FUTEK products are widely used in Medical Instrumentation devices and equipment to further automate and minimize human error and provide extended features for smarter interface. Some common applications are automated drug delivery or kidney dialysis system. FUTEK Model, LSB200 & LSM250 & LSM300, FBB350, FFP350 are some of the active models used in these applications.

Originally, a hanging bag that held fluid, medication, or other nutrients were infused to a patient using various clamping methods to regulate the flow. This process required continual monitoring to ensure that the solution was being delivered properly, that the bag was properly filled at all times, and that no back bleeding was occurring. Integrating a load cell and monitoring system to the basic infusion-delivery method removed guesswork from the process. The load cell measured the exact weight of the bag and immediately sent a warning to a connected device if the weight of the infusion varied from its prescribed path. Normally a small bending-beam load cell sensor with a 100-g to 1-lb capacity was placed in a cartridge under the flexible tube used to deliver the infusion. The sensor detected the changes in the tube weight during the flow and communicated with the electronic controller.

Another bag hanging application, the kidney dialysis system, depends on one or several load cells to ensure that the filtration system has perfect balance and timing. The dialysis system must remove contaminated blood, clean it, and recirculate the clean, reoxygenated blood. Any malfunction can be disastrous. Load cells used for this type of system are typically in-line, small, and work by monitoring flow changes. It senses the weight of a hanging bag to ensure the dialysis procedure is performed safely every time.

This process is noninvasive, since body fluid is not in contact with any part of the sensor. A compact load cell known as the S-beam Jr. FUTEK model LSB200 or side mount type FUTEK Model LSM300 both with effective overload protection are typically used during the dialysis process. This load cell is attached to the end of a hanging bag which is connected to the dialysis machine via two flexible tubes. One tube is used for the flow inlet and the other is for discharge. Some systems use several bags and require multiple load cells. Each load cell is connected to a programmable logic controller or computer to monitor the flow by weight. Using the load cell information, the system automatically processes and controls the dialysis procedure while collecting data for further analysis when needed.

The integration of load cells into previously mechanical methods has made feedback to other devices possible. This introduction to automation has helped reduce human error in many medical applications. Permanently recording the data by the load cells has also greatly improved the tracking of medical processes for further analysis.

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