Configuration fiber-optic blood gas sensor bundle and method of making
First Claim
1. A multi-analyte sensor comprising:
- (a) a first, a second, and a third optical fiber, each optical fiber having a longitudinal axis and a distal end, the longitudinal axis corresponding to the direction that a light signal propagates through said optical fibers, all of said optical fibers being arranged in a sheath such that their longitudinal axes are substantially parallel, said sheath terminating short of the distal ends of the optical fibers, leaving an exposed portion of each optical fiber extending beyond the sheath, only two of the optical fibers being bonded together up to and around their distal ends, the distal ends of the optical fibers forming a mutually supporting array;
(b) a first indicator matrix containing a first indicator molecule, disposed adjacent to said first optical fiber, said first indicator molecule exhibiting a first signal in response to light at a first wavelength to an extent that depends upon a first analyte concentration around the sensor;
(c) a second indicator matrix containing a second indicator molecule, disposed adjacent to said second optical fiber, said second indicator molecule exhibiting a second signal in response to light at a second wavelength to an extent that depends upon a second analyte concentration around the sensor; and
(d) a third indicator matrix containing a third indicator molecule, disposed adjacent said third optical fiber, said third indicator molecule exhibiting a third signal in response to light of a third wavelength to an extent that depends upon a third analyte concentration around the sensor, wherein said mutually supporting array minimizes breakage of any of the optical fibers and indicator matrices due to handling.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A bundle of fiber-optic sensors that resist breakage, for use in measuring pH, CO2, and O2 concentration, and a method of making the same. Three otpical fibers are enclosed in a common polyimide sheath and extend parallel to one another toward a distal end of the sensor, where they are bonded together in a mutually supportive array. At the distal end of one of these optical fibers is disposed a pellet comprising a CO2 analyte indicator molecule codissolved within a polymer matrix. A thin reflective surface of gold foil is provided on the pellet such that incident light transmitted through the optical fiber and polymer matrix is reflected back into the optical fiber. The CO2 polymer matrix absorbs light of a given wavelength to an extent dependent upon the level of CO2 present. Similarly, on the distal end of a second optical fiber is disposed a pH pellet comprising a pH analyte indicator matrix with a thin reflective gold foil attached for reflecting light that has passed through the pH analyte indicator matrix back into the optical fiber. The pH analyte indicator matrix absorbs light of a given wavelenth to an extent dependent upon the hydrogen ion concentration (pH level) of a surrounding fluid. The third optical fiber is used for measuring oxygen concentration. An O2 indicator matrix covers the distal ends of at least two of the three optical fibers; however, at least a portion of the pH optical fiber and the pH pellet are free of the O2 indicator matrix, which is hydrophobic. The oxygen indicator matrix phosphoresces for an interval of time that decreases in proportion to the surrounding oxygen gas concentration. The phosphorescent and reflected light signals are transmitted to light detectors through the optical fibers for comparison to reference signals, so that the analyte concentrations can be determined.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A multi-analyte sensor comprising:
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(a) a first, a second, and a third optical fiber, each optical fiber having a longitudinal axis and a distal end, the longitudinal axis corresponding to the direction that a light signal propagates through said optical fibers, all of said optical fibers being arranged in a sheath such that their longitudinal axes are substantially parallel, said sheath terminating short of the distal ends of the optical fibers, leaving an exposed portion of each optical fiber extending beyond the sheath, only two of the optical fibers being bonded together up to and around their distal ends, the distal ends of the optical fibers forming a mutually supporting array; (b) a first indicator matrix containing a first indicator molecule, disposed adjacent to said first optical fiber, said first indicator molecule exhibiting a first signal in response to light at a first wavelength to an extent that depends upon a first analyte concentration around the sensor; (c) a second indicator matrix containing a second indicator molecule, disposed adjacent to said second optical fiber, said second indicator molecule exhibiting a second signal in response to light at a second wavelength to an extent that depends upon a second analyte concentration around the sensor; and (d) a third indicator matrix containing a third indicator molecule, disposed adjacent said third optical fiber, said third indicator molecule exhibiting a third signal in response to light of a third wavelength to an extent that depends upon a third analyte concentration around the sensor, wherein said mutually supporting array minimizes breakage of any of the optical fibers and indicator matrices due to handling. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A medical sensor for a plurality of analytes comprising:
- a plurality of optical fibers having distal ends extending longitudinally in parallel alignment, said optical fibers being enclosed in a common protective sheath over at least part of their length, but exposed at their distal ends, only two of said optical fibers being configured and bonded together by a matrix material that encompasses their distal ends;
a plurality of different analyte indicator materials, each analyte indicator material sensitive to the concentration of one of the plurality of analytes, each analyte indicator material being disposed generally at the distal ends of the optical fibers so as to vary a light signal propagated through the optical fibers as a function of the concentration of a different one of the analytes, at least one of the analyte indicators comprising the matrix material used to bond the two optical fibers together;
wherein the optical fibers form a mutually supportive array that resists breakage of any one of the optical fibers comprising the array.
- a plurality of optical fibers having distal ends extending longitudinally in parallel alignment, said optical fibers being enclosed in a common protective sheath over at least part of their length, but exposed at their distal ends, only two of said optical fibers being configured and bonded together by a matrix material that encompasses their distal ends;
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15. A method for manufacturing a blood gas sensor comprising the steps of:
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(a) aligning a first, a second, and a third optical fiber within a sheath such that the longitudinal axes of all said optical fibers are substantially parallel, all of the optical fibers having distal ends that extend beyond where the sheath terminates so that the distal ends are exposed; (b) applying a first indicator matrix containing a first indicator molecule adjacent to the distal end of said first optical fiber, said first indicator molecule exhibiting a first signal in response to light at a first wavelength to an extent dependent upon a first analyte concentration around the sensor; (c) applying a second indicator matrix containing a second indicator molecule adjacent to the distal end of said second optical fiber, said second indicator molecule exhibiting a second signal in response to light at a second wavelength to an extent dependent upon a second analyte concentration around the sensor; and (d) applying a third indicator matrix material containing a third indicator molecule up to and around said distal ends of only two of said optical fibers thereby bonding the exposed portion of the two optical fibers together, said third indicator molecule exhibiting a third signal in response to light of a third wavelength to an extent which depends upon a third analyte concentration around the sensor, the two optical fibers bonded together providing a mutually supportive array, so that all of said optical fibers mutually reinforce each other and are resistant to breakage. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification