Optical sensor for fluid parameters
First Claim
1. A method for making an optical fiber sensor probe having a plurality of optical fibers, the method comprisingaggregating together a plurality of optical fibers, certain of the optical fibers having a bend therein, the fiber bends disposed in a first section of the optical fiber probe near or at a first end of the optical fiber probe, the optical fiber probe having a second section adjacent the first section and a third section adjacent the second section,encapsulating the second section of the optical fiber probe in plotting material and curing the potting material, loose ends of the optical fibers extending from the second section and into the third section,emplacing a first tube over a portion of the third section of the optical fiber probe, andemplacing a second tube over the first section of the optical fiber probe.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods for making optical fiber sensor probes for measuring or monitoring parameters of fluids, including but not limited to measuring blood gas concentrations and pH either in a vessel in vitro or in a human artery. Such probes, in one aspect, have one or more optical fibers with one or more chambers with a chemical indicating materialtherein which changes in response to light transmitted therethrough. In one aspect such probes have a probe body including a plurality of fibers having a substantial portion of their surfaces covered with an opaque material to enhance light signal transmission therethrough. Such probes may also have a coating thereon of an anti-thrombogenic mnaterial.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for making an optical fiber sensor probe having a plurality of optical fibers, the method comprising
aggregating together a plurality of optical fibers, certain of the optical fibers having a bend therein, the fiber bends disposed in a first section of the optical fiber probe near or at a first end of the optical fiber probe, the optical fiber probe having a second section adjacent the first section and a third section adjacent the second section, encapsulating the second section of the optical fiber probe in plotting material and curing the potting material, loose ends of the optical fibers extending from the second section and into the third section, emplacing a first tube over a portion of the third section of the optical fiber probe, and emplacing a second tube over the first section of the optical fiber probe.
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19. A method for making an optical fiber sensor probe having a plurality of optical fibers, the method comprising
combining three optical fibers, each having a bend therein, the bends disposed in a first section of the probe near a first end thereof, the probe having a second section adjacent the first section, a third section adjacent the second section, the second section disposed between the first and third sections, disposing a thermocouple with the three optical fibers, the thermocouple having thermocouple leads extending from the probe, encapsulating the second section in potting material and curing it with loose ends of the optical fibers extending from the second section and into the third section, emplacing an opaque flexible polyimide first tube over a portion of the third section and filling the first tube with adhesive to bond it to the third section and to strengthen the third section, encapsulating optical fiber portions in the first section and the fiber bends with potting material and curing it, applying a first opaque coating to the optical fiber portions in the first section, including to the fiber bends, emplacing a second opaque flexible polyimide tube over the first section and bonding it to the first section, forming a gap in each optical fiber in the second section, the gaps spaced apart from each other, installing an analyte indicator complex in each gap, including installing a pO2 indicator complex in one gap, a pCO2 indicator complex in another gap, and a pH indicator complex in another gap.
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21. An optical fiber probe for sensing blood parameters, the probe comprising
a plurality of three optical fibers, each optical fiber having a fiber bend therein and a gap therein, each gap containing an analyte indicator complex, one gap containing a pO2 indicator complex, another gap containing a pCO2 indicator complex, and another gap containing a pH indicator complex, the fiber bends and the indicator complexes encapsulated in cured potting material forming a probe body, the probe body covered with a permeable opaque first coating, each of the fiber bends covered with a permeable opaque second coating, a first opaque tube flexible polyimide bonded to the probe body and covering the fiber bends, a second opaque flexible polyimide tube covering loose ends of the optical fibers extending from the probe body, a thermocouple disposed in the probe body with thermocouple leads attached to the thermocouple and extending from the probe body, and an anti-thrombogenic coating over the probe body.
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22. An optical fiber probe for sensing blood parameters, the probe comprising
a plurality of three optical fibers, each optical fiber having a fiber bend therein and a gap herein, each gap containing an analyte indicator complex, one gap containing a pO2 indicator complex, another gap containing a pCO2 indicator complex, and another gap containing a pH indicator complex, the fiber bends and the indicator complexes encapsulated in cured potting material forming a probe body, the probe body covered with a permeable opaque first coating, each of the fiber bends covered with a permeable opaque second coating, a first opaque flexible polyimide tube bonded to the probe body and covering the fiber bends, a second opaque flexible polyimide tube covering loose ends of the optical fibers extending from the probe body, a thermocouple disposed in the probe body with thermocouple leads attached to the thermocouple and extending from the probe body, and an anti-thrombogenic coating over the probe body.
Specification