Method and apparatus for pressure transducer calibration and simulation

摘要

A method and apparatus for verifying the calibration of a pressure transducer in a pressure monitoring system and for isolating defective electrical components of the monitoring system. The apparatus includes a manually operable pressure cylinder for generating a known test pressure, a pressure calibration circuit coupled to the known test pressure for displaying on the device a calibrated output indicating the level of the known pressure, and a bypass pressure transducer also coupled to the known test pressure for transforming it into an electrical output signal to replace the transducer in the monitoring system as the source of electronically derived readable output in the monitoring system. The substitute pressure transducer includes a temperature compensation circuit and a semiconductor pressure diaphragm with a piezoresistive strain gauge formed thereon. One side of the diaphragm is coupled to the known test pressure and the other side thereof is referenced to atmosphere. The method and device disclosed have particular application in the medical arts to verify the calibration of and test the pressure transducer and cooperating electronic equipment in a direct patient blood pressure monitoring system.