Sensor for Internal Monitoring of Tissue O2 and/or pH/CO2 In Vivo
First Claim
1. An tissue-insertable, in vivo system for real-time measurement of tissue pCO2 of an animal or human patient, the system comprising:
- a fiber optic sensor chamber forming a probe having the wall-strength to withstand external tissue pressure;
a highly fluorescent, aqueous, buffered, pH-sensitive fluorophor, sealed within the fiber optic sensor chamber;
an excitation light source for activating the fluorescence of the fluorophor; and
an instrument for measuring and reporting fluorescence from the activated fluorophor in the fiber optic sensor chamber in place within the tissue of the patient, from which level(s) of pCO2 are calculated.
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Abstract
Provided is a durable tissue pH/pCO2 and/or tissue oxygen sensitive probe of sufficient strength to withstand direct tissue pressures in vivo, the probe comprising one or more sensor chambers within a biocompatible, gas-permeable membrane containing together in a single chamber, or in separate chambers, respectively, a pH sensitive fluorophor from which pCO2 level(s) are calculated when the fluorophor is excited and the resulting fluorescence is measured and/or an oxygen sensitive phosphor solution producing oxygen quenchable phosphorescence when excited. Further provided is a tissue pH/pCO2 and/or tissue oxygen detection and measurement system comprising the probe, and methods for use of the probe and the system to directly, rapidly and accurately measure tissue pH/pCO2 and/or tissue oxygen levels in a patient without reliance on blood vessels or fluid protection of the probe.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An tissue-insertable, in vivo system for real-time measurement of tissue pCO2 of an animal or human patient, the system comprising:
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a fiber optic sensor chamber forming a probe having the wall-strength to withstand external tissue pressure; a highly fluorescent, aqueous, buffered, pH-sensitive fluorophor, sealed within the fiber optic sensor chamber; an excitation light source for activating the fluorescence of the fluorophor; and an instrument for measuring and reporting fluorescence from the activated fluorophor in the fiber optic sensor chamber in place within the tissue of the patient, from which level(s) of pCO2 are calculated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 20, 21)
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- 10. A tissue-insertable probe device containing therein a fluororphor analyte within a sealed sensor chamber, wherein the fluorophor operably responds to pH levels in the surrounding tissue, thereby providing calculated pCO2 levels in the tissue.
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12. A method for making real-time, in vivo measurement of tissue pCO2 in the animal or human patient, the method comprising:
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inserting into the tissue of a patient the probe containing the sealed fiber optic sensor chamber containing the buffered, pH sensitive fluorophor into the tissue; activating the excitation light source to excite the fluorophor; measuring the fluorescence from the excited fluorophor; and calculating pCO2 from the pH measurement. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification