pH-sensitive optrode
First Claim
1. An apparatus for monitoring the pH of an associated fluid, the apparatus comprising:
- a light source for generating an illumination beam;
a support material having a surface, the surface being capable of contacting the associated fluid;
a first plurality of rhodamine or fluorescein dye molecules covalently attached to the surface of the support material, the attached rhodamine or fluorescein dye molecules of the first plurality being spaced on the surface of the support material so that dimers are not formed between the attached rhodamine or fluorescein dye molecules of the first plurality and adjacent attached rhodamine or fluorescein dye molecules, and the first plurality comprising a sufficient number of attached rhodamine or fluorescein dye molecules so that a fluorescent signal is generated whenever the attached rhodamine or fluorescein dye molecules of the first plurality are illuminated by the illumination beam; and
detection means for detecting the fluorescent signal and for relating the intensity thereof to the pH of the associated fluid.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus is provided for remotely monitoring pH. A support material is provided on which organic dye molecules are covalently attached at a surface density falling within a predetermined range. The pH dependent fluorescence response of the bound organic dye molecules depends critically on surface density of the organic dye molecules bound to the support material and the nature of the covalent linkage betwen the organic dye molecules and the support material. The invention is operated by contacting the support material on which the organic dye is attached with the fluid whose pH is to be determined. When in contact, the organic dye on the support material is illuminated so that it is caused to fluoresce. The intensity of organic dye fluorescence is then related to pH.
111 Citations
44 Claims
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1. An apparatus for monitoring the pH of an associated fluid, the apparatus comprising:
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a light source for generating an illumination beam; a support material having a surface, the surface being capable of contacting the associated fluid; a first plurality of rhodamine or fluorescein dye molecules covalently attached to the surface of the support material, the attached rhodamine or fluorescein dye molecules of the first plurality being spaced on the surface of the support material so that dimers are not formed between the attached rhodamine or fluorescein dye molecules of the first plurality and adjacent attached rhodamine or fluorescein dye molecules, and the first plurality comprising a sufficient number of attached rhodamine or fluorescein dye molecules so that a fluorescent signal is generated whenever the attached rhodamine or fluorescein dye molecules of the first plurality are illuminated by the illumination beam; and detection means for detecting the fluorescent signal and for relating the intensity thereof to the pH of the associated fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus for monitoring the pH of an associated fluid, the apparatus comprising:
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a light source for generating an illumination beam; a support material having a surface, the surface being capable of contacting the associated fluid; a second plurality of rhodamine or fluorescein dye molecules spaced uniformly and substantially randomly on the surface of the support material at an effective density for generating a fluorescent signal, each rhodamine or fluorescein dye molecule being covalently attached to the surface of the support material by a coupling agent, the coupling agent having a mean length, and a portion of the rhodamine or fluorescein dye molecules of the second plurality being caused to fluoresce by the illumination beam so that the fluorescent signal is generated; and detection means for detecting the fluorescent signal and for relating the intensity thereof to the pH of the associated fluid. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification