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EP0190830A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Single optical fiber sensor for measuring the partial pressure of oxygen

Assignee: Gould Inc
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Filing: 1986-01-16
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-01-16
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Abstract

Abstract A device is described for sensing oxygen, particularly for use in medical applications. The device includes a plastic optical waveguide having a cladding and a core. A portion of the core is exposed, plasticized, and a fluorescent, oxygen-sensitive dye is integrated in the exposed core. The oxygen-sensitive dye fluoresces in response to light from a light source such that the intensity of fluorescence is dependent on the partial pressure of oxygen in the environment.

Inventors

  • 👤 Richard C. Murray, Jr.
  • 👤 Steven M. Lefkowitz

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-08 06:42
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/62; G01N21/63; G01N21/64; G01N21/6428; G01N21/643; C; C09; C09K; C09K11/00; C09K11/06; G01N21/75; G01N21/77; G01N21/7703; G01N2021/6432; G01N2021/7769; G01N2021/7786

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim 103 words
A device for monitoring oxygen in an environment in response to light transmitted from a light source comprising: a plastic optical waveguide to receive light transmitted from the light source, said waveguide having a cladding and a core, said cladding surrounding a first portion of said core, said waveguide further including an oxygen-sensing fluorescent medium incorporated in a second portion of said core not surrounded by said cladding wherein said sensing medium fluoresces in response to light from said light source, the intensity of fluorescence of said sensing medium being dependent on the partial pressure of oxygen present in the environment being monitored.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 103 words
A device for monitoring oxygen in an environment in response to light transmitted from a light source comprising: a plastic optical waveguide to receive light transmitted from the light source, said waveguide having a cladding and a core, said cladding surrounding a first portion of said core, said waveguide further including an oxygen-sensing fluorescent medium incorporated in a second portion of said core not surrounded by said cladding wherein said sensing medium fluoresces in response to light from said light source, the intensity of fluorescence of said sensing medium being dependent on the partial pressure of oxygen present in the environment being monitored.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 36 words
A device for monitoring oxygen as recited in Claim 1, wherein: said medium incorporated in said second portion of said core includes at least twenty-five percent more plasticizer than the plasticizer present in said plastic waveguide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 20 words
A device for monitoring oxygen as recited in Claim 1, wherein: said oxygen-sensing fluorescent medium includes tris (4,7-diphenyl-l,10-phenanthroline) Ru(II) perchlorate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 25 words
A device for monitoring oxygen as recited in Claim 1, wherein: said oxygen-sensing fluorescent medium includes any oxygen-responsive fluorescent salt of tris (4,7-diphenyl-l,10-phenanthroline) Ru(II) cation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 32 words
A device for monitoring oxygen as recited in Claim 2, wherein: said oxygen-sensing fluorescent medium includes any oxygen-responsive, fluorescent salt of a transition-metal complex having as a ligand a derivative of 1,10-phenanthroline.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 30 words
A device for monitoring oxygen as recited in Claim 1, wherein: said oxygen-sensing fluorescent medium includes any oxygen-responsive, fluorescent salt of a transition metal complex having as a ligand 1,10-phenanthroline.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 30 words
A device for monitoring oxygen as recited in Claim 5, wherein: said transition-metal complex is selected from the group consisting of ruthenium (II), osmium (II), rhodium (III), and iridium (III).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 29 words
A device for monitoring oxygen as recited in Claim 1, wherein: said oxygen-sensing medium is plasticized with a derivative of phthalic acid, said derivative being compatible with said core.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 40 words
A device for monitoring oxygen as recited in Claim 1, wherein: . said oxygen-sensing medium includes a plasticizer selected from the group of materials consisting of phthalic acid derivatives, benzoic acid derivatives, adipic acid derivatives, paraffins, and sebacic acid derivatives.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 57 words
10: A device for monitoring oxygen as recited in Claim 1, wherein: said core includes a polymer which can be expanded by the incorporation of a compatible solvent, said polymer being selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, and polyvinyl butyral, said solvent being selected from the group consisting of tetrahydrofuran, acetone, and ethanol.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 29 words
A device for monitoring oxygen as recited in Claim 1, wherein: said oxygen-sensing medium includes a fluorescent dye chosen from the group consisting of pyrene derivatives and perylene derivatives.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 23 words
A device as recited in Claim 1, further comprising: a sleeve surrounding said waveguide, said sleeve being formed of a gas-permeable, solution-impermeable membrane.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 23 words
A device for monitoring oxygen as recited in Claim 1, further comprising: a gas-permeable, solution-impermeable membrane about said second portion of said core.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 29 words
A device for monitoring oxygen as recited in Claim 13, wherein: said membrane is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, and silicone rubber.
Claim 16
Independent Claim 78 words
A method for forming an oxygen sensor comprising the steps of: first, immersing a portion of an optical fiber having a core surrounded by a cladding in a first solvent to remove said cladding; and second, immersing said portion of said optical fiber in a first solution consisting of an oxygen-sensing fluorescent dye, a plasticizer compatible with said core, and a second solvent compatible with said fiber to cause said dye and plasticizer to migrate into said core.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 78 words
A method for forming an oxygen sensor comprising the steps of: first, immersing a portion of an optical fiber having a core surrounded by a cladding in a first solvent to remove said cladding; and second, immersing said portion of said optical fiber in a first solution consisting of an oxygen-sensing fluorescent dye, a plasticizer compatible with said core, and a second solvent compatible with said fiber to cause said dye and plasticizer to migrate into said core.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 36 words
A method for forming an oxygen sensor as recited in Claim 15, wherein: said optical fiber is formed of a polyacrylic core and a fluorinated acrylic cladding, and said first solvent is composed of ethyl acetate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 42 words
A method for forming an oxygen sensor as recited in Claim 16, wherein: said oxygen sensing fluorescent dye is formed of tris (4,7-diphenyl-l,10-phenanthroline) Ru(II) perchlorate, and said plasticizer is composed of di-isobutyl phthalate, and said second solvent is composed of methylene chloride.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 30 words
A method for forming an oxygen sensor as recited in Claim 15, wherein: said first immersing step is performed for fifteen to two hundred seconds until said cladding is removed.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 36 words
A method for forming an oxygen sensor as recited in Claim 15, wherein: said second immersing step is performed for five to thirty seconds to cause said dye and said plasticizer to migrate into said core.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 45 words
A method for forming an oxygen sensor as recited in Claim 15, wherein: said first solution consists of one volume of a second solution consisting of 10 -4 moles of said dye in one liter of said solvent mixed with one volume of said plasticizer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 42 words
A method for forming an oxygen sensor as recited in Claim 20, wherein: said oxygen sensing fluorescent dye is composed of tris (4,7-diphenyl-l,10-phenanthroline) Ru(II) perchlorate, and said plasticizer is formed of di-isobutyl phthalate, and said second solvent is composed of methylene chloride.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 13 words
.22. Any and all features of novelty described, referred to, exemplified, or shown.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 13 words
.22. Any and all features of novelty described, referred to, exemplified, or shown.

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