Flexpoint Sensor Systems, a thin film sensing technology provider for industrial controls, medical, consumer and industrial applications, has announced that it is working in tandem with other companies to develop new applications for Flexpoint’s Bend Sensor technology. The applications include a monitoring device and two medical devices that are in testing and prototype development stage.
Official statements disclosed that the company is developing disposable directional positioning sensors specifically for colonoscopes. An article published in the magazine MedScape Today revealed that annually, the demand for colonoscopy in the United States ranges between 2.21 and 7.96 million. The challenge of the procedure is developing a cost-effective process to determine the position of the colonoscopes. Flexpoint is integrating monitoring equipment with a sensor array to locate the exact position of the colonoscopes.
A specialty sensor has also been developed by Flexpoint for another medical device, the annual production volumes of which have been quoted to lie between 500,000 to 1 million units. The company has revealed that the initial testing on the undisclosed device has yielded positive results and that further testing will be carried out throughout the year.
Flexpoint is also developing a motion and movement detection system for use by the US military.
The company’s Bend Sensor products feature a coated substrate capable of bending when subjected to changing electrical conductivity. It connects to electronic systems to measure its movement or its degree of bending. The single layer of the Bend Sensor eliminates concerns caused by pressure, dirt, dust, heat and liquids. Air flow, vibration, water flow and mechanical movement can be accurately measured using the flexible Bend Sensor products.