated on a Parylene C thin film substrate is presented for the first time. The sensing concept, inspired by hot-film anemometry, includes an additional upstream unheated reference electrode pair which enabled attenuation of environmental drift in impedance by more than 5x. This sensor design and transduction approach was motivated by the need for an alternative to traditional hot-film anemometers for in vivo applications. An analytical model was developed to describe the axial fluid temperature surrounding the impedimetric sensor and its effect on solution conductivity. The impact of heater power was modeled and matched with experimental data; similar analysis was conducted for other parameters including channel height, ambient temperature, and electrolyte concentration. The sensor achieved a 2 sigma resolution of 17 mu L/min over the range 43-200 mu L/min. The models and fabricated device significantly expand our understanding of thermal impedimetric flow sensing. [2020-0357]

Automated summary

A continuously recording, impedimetric thermal liquid flow sensor was fabricated on a Parylene C thin film substrate for the first time, with an additional upstream unheated reference electrode pair to reduce environmental drift in impedance. An analytical model was developed to describe the axial fluid temperature surrounding the sensor and its effect on solution conductivity, achieving a high resolution within a certain range.