RT Book, Section A1 Lee, Howard A1 Monahan, Christopher A2 Freeman, Brian S. A2 Berger, Jeffrey S. SR Print(0) ID 1102566353 T1 Pressure Transducers T2 Anesthesiology Core Review: Part One Basic Exam YR 2014 FD 2014 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9780071821377 LK accessanesthesiology.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1102566353 RD 2024/10/08 AB A transducer is any device that converts energy from one form to another. A pressure transducer converts a pressure waveform (kinetic and potential energy) into an electrical signal (electrical energy). Invasive arterial blood pressure monitors measure the constant variation of blood pressure through an arterial catheter connected to fluid-filled tubing, which in turn is connected to a pressure transducer. The arterial pulse pressure is transmitted through a pressurized column of saline into a flexible diaphragm causing the shape of the diaphragm to change. The displacement of the diaphragm is measured by a strain gauge. Strain gauges work based on the principle that the electrical resistance of a wire increases as it extends. When several strain gauges are incorporated into a Wheatstone bridge circuit, the movement of the diaphragm stretches or compresses several wires and alters the resistance of the unit. This process results in the generation of a current and electrical signal. The pressure transducer then sends this electrical signal via a cable to a processor where it is filtered and displayed as a waveform.