VN Series
Patient‑ventilator synchrony depends on detecting breathing effort with enough resolution and signal quality to respond before the moment passes. Most sensors rely on the host processor to achieve this through oversampling. The VN Series eliminates that burden with internal 12 kHz oversampling and integrated bandwidth filters that deliver a clean output above 1 kHz, plus 24‑bit resolution and extreme‑resolution flow sensing that covers every pressure point in the ventilator circuit.
24-bit
resolution
12 kHz
oversampling
1 ms
update rate
0.05%
accuracy
VN Series Overview
Conventional pressure sensors lose effective resolution as bandwidth increases, and the oversampling needed to recover a clean, fast signal is usually pushed onto the host processor, which adds processing overhead and trigger latency. The VN Series, with sensors for measuring inlet (wall and tank), flow, inspiratory, expiratory, and barometric pressures, solves both problems at once: 24-bit resolution across a complete ventilator sensor family, extreme‑resolution flow sensing that maintains approximately 18-bit effective resolution at full bandwidth, and internal 12 kHz oversampling that delivers a clean output exceeding 1 kHz without placing the filtering burden on the host.
24-bit resolution
Every sensor in the VN Series delivers 24-bit output resolution across the range of measurements, including inlet and barometric pressure, inspiratory and expiratory pressures, and flow. This consistent resolution baseline ensures that no point in the ventilator pneumatic circuit becomes the limiting factor in overall system accuracy. Standard-resolution models bring 24-bit precision to applications that don’t require extreme resolution, while extreme-resolution models extend that foundation for the flow measurements most directly tied to patient-ventilator synchrony.
Extreme resolution flow sensing
The VN026CM and VN131CM are among the highest‑resolution ventilator flow sensors available, delivering approximately 18‑bit effective resolution at full bandwidth. Conventional sensors lose effective resolution as bandwidth requirements increase, widening the gap precisely when speed matters most. VN extreme resolution sensors maintain their advantage during the rapid pressure transitions of patient breathing effort, capturing subtle signal changes that determine how early the ventilator can detect a trigger and how accurately it can track patient flow throughout the breath cycle.
Internal 12kHz oversampling
The VN Series oversamples internally at 12 kHz and applies integrated bandwidth filters to deliver a clean, filtered output above 1 kHz. In conventional ventilator designs, the host processor performs this oversampling and filtering, consuming computational resources and introducing latency between sensor output and control-loop response. By moving that work into the sensor, the VN Series delivers high‑precision data to the host, freeing processor resources for ventilator control algorithms and reducing the time between detection of patient effort and ventilator response.
Full ventilator pressure coverage
The VN Series is engineered to cover every pressure measurement point in a mechanical ventilator or high‑flow oxygen device using a single sensor family: inlet pressure from wall and tank sources, inspiratory and expiratory airway pressure, expiratory and blower flow, and barometric pressure for volumetric‑to‑mass flow conversion. A shared SM03 package, common I²C and SPI interfaces, and the NimbleSense integration architecture mean that one integration effort spans the entire circuit, eliminating separate design work for each measurement type.
Pure oxygen compatibility and silicon gel protection
VN Series sensors are pure‑oxygen compatible, a non‑negotiable requirement for any sensor operating in the gas path of a ventilator or high‑flow oxygen device. Inlet and barometric pressure sensors add silicon gel protection to shield the sensing element from condensation and contamination common in hospital gas supplies, supporting long‑term reliability in demanding clinical environments.
Optional 3-mode pressure switch
Ventilators need pressure alarms that trigger the instant airway pressure crosses a clinical limit, not after the host processor reads the sensor, evaluates a threshold, and cycles through a software control loop. The VN Series 3‑mode integrated pressure switch generates a direct hardware output the moment a programmed pressure limit is reached, providing a fast, reliable alarm signal that complements software monitoring and operates independently of the host processor state. Three configurable modes adapt the switch to different alarm strategies without additional external logic.
VN Series Product Offerings
Common Device Features: 3.3V supply
Long-Term Stability is measured after first 12 months
Short-Term Error Band (STEB) is measured over 24 hours, after auto-zero
Common Specifications
- 24-bit resolution each range
- Sensors for flow are available in high and extreme resolution
- Inlet and barometric sensors include silicon gel protection
- Exceptional zero stability
- Pure oxygen compatible
- Optional advanced digital filtering and 3-mode pressure switch
- Temperature-compensated from 0°C to 50°C
- Supply voltage compensation
- Fully integrated compensation math
- Standard I2C and SPI interfaces
Features Matrix
| Product | Resolution | InletPressure | InspiratoryPressure | ExpiratoryPressure | ExpiratoryFlow | Flow(Blower) | Flow(Wall & Tank) | Volumetricto Mass Flow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Standard |  | | |||||
 | Extreme | | | |||||
 | Standard | | | | ||||
 | Extreme | | | | ||||
 | Standard | | ||||||
 | Standard | | ||||||
 | Standard | |
Evaluation and Accessories
| Evaluation hardware, valves and accessories | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | Evaluation board EB02 supports all VN Series products. | ||
 | VN Series evaluation kit, EK07-VN, includes evaluation board and one unit of each VN Series sensor. | ||
 | Auto zero valve provides automatic zero calibration between readings. | ||
 | Right angle adapters for reducing total Z-height. KP-ROR includes o-rings for an airtight seal. | ||
VN Series Typical Implementation
Resources
| Data Sheet and Other Series Documentation | Version | Date | Download |
|---|---|---|---|
| VN Series Data Sheet (DS-0008) | D | March 2025 |  |
| Data Sheet Definitions (AN-0011) | A | February 2024 | |
| Pressure Sensor Handling & Assembly Instructions (AN-0010) | C | February 2026 | |
| Tubing Recommendations for Pressure Ports (AN-0014) | A | March 2026 | |
| Ventilator Diagram (MB-0006) | B | April 2023 | |
| High Flow Diagram (MB-0007) | A | April 2023 | |
| VN Series Product Brief (PB-0012) | B | April 2023 | |
| Unique Features for Medical Applications (MB-0002) | C | May 2025 | |
| Evaluation Software | Version | Date | Download |
|---|---|---|---|
| EK07-VN and EB02 Evaluation Software (PRT-0279) | G | December 2025 |  |
| EB01 Evaluation Software (PRT-0143) | E | February 2024 | |
| Drawings and CAD Files | Version | Date | Download |
|---|---|---|---|
| SM03 Package for all VN Series Sensors (IGS and STEP files) | A | March 2023 | |
| KP-ROR Package for Right Angle Adapters (STEP file) | A | February 2024 | |
Download models in over 50 formats
| Catalogs and Compliance Documentation | Version | Date | Download |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product Ordering Guide (PL-0001) | X | May 2025 | |
| NimbleSense Capabilities Brochure (MB-0001) | B | April 2023 | |
| Product Catalog (MB-0004) | F | May 2025 | |
| Certificate of RoHS Compliance (CS-0001) | A | May 2019 | |
| Statement of REACH-253 Compliance (CS-0002) | E | May 2026 | |
| Statement on Use of Conflict Minerals (CS-0003) | A | May 2019 | |
| Certificate of California Proposition 65 Compliance (CS-0006) | A | May 2019 | |
Videos
VN Series Benefits Video
Extreme Resolution Video
VN Series Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between standard and extreme resolution VN Series models, and when should I use each?
The VN Series offers two resolution tiers for flow and airway pressure measurement. Standard‑resolution models (VN025CM and VN130CM) provide 24‑bit output resolution with accuracy and stability suited to most ventilator pressure monitoring points. Extreme‑resolution models (VN026CM and VN131CM) also provide 24‑bit output but achieve approximately 18‑bit effective resolution at full bandwidth, a substantial improvement in signal‑to‑noise ratio at high measurement speeds. Extreme‑resolution models are the best choice for flow and airway pressure measurements most directly tied to patient‑ventilator synchrony: expiratory flow, blower flow, and inspiratory and expiratory pressure, where resolving subtle pressure changes at high bandwidth determines how early the ventilator detects patient effort and how accurately it tracks flow throughout the breath cycle. Standard‑resolution models are ideal for inlet and barometric pressure measurement, where pressures are higher and sub‑pascal resolution is not required.
Why does effective resolution at bandwidth matter more than nominal bit resolution in ventilator applications?
Nominal bit resolution is the analog‑to‑digital converter’s resolution under ideal, low‑noise conditions. Effective resolution is the number of those bits that remain usable after sensor noise is accounted for at a specific measurement bandwidth. As bandwidth increases, noise rises and effective resolution falls. Conventional pressure sensors lose effective resolution rapidly as bandwidth increases, so a sensor specified at 24‑bit nominal resolution may deliver far fewer usable bits at the 500 Hz bandwidth needed to capture respiratory dynamics. VN Series extreme‑resolution models maintain approximately 18‑bit effective resolution at full bandwidth, and measured comparisons show the gap between VN extreme‑resolution sensors and high‑volume competitor products widening as bandwidth demands increase. In a ventilator, this gap directly determines how well the system can resolve small pressure differentials at the speeds required for accurate trigger detection and flow monitoring.
How does 12kHz internal oversampling improve patient-ventilator synchrony compared to oversampling in the host processor?
Conventional pressure sensors with limited effective resolution often force the ventilator’s host processor to compensate with external oversampling: collecting and averaging multiple sensor readings over a time window to reduce noise and achieve the signal quality needed for reliable trigger detection. But averaging over a sample window effectively slows the update rate available to the control loop. For example, a sensor outputting at 1 kHz that requires averaging 10 samples to achieve adequate signal quality delivers one clean pressure reading every 10 ms, an effective 100 Hz update rate for the trigger algorithm and a latency window in which patient breathing effort can be under‑resolved or briefly missed. The VN Series performs oversampling internally at 12 kHz, applies integrated bandwidth filters, and then outputs already‑clean data at rates above 1 kHz. The ventilator control loop can use each 1 ms sample directly, without averaging over a window, preserving the full 1 kHz update rate for trigger detection and reducing the delay between the first sign of patient effort and the ventilator’s response.
How does the 3-mode integrated pressure switch function in a ventilator alarm system?
The 3‑mode integrated pressure switch generates a direct hardware output the instant system pressure crosses a programmed threshold, without routing detection through the host processor control loop. In a ventilator, where overpressure and underpressure conditions pose immediate patient safety risks, the hardware switch provides a fast alarm signal independent of the host processor state and software latency. Three configurable modes adapt the switch to different alarm and safety strategies. The hardware output can drive an alarm circuit directly or serve as a redundant safety layer alongside the software alarm system, without additional external threshold‑detection logic.
What is the VN-BARO barometric sensor for, and why does a ventilator require it?
Pressure sensors derive volumetric flow from the pressure differential across a flow restriction. Converting that volumetric value to mass flow, the amount of gas actually delivered to the patient’s lungs, requires knowledge of ambient barometric pressure. Ambient pressure varies with altitude and across clinical environments; without a barometric reference, tidal volume delivery will be off by an amount proportional to the difference from the calibration altitude. The VN‑BARO adds a dedicated barometric pressure sensor calibrated from 350 to 1100 mbar, providing the altitude reference needed for accurate volumetric‑to‑mass flow conversion. For ventilators used across varying altitudes, such as transport ventilators or devices deployed in both sea‑level hospitals and high‑altitude facilities, the VN‑BARO is essential for maintaining accurate tidal volume delivery.
How do I select VN Series sensors to cover all pressure measurement points in a mechanical ventilator?
The VN Series offers sensors matched to the pressure range and resolution requirements of every measurement point in the ventilator circuit. For expiratory and blower flow, VN025CM (standard) and VN026CM (extreme resolution) cover low differential pressures across flow restrictions from ±5 to ±25 cmH₂O and ±2.5 to ±25 cmH₂O, respectively. For inspiratory and expiratory airway pressure and wall or tank supply flow, VN130CM (standard) and VN131CM (extreme resolution) cover ±80 to ±130 cmH₂O and ±60 to ±130 cmH₂O, respectively. For inlet pressure from wall oxygen or compressed gas tanks, VN150A covers 80 to 150 PSIA (absolute), and VN150D covers ±80 to ±150 PSI (differential). For barometric altitude reference, VN‑BARO spans 350 to 1100 mbar. All models share the SM03 package, I²C and SPI interfaces, and the NimbleSense integration architecture, enabling a single driver framework to support the complete sensor set without separate integration for each measurement point.
Related Products
Contact us
Our experts are available to answer your questions:
Stay informed! Sign up to receive VN Series updates: