Compound optical probe employing single optical waveguide
First Claim
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1. A compound probe sensor for monitoring a plurality of chemical parameters, the probe comprising:
- an optical waveguide having a longitudinal axis along which light signals propagate bidirectionally;
a first optical sensor attached to a distal end of the optical waveguide, said first sensor comprising a first analyte indicator, light signals of a first wavelength being absorbed by the first analyte indicator to an extent dependent upon the amount of a first analyte present;
a second optical sensor comprising a polymer matrix material in which a second analyte indicator is provided, said polymer matrix material being disposed around the distal end of the optical waveguide and the first optical sensor, light signals of a second wavelength transmitted to the distal end of the optical waveguide exciting the second analyte indicator to emit light, a decay time of the light emission varying in response to a concentration of a second analyte present; and
a third optical sensor positioned adjacent to the distal end of the optical waveguide, said third optical sensor comprising a third analyte indicator, light signals at a third wavelength being absorbed by the third analyte indicator to an extent dependent upon the amount of a third analyte present.
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Abstract
A O2 /CO2 /pH compound gas probe comprising a single optical waveguide and a method for making the same. The optical waveguide carries light signals at different wavelengths for monitoring oxygen concentration, carbon dioxide concentration, and pH levels. The probe is designed so that light signals used to monitor carbon dioxide concentration are optically prevented from impinging on the sensor used to monitor the pH level.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A compound probe sensor for monitoring a plurality of chemical parameters, the probe comprising:
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an optical waveguide having a longitudinal axis along which light signals propagate bidirectionally; a first optical sensor attached to a distal end of the optical waveguide, said first sensor comprising a first analyte indicator, light signals of a first wavelength being absorbed by the first analyte indicator to an extent dependent upon the amount of a first analyte present; a second optical sensor comprising a polymer matrix material in which a second analyte indicator is provided, said polymer matrix material being disposed around the distal end of the optical waveguide and the first optical sensor, light signals of a second wavelength transmitted to the distal end of the optical waveguide exciting the second analyte indicator to emit light, a decay time of the light emission varying in response to a concentration of a second analyte present; and a third optical sensor positioned adjacent to the distal end of the optical waveguide, said third optical sensor comprising a third analyte indicator, light signals at a third wavelength being absorbed by the third analyte indicator to an extent dependent upon the amount of a third analyte present. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A compound probe for monitoring a plurality of chemical parameters, the probe comprising:
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an optical waveguide having a longitudinal axis along which light signals propagate bidirectionally; a first optical sensor attached to a distal end of the optical waveguide, said first sensor comprising a first analyte indicator molecule, said first indicator molecule absorbing light at a first wavelength as a function of the amount of carbon dioxide present; a second optical sensor comprising a polymer matrix material in which a second indicator molecule is provided, said polymer matrix material being disposed around the distal end of the optical waveguide and the first optical sensor, light signals of a second wavelength transmitted to the distal end of the optical waveguide exciting the second analyte indicator molecule to phosphoresce, a decay time of the phosphorescence varying in response to the amount of oxygen present; and a third optical sensor positioned adjacent to the distal end of the optical waveguide, said third optical sensor comprising a third analyte indicator molecule, said third analyte indicator molecule absorbing light at a third wavelength as a function of a pH level. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A compound probe for monitoring a plurality of chemical parameters, the probe comprising:
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an optical waveguide having a longitudinal axis along which light signals propagate bidirectionally; a first optical sensor attached to a distal end of the optical waveguide, said first optical sensor comprising a first analyte indicator, light signals of a first wavelength being absorbed by the first analyte indicator to an extent dependent upon the amount of a first analyte present; a second optical sensor positioned adjacent to the distal end of the optical waveguide, said second optical sensor comprising a second analyte indicator, light signals at a second wavelength being absorbed by the second analyte indicator to an extent dependent upon the amount of a second analyte present; and a dye that absorbs light of the first wavelength and transmits light of the second wavelength, the dye being disposed between the first optical sensor and the second optical sensor. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of making a compound probe for monitoring a plurality of chemical parameters, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) attaching a first optical sensor on at least a portion of a distal end of an optical waveguide, the optical waveguide having a longitudinal axis along which light signals propagate bidirectionally, the first optical sensor comprising a first analyte indicator, light signals of a first wavelength being absorbed by the first analyte indicator to an extent dependent upon the amount of a first analyte present; (b) applying a polymer matrix to the distal end of the optical waveguide, the polymer matrix enclosing the first optical sensor and the portion of the distal end of the optical waveguide that is not occupied by the first optical sensor, the polymer matrix including a second analyte indicator, light signals of a second wavelength transmitted to the distal end of the optical waveguide exciting the second analyte indicator to emit light, a decay time of the light emission varying in response to a concentration of a second analyte present; and (c) mounting a third optical sensor on the polymer matrix, the third optical sensor comprising a third analyte indicator, the third optical sensor being positioned on the polymer matrix such that light signals of a third wavelength transmitted to the distal end of the optical waveguide are absorbed by the third analyte indicator to an extent dependent upon the amount of a third analyte present. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. A system for monitoring a plurality of chemical parameters, the system comprising:
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an optical probe including an optical waveguide, light signals of a first wavelength being absorbed by the probe to an extent dependent upon the amount of a first analyte present, light signals of a second wavelength transmitted to the probe causing the probe to emit light, a decay time of the light emission varying in response to a concentration of a second analyte present, light signals at a third wavelength being absorbed by the probe to an extent dependent upon the amount of a third analyte present; source of light signals of the first wavelength optically coupled to the probe through a first optical pathway, the source also providing light signals of the second wavelength to the probe through the first optical pathway; means provided in the first optical pathway for detecting the amount of light of the first wavelength absorbed by the probe; means provided in the first optical pathway for discriminating between the light emission of the probe and the light of the first wavelength; means provided in the first optical pathway for detecting the light emission of the probe; source of light signals of the third wavelength optically coupled to the probe through a second optical pathway; and means provided in the second optical pathway for detecting the amount of light of the third wavelength absorbed by the probe. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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Specification