A Wheatstone bridge is an electrical circuit
used to measure an unknown electrical resistance by balancing two
legs of a bridge circuit, one leg of which includes the unknown
component. Its operation is similar to the original
potentiometer.
The practical applications for the Wheatstone Bridge
circuit is used for many biomedical applications to include but not
limited to:
- MRI/CT - table positioning, accurate movement of the CT scan
imaging device and equal patient weight distribution. High accuracy
is needed to perform imaging functions while preventing over-travel
of the patient placed within the scanning tube.A multi axis strain
gauged sub-assembly is very effective in ensuring smooth reliable
movement and table positioning while adjusting for weight
distrbution.
- Infusion pumps/Syringe pumps - monitors and controls the amount
of fluid flow of intravenous medication that was to be received via
the tubing.
- Mammography - monitors the amount of physical force that is
applied to the patients breast by the machine itself when
attempting to take an image.
- Conventional radiography - monitors the amount of x-ray dose
received to the AEC cells and the patient.
- Scales, weighing/Patient lifts - with the incorporation of a
load cell into the bottom metal plates these scales routinely
require re-zeroing which uses the above circuit.
- Remote robotic surgeries - used so physicians can precisely
measure both depth of force and drill bit rotational force during
remote hip surgeries etc.
- Strain guage in OEM Medical Devices and Equipment
Strain gauge technology:Very small and precise
mechanical strain is measured using the Strain guage.Hence the
strain guage must be included in a measurement system where
accurate determination of a change in resistance us possible.It can
be achieved by the Wheatstone bridge .
The Wheatstone bridge illustrates the concept of a difference
measurement, which can be extremely accurate. Variations on the
Wheatstone bridge can be used to measure capacitance, inductance,
electrical impedance and other quantities, such as the amount of
combustible gases in a sample, with an explosimeter.