The present disclosure provides for a sensor system for determining a flow rate of a fluid flow within a fluid channel comprising an elastic segment arranged next to a rigid segment, wherein a first pair of electrodes is provided at the rigid segment and a second pair of electrodes is provided at the elastic segment of the fluid channel. The system further comprises a sensor unit for detecting a capacitance of the first and second electrode pairs, and a processing unit for calculating and monitoring a distance between the electrodes of the second electrode pair based on the detected capacitance of the first electrode pair and the second electrode pair, wherein the first electrode pair is in contact with the rigid segment and the second electrode pair is in contact with the elastic segment. Moreover, a respective method for determining a flow rate of a fluid flow within a fluid channel is provided by the present disclosure, as well as a use of the sensor system.