US5047627A — Configuration fiber-optic blood gas sensor bundle…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 268 words

A multi-analyte sensor comprising: (a) a first, a second, and a third optical fiber, each optical fiber having a longitudinal axis and a distal end, the longitudinal axis corresponding to the direction that a light signal propagates through said optical fibers, all of said optical fibers being arranged in a sheath such that their longitudinal axes are substantially parallel, said sheath terminating short of the distal ends of the optical fibers, leaving an exposed portion of each optical fiber extending beyond the sheath, only two of the optical fibers being bonded together up to and around their distal ends, the distal ends of the optical fibers forming a mutually supporting array; (b) a first indicator matrix containing a first indicator molecule, disposed adjacent to said first optical fiber, said first indicator molecule exhibiting a first signal in response to light at a first wavelength to an extent that depends upon a first analyte concentration around the sensor; (c) a second indicator matrix containing a second indicator molecule, disposed adjacent to said second optical fiber, said second indicator molecule exhibiting a second signal in response to light at a second wavelength to an extent that depends upon a second analyte concentration around the sensor; and (d) a third indicator matrix containing a third indicator molecule, disposed adjacent said third optical fiber, said third indicator molecule exhibiting a third signal in response to light of a third wavelength to an extent that depends upon a third analyte concentration around the sensor, wherein said mutually supporting array minimizes breakage of any of the optical fibers and indicator matrices due to handling.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 268 words

A multi-analyte sensor comprising: (a) a first, a second, and a third optical fiber, each optical fiber having a longitudinal axis and a distal end, the longitudinal axis corresponding to the direction that a light signal propagates through said optical fibers, all of said optical fibers being arranged in a sheath such that their longitudinal axes are substantially parallel, said sheath terminating short of the distal ends of the optical fibers, leaving an exposed portion of each optical fiber extending beyond the sheath, only two of the optical fibers being bonded together up to and around their distal ends, the distal ends of the optical fibers forming a mutually supporting array; (b) a first indicator matrix containing a first indicator molecule, disposed adjacent to said first optical fiber, said first indicator molecule exhibiting a first signal in response to light at a first wavelength to an extent that depends upon a first analyte concentration around the sensor; (c) a second indicator matrix containing a second indicator molecule, disposed adjacent to said second optical fiber, said second indicator molecule exhibiting a second signal in response to light at a second wavelength to an extent that depends upon a second analyte concentration around the sensor; and (d) a third indicator matrix containing a third indicator molecule, disposed adjacent said third optical fiber, said third indicator molecule exhibiting a third signal in response to light of a third wavelength to an extent that depends upon a third analyte concentration around the sensor, wherein said mutually supporting array minimizes breakage of any of the optical fibers and indicator matrices due to handling.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 104 words

The multi-analyte sensor of claim 1, further comprising a first light reflectance material disposed adjacent said first indicator matrix and a second light reflectance material disposed adjacent said second indicator matrix, wherein said first and second signals are reflected from said first and second light reflectance materials and are indicative of the absorbance of light at said first and said second wavelengths as a function of the first and second analyte concentrations, respectively, and wherein said third signal is the phosphorescence of said third indicator molecule in response to light at said third wavelength, which varies as a function of the third analyte concentration.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 20 words

The multi-analyte sensor of claim 1, wherein said optical fibers are aligned in a triangular array adjacent their distal ends.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 63 words

The multi-analyte sensor of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first, second, and third indicator matrices absorbs light as a function of one of the first, second, and third analyte concentrations, and at least another of said indicator matrices emits light when excited, said light emission continuing for a time interval that is a function of another of said analyte concentrations.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 36 words

The multi-analyte sensor of claim 1, wherein at least one indicator matrix is substantially pellet shaped and is attached to a substantially planar face of the distal end of a corresponding one of the optical fibers.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 29 words

The multi-analyte sensor of claim 1, wherein the distal ends of said first, second, and third optical fibers are overcoated such that said multi-analyte sensor has a hydrodynamic shape.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 22 words

The multi-analyte sensor of claim 1, wherein two of said optical fibers each extend distally beyond the other of the optical fibers.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 42 words

The multi-analyte sensor of claim 1, wherein said first indicator matrix and said second indicator matrix are substantially pellet shaped, and are attached to a planar face at the distal end of said first optical fiber and said second optical fiber, respectively.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 24 words

The multi-analyte sensor of claim 1, wherein the distal ends of at least two of said optical fibers are overcoated with a hydrophobic material.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 24 words

The multi-analyte sensor of claim 1, wherein the distal end of at lest one of the optical fibers is overcoated with a hydrophilic material.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 98 words

The multi-analyte sensor of claim 1, wherein said first indicator matrix and said second indicator matrix each comprise substantially cylindrically shaped pellets, and said pellets are attached to transverse planar surfaces formed on the distal end of said first optical fiber and said second optical fiber, respectively, each pellet including a light reflective layer disposed opposite the transverse planar surface of the optical fiber to which the pellet is attached, each said light reflective layers on the pellets reflecting light exiting the transverse planar surface of the respective first and second optical fibers back into said optical fibers.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 29 words

The multi-analyte sensor of claim 11, wherein the distal ends of said first, second, and third optical fibers are overcoated such that said multi-analyte sensor has a hydrodynamic shape.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 48 words

The multi-analyte sensor of claim 11, wherein the distal end of one of the optical fibers is not overcoated and the distal ends of the other two optical fibers are overcoated with at least one of the indicator matrices in order to bond the two optical fibers together.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 168 words

A medical sensor for a plurality of analytes comprising: a plurality of optical fibers having distal ends extending longitudinally in parallel alignment, said optical fibers being enclosed in a common protective sheath over at least part of their length, but exposed at their distal ends, only two of said optical fibers being configured and bonded together by a matrix material that encompasses their distal ends; a plurality of different analyte indicator materials, each analyte indicator material sensitive to the concentration of one of the plurality of analytes, each analyte indicator material being disposed generally at the distal ends of the optical fibers so as to vary a light signal propagated through the optical fibers as a function of the concentration of a different one of the analytes, at least one of the analyte indicators comprising the matrix material used to bond the two optical fibers together; wherein the optical fibers form a mutually supportive array that resists breakage of any one of the optical fibers comprising the array.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 168 words

A medical sensor for a plurality of analytes comprising: a plurality of optical fibers having distal ends extending longitudinally in parallel alignment, said optical fibers being enclosed in a common protective sheath over at least part of their length, but exposed at their distal ends, only two of said optical fibers being configured and bonded together by a matrix material that encompasses their distal ends; a plurality of different analyte indicator materials, each analyte indicator material sensitive to the concentration of one of the plurality of analytes, each analyte indicator material being disposed generally at the distal ends of the optical fibers so as to vary a light signal propagated through the optical fibers as a function of the concentration of a different one of the analytes, at least one of the analyte indicators comprising the matrix material used to bond the two optical fibers together; wherein the optical fibers form a mutually supportive array that resists breakage of any one of the optical fibers comprising the array.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 253 words

A method for manufacturing a blood gas sensor comprising the steps of: (a) aligning a first, a second, and a third optical fiber within a sheath such that the longitudinal axes of all said optical fibers are substantially parallel, all of the optical fibers having distal ends that extend beyond where the sheath terminates so that the distal ends are exposed; (b) applying a first indicator matrix containing a first indicator molecule adjacent to the distal end of said first optical fiber, said first indicator molecule exhibiting a first signal in response to light at a first wavelength to an extent dependent upon a first analyte concentration around the sensor; (c) applying a second indicator matrix containing a second indicator molecule adjacent to the distal end of said second optical fiber, said second indicator molecule exhibiting a second signal in response to light at a second wavelength to an extent dependent upon a second analyte concentration around the sensor; and (d) applying a third indicator matrix material containing a third indicator molecule up to and around said distal ends of only two of said optical fibers thereby bonding the exposed portion of the two optical fibers together, said third indicator molecule exhibiting a third signal in response to light of a third wavelength to an extent which depends upon a third analyte concentration around the sensor, the two optical fibers bonded together providing a mutually supportive array, so that all of said optical fibers mutually reinforce each other and are resistant to breakage.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 253 words

A method for manufacturing a blood gas sensor comprising the steps of: (a) aligning a first, a second, and a third optical fiber within a sheath such that the longitudinal axes of all said optical fibers are substantially parallel, all of the optical fibers having distal ends that extend beyond where the sheath terminates so that the distal ends are exposed; (b) applying a first indicator matrix containing a first indicator molecule adjacent to the distal end of said first optical fiber, said first indicator molecule exhibiting a first signal in response to light at a first wavelength to an extent dependent upon a first analyte concentration around the sensor; (c) applying a second indicator matrix containing a second indicator molecule adjacent to the distal end of said second optical fiber, said second indicator molecule exhibiting a second signal in response to light at a second wavelength to an extent dependent upon a second analyte concentration around the sensor; and (d) applying a third indicator matrix material containing a third indicator molecule up to and around said distal ends of only two of said optical fibers thereby bonding the exposed portion of the two optical fibers together, said third indicator molecule exhibiting a third signal in response to light of a third wavelength to an extent which depends upon a third analyte concentration around the sensor, the two optical fibers bonded together providing a mutually supportive array, so that all of said optical fibers mutually reinforce each other and are resistant to breakage.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 15, wherein the step of aligning all of said optical fibers comprises the step of aligning said optical fibers in a triangular array.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 15, wherein the step of aligning comprises the step of positioning the distal ends of the optical fibers so that they are not all transversely aligned.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 16, wherein prior to the alignment of said optical fibers, all of said optical fibers are overcoated with a thin coat of a protective polymer.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of overcoating at least two of said optical fibers with a hydrophobic material.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 16, wherein the step of applying one of said first and said second indicator matrices comprises the step of affixing a pellet to one of said first and said second optical fibers.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 13 words

The method of claim 20, wherein said pellet comprises a light reflectance material.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising the step of overcoating the distal ends of the optical fibers to form a hydrodynamic shape.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-09-09	1995-03-11	1995-09-10	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-09-09	1999-03-11	1999-09-10	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-09-09	2003-03-11	2003-09-10	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Configuration fiber-optic blood gas sensor bundle and method of making

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag