Fluorescent detector systems for the detection of chemical perturbations in sterile storage devices

• US 9,217,170 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2013
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blood Cell Storage, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Blood Cell Storage, Inc.
• Inventors: Reed, Michael W., Geelhood, Steven J., Harris, Paul C., Barker, Lynn M., Hargrave, Perry, Nanassy, Oliver Z.
• Primary Examiner(s): BASS, DIRK R
• Application Number:
  US13/948,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20140186849A1
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/04 Determining presence or kind of microorganism; Use of selective media for testing antibiotics or bacteriocides; Compositions containing a chemical indicator therefor C12Q1/6897 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/22 Testing for sterility conditions
• CPC Class Codes: C12Q 1/54 involving glucose or galactose
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6421 Measuring at two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6434 Optrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/6484 Optical fibres
• 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 21/77 by observing the effect on a chemical indicator
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/80 Indicating pH value
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/062 LED's
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/068 Optics, miscellaneous
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/0826 Fibre array at source, distributing
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/084 Fibres for remote transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2400/00 Assays, e.g. immunoassays or enzyme assays, involving carbohydrates
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/492 Determining multiple analytes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/542 with steric inhibition or signal modification, e.g. fluorescent quenching
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/582 with fluorescent label
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/66 involving blood sugars, e.g. galactose
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/84 involving inorganic compounds or pH

Abstract

System and method for detecting and measuring chemical perturbations in a sample. The system and method are useful for non-invasive pH monitoring of blood or blood products sealed in storage bags.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a parameter of one or more samples positioned in an incubator, comprising:

(a) irradiating a fluorescent seminaphthofluorescein species having a first emission intensity at a first emission wavelength and a second emission intensity at a second emission wavelength, each emission intensity dependent on a parameter, with excitation light emanating from a probe physically isolated from the fluorescent species to provide first and second emission intensities, wherein the fluorescent species is in liquid communication with a sample contained in a vessel in an incubator;

(b) measuring the first and second emission intensities to determine a first parameter reading of the sample; and

(c) repeating step (a) after a pre-determined time and measuring the first and second emission intensities to determine a second parameter reading of the sample.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) is repeated to provide multiple parameter readings to monitor the parameter of the sample over time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter is pH.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter is CO₂.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter is oxygen.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter is glucose.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising measuring the first and second emission intensities of each sample positioned in the incubator to determine a first parameter reading for each of the samples.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein step (c) is repeated to provide multiple parameter readings to monitor the parameter of each of the samples over time.

9. A incubator, comprising:

(a) plurality of sample-containing vessels positioned within an incubator, each vessel comprising;

(i) a fluorescent species in liquid communication with the sample, wherein the fluorescent species has an emission that is dependent on a parameter to be measured;

(ii) a housing for receiving a probe, wherein the housing is adapted for receiving the probe at a first end and terminating with a window at the second end, the window being transparent to excitation and emission light, and wherein the window physically isolates the probe from the fluorescent species; and

(b) a system for monitoring a parameter of one or more of the plurality of samples-containing vessels positioned in the incubator, the system comprising;

(i) a light source for exciting the fluorescent species;

(ii) an emission detector for measuring emission from the fluorescent species;

(iii) an excitation lightguide for transmitting excitation light from the light source to the fluorescent species, wherein the lightguide comprises a first terminus proximate to the light source and a second terminus distal to the light source;

(iv) an emission lightguide for transmitting emission from the fluorescent species to the emission detector, wherein the lightguide comprises a first terminus proximate to the detector and a second terminus distal to the detector; and

(v) a probe comprising the distal termini of the excitation lightguide and the emission light guide.

10. The incubator of claim 9, wherein the system comprises a single probe.

11. The incubator of claim 9, wherein the system comprises a separate probe for each vessel.

12. The incubator of claim 9, wherein the parameter is pH.

13. The incubator of claim 9, wherein the parameter is CO₂.

14. The incubator of claim 9, wherein the parameter is oxygen.

15. The incubator of claim 9, wherein the parameter is glucose.

16. The incubator of claim 9, wherein the fluorescent species has a first emission intensity at a first emission wavelength and a second emission intensity at a second emission wavelength.