Patent ID: 6911894

Claim:
A system for detecting fluids in harsh environments, said system comprising: a flow channel block having a flow channel formed therein; a microsensor chip for sensing fluid flow, wherein said microsensor chip is located proximate to said flow channel of said flow channel block and wherein said microsensor chip comprises a thermal microsensor that includes at least one sensing element for sensing a fluid parameter based on heat transfer and thermal conductivity; a substrate in communication with said microsensor chip and at least one electrical contact bonded to it by at least one bonding element, wherein said flow channel is connected to said microsensor chip by a material that facilitates heat transfer and which is disposable upon completion of a fluid measurement; a disposable core tube for molding said flow channel, wherein said disposable flow core tube possesses walls thereof and is removably located within said flow channel block to thereby permit detection of liquid flow in harsh environments through said walls of said core tube; and wherein said walls of said disposable core tube comprise a wall thickness that removes said surface of said microsensor chip from direct contact with said fluid by a distance corresponding to said wall thickness.