Disposable Flow Meter
Sometimes a flow meter is required to be interchangeable or disposable because of cross-contamination issues. Typically they are used in medical or food processing applications. A disposable flow meter is usually a portable low-cost flow meter that can be disposed of after use. A disposable flow meter will also usually be an insertion type, so being disposable prevents possible cross-contamination between uses. This article will explain the medical and food processing uses of a disposable flow meter.
There are uses for flow meters that may require a flow meter to be disposed of after use. These uses are usually found in medical or food processing applications, though other applications do exist. The reason why a flow meter would have to be disposed of is because of cross-contamination. A doctor, for example, would not want to give a patient he is treating a different disease from another patient. A disposable flow meter can, and usually will, be used instead of a non-disposable flow meter because it can be thrown away to prevent cross-contamination.
Usually a disposable flow meter will be low in cost because a person would have to buy multiples to keep using them. They are also portable to allow for quick and easy usage. Sometimes in medical uses the flow meter itself is not disposable, but the mouthpiece is. If this is the case, then washing out the flow meter itself may be needed in case of contamination.
Disposable flow meters in medical uses are typically used to measure the breathing rate of a person. These measure the peak rate of air flow from the lungs to help detect a possible illness. Other medical uses of disposable flow meters are the measurement of the flow rate of blood or other body fluids.
In food processing, flow meters are used to measure and track the production of water in the food product. These would also be disposable to prevent chemicals from one type of food to contaminate another.
A disposable flow meter is typically used when a normal flow meter will cause contamination problems. Medical applications include measuring the air flow rate through the lungs, and measuring the flow rate of blood or other body fluids. Food processing applications use disposable flow meters to track the production of water in food products. Disposable flow meters are usually used once then thrown away, so they are typically low-cost so people can buy multiples easily. Disposable flow meters are the way to go if you need a flow meter for a quick check and do not wan to cause accidental contamination for medical or food safety reasons.