Optical temperature sensors and optical-chemical sensors with optical temperature compensation

• US 6,303,386 B2
• Filed: 06/24/1998
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Wissenschaften e.V. (Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Frderung der Wissenschaften e)
• Original Assignee: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Wissenschaften e.V. (Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Frderung der Wissenschaften e)
• Inventors: Holst, Gerhard, Klimant, Ingo
• Primary Examiner(s): SNAY, JEFFREY R
• Application Number:
  US09/091,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20010001642A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 422/82.07, 422/82.08, 436/172, 436/68, 250/458.1, 250/459.1
• US Class Current: 436/172
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 11/3213 using changes in luminescence, e.g. at the distal end of the fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/772 Tip coated light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/7786 Fluorescence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6428 Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes" in vivo A61B5/00; immunoassay G01N33/53
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/7703 using reagent-clad optical fibres or optical waveguides using measurement of total internal reflection or attenuated total reflection G01N21/552; optical fibres or waveguides per se G02B

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for the temperature-compensated determination of chemical parameters, comprising:

an optical temperature sensor which contains a temperature indicator that has a temperature-dependent afterglow time and/or luminous intensity and does not react with the surrounding medium; a chemical sensor which contains an indicator that is sensitive to a chemical parameter; means for stimulating the temperature indicator and the chemical indicator to luminesce; means for measuring the luminescence of the temperature indicator and of the chemical indicator; means for establishing an optical connection between indicator, excitation device and measuring equipment; means for detecting luminous radiation.

Claims

1. A device for the temperature-compensated determination of chemical parameters, comprising:

an optical temperature sensor which contains a temperature indicator that has a temperature-dependent afterglow time and/or intensity of the luminescence and does not react with the surrounding medium, wherein said temperature indicator is present in a matrix which does not permit said temperature indicator to contact said surrounding medium;

a chemical sensor which contains a chemical indicator that is sensitive to a chemical parameter;

means for stimulating the temperature indicator and the chemical indicator to luminesce;

means for measuring the luminescence of the temperature indicator and the chemical indicator; and

means for establishing an optical connection between each of said respective indicators, said stimulation means and said measuring means;

wherein said temperature indicator is different from said chemical indicator and both the temperature indicator and the chemical indicator are arranged within a optical sensor, wherein said chemical indicator is present in a matrix which permits said chemical indicator to contact said surrounding medium.

2. The device of claim 1,

wherein

the optical temperature sensor comprises a luminescent metal complex.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the optical temperature sensor comprises a metal complex of formula I:

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said metal cation is ruthenium.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein said ligands of the metal complex are selected from nitrogenous aromatic heterocyclics.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said ligands are selected from the group consisting of bipyridyl, bipyrazyl, terpyridyl and phenanthroline ring systems.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said ligands are selected from the group consisting of bipyridyl and phenanthroline ring systems.

8. The device of claim 3, wherein said negatively charged groups are selected from the group consisting of perchlorate, organic sulfates and organic carboxylates.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the temperature indicator comprises a complex selected from a ruthenium (II)-tris-1,10-phenanthroline complex, a ruthenium (II)-tris-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline complex and a ruthenium (II)-tris-2,2′

-bipyridyl complex.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said optical temperature sensor exhibits a temperature-dependent afterglow time.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said afterglow time of the temperature indicator is temperature-dependent within the range from −

50°

C. to +50°

C.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein said afterglow time of the temperature indicator has a temperature coefficient in the range from 5 to 100 ns per °

C.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said optical temperature sensor has a temperature-dependent luminescent quantum yield.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein said means for stimulating the temperature indicator to luminesce comprises at least one electroluminescent diode.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein said means for measuring the afterglow time comprises at least one photodiode.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the connection means comprises optical fibers.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein said temperature indicator is immobilized in a solid matrix.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein said matrix is an optically transparent polymer film.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the temperature indicator is enclosed in a vessel.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the vessel is a microcapillary vessel.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein said chemical sensor comprises an optrode with an optical-chemical indicator.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein said temperature indicator and said chemical indicator are immobilized in different solid matrices.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein said temperature indicator and said chemical indicator are immobilized in the same solid matrix.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein said temperature indicator is in a form which is inert towards the measuring medium and is dispersed within said matrix containing said chemical indicator.

25. A method for the temperature-compensated determination of chemical parameters, comprising contacting the device of claim 1 with the medium to be measured, and measuring the luminescence of the temperature indicator and chemical indicator.

26. The method of claim 25,

wherein

a gas, the pH or dissolved ionic compounds are determined.

27. The method of claim 26,

wherein

O₂ is determined.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein said chemical indicator comprises an optrode.

29. The of claim 25, wherein the method is conducted in the presence of electromagnetic fields.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein an areal analysis is conducted.