Optical indicator device for the remote measurement of physical changes in a test subject

• US 4,606,351 A
• Filed: 04/14/1980
• Issued: 08/19/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1979
• 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: Lubbers, Dietrich W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Kyle L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hanley, John C.
• Application Number:
  US06/142,141
• Time in Patent Office: 2,318 Days
• Field of Search: 128/633, 128/636, 128/665, 128/736, 23/901, 23/203 LC, 250/458, 250/459, 250/461 R, 250/461 B, 250/458.1, 435/14, 422/79, 73/356, 374/162
• US Class Current: 600/316
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/076 Permanent implantations telemetry using implanted circuitry A61B5/0031; implanted stimulators for therapy A61N1/3605, A61N1/362, A61N1/372
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1459 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 11/165 of organic liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 31/22 using chemical indicators G01N31/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/66 involving blood sugars, e.g. galactose

Abstract

An optical indicator device for the remote indication and measurement of physical changes in a living body includes at least one source of light disposed remote from the test subject and at least one indicator disposed in direct contact with the test subject. This indicator includes a fluid-tight, light-permeable membrane which encloses an inner space. A liquid crystal compound is disposed in the inner space. This compound is of the opto-electrical type adapted to respond to light waves from said source of light and furthermore responsive to physical changes in the space surrounding said indicator. Detector means are provided for indicating and measuring the response of said liquid crystal compound to said light rays and physical changes. Preferably, the indicator device is combined with a similar device containing a different liquid crystal for measuring the glucose concentration. Thus, the device permits to measure the temperature in the test area of the test subject and simultaneously to measure the glucose concentrations prevailing therein.

Claims

1. An optical indicator device for the remote indication and measurement of physical changes in a test subject, the said device comprising at least one source of light which is a monochromator remote from the test subject, the said indicator including a fluid-tight, light-permeable membrane enclosing an inner space,

a liquid crystal compound disposed in said inner space of the indicator, the said compound being adapted to be excited by light vaves from said source of light, so as to become fluorescent, and wherein said liquid crystal compound is further adapted to undergo variations in the intensity of such fluorescence in response to variations in temperature,

detector means for indicating and measuring the variations in the intensity of the fluorescence in and the response of said compound to said light waves, and two additional indicators, disposed in direct contact with said test subject, a first additional indicator having an oxygen permeable membrane enclosing said inner space and having a prene butyric acid compound in said inner space, the said compound being adapted to become fluorescent in response to the light waves from one of said sources of light and being adapted to undergo changes in the intensity of such fluorescence in response to amount of oxygen, and a second of said additional indicators likewise being provided with an oxygen permeable and glucose permeable membrane and having in its inner space pyrene butyric acid together with glycose oxidase, the glycose oxidase being adapted to react with permeating gluose, a difference of measurement of the pure oxygen in the first additional indicator and of the oxygen residue, after reaction of the glucose with the glycose oxidase, in the second additional indicator resulting in a difference of the intensity of the fluorescence in said two additional indicators which difference is proportional to glucose concentration, thus enabling corresponding detectors to measure glucose concentration in said test subject while said detector means determines simultaneously temperature prevailing surrounding said first defined indicator.

2. The indicator device of claim 1, wherein the indicator for measuring the temperature contains a liquid crystal of the cholesteric type.