How do I calibrate a pressure transducer?

To obtain accurate data with a pressure transducer, there are a number of steps required prior to collecting data.  The appropriate voltage, pressure range, and zeroing of the transducer and amplifier must be taken into consideration before calibrating the system.
 

Amplifier and Transducer Setup
 

1. The transducer and amplifier must be zeroed before calibrating or recording signals. All transducers produce a small offset which needs to be removed before calibration. Bridge Amplifiers and transducers should be connected and turned on a few minutes before calibration.
2. If using fluid filled transducers, the dome should be filled with fluid prior to calibration and the tap open to air. You must make sure there are no air bubbles within the dome prior to calibration.
3. If using a Millar Pressure Catheter , attach the catheter to the Bridge Amplifier using the appropriate Adapter Cable. Pre-soak the tip of the catheter in sterile water or saline at body temperature for 30 minutes prior to balance (zeroing) and calibration.

Hardware and Software Setup
 

1. In LabChart, open the Bridge Amp Dialog from the Channel pop up menu and click on the Zero button. During the zeroing, which can take up to 20 seconds, make sure that the transducer is not moved.
2. Care must be taken when determining an appropriate range for your pressure transducer. If the range is too large, the resolution will be poor and small fluctuations will not be seen. Conversely, if the range is too small, the signal will go out of range and you will lose data. Most transducers (on 10 V excitation) have an output of ~ 3.5 mV/100 mmHg.
3. To select the correct range, connect the transducer to a manometer and increase the pressure range higher than which you expect to record. For example, if you know your signal will not go over 180 mmHg, increase the pressure to 200 mmHg. Read off the mV value in LabChart for that pressure and set the range to 20% above that. For example, if the mV reading for 200 mmHg is 8 mV, set the range to 10 mV.

Transducer Calibration
 

1. It is recommended that this be done before every experiment. Use a manometer to record two levels of pressure. For example if the nominal pressure to be measured is 120 mmHg, record a pressure at 60 mmHg and another at 170 mmHg.
2. For fluid filled transducers, increase the pressure using a manometer
3. For Millar Pressure Catheters, the following equipment is required (see Figure 1):

• Mercury (or equivalent) manometer
• T-piece with plastic dome (like Touhy Borst Adapter)
• Millar catheter
• Syringe
• Insert the tip of the catheter into the plastic dome (as in Figure 1). Start recording in LabChart and increase the pressure using the syringe.