Optical sensor with beads
First Claim
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1. An optical sensor comprising:
- a matrix of hydrophobic material, said matrix being permeable to at least a selected gas in a liquid and substantially impermeable to the liquid;
a plurality of particles of hydrophilic material dispersed in said matrix, at least some of said particles carrying an optical indicator in solution which is capable of responding to said selected gas; and
said matrix being capable of transmitting light at least at selected wavelengths from outside said matrix to said particle, and said matrix isolating the particles from the liquid so that the optical indicator can respond to said light and provide an optical signal related to partial pressure of said selected gas.
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Abstract
An optical sensor comprising a selectively permeable matrix of hydrophobic material and a plurality of hydrophilic beads dispersed in the matrix. At least some of the beads carry an optical indicator. The matrix is capable of transmitting light at least at selected wavelengths from outside the matrix to the beads.
127 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An optical sensor comprising:
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a matrix of hydrophobic material, said matrix being permeable to at least a selected gas in a liquid and substantially impermeable to the liquid; a plurality of particles of hydrophilic material dispersed in said matrix, at least some of said particles carrying an optical indicator in solution which is capable of responding to said selected gas; and said matrix being capable of transmitting light at least at selected wavelengths from outside said matrix to said particle, and said matrix isolating the particles from the liquid so that the optical indicator can respond to said light and provide an optical signal related to partial pressure of said selected gas. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An optical sensor comprising:
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a selectively permeable matrix of hydrophobic material, said matrix being permeable to at least a selected gas and substantially impermeable to water; a plurality of particles of hydrophilic material dispersed in said matrix, at least some of hydrophilic particles carrying an optical fluorescent indicator in solution, said indicator being capable of responding to the selected gas that permeates the matrix substantially all of said particles being completely enclosed by said matrix; and said matrix being capable of transmitting light at least at selected wavelengths whereby the fluorescent indicator can provide a fluorescent optical signal related to a characteristic of the selected gas and the optical signal can be transmitted out of the matrix. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for measuring the partial pressure of at least one gas within a liquid, said apparatus comprising:
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a membrane of hydrophobic material, said membrane being permeable to at least one gas and substantially impermeable to a liquid, said membrane being adapted to be positioned in contact with said liquid; a plurality of hydrophilic particles dispersed in said membrane, at least some of said particles carrying an optical indicator in solution which is capable of responding to said at least one gas, said matrix isolating the particles from the liquid; means for directing light toward said membrane; said membrane being capable of transmitting at least some of such light to said particles whereby the optical indicator can respond to said light and provide an optical signal related to partial pressure of said at least one gas; and means for transmitting said optical signal away from said membrane. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification