INTRAVASCULAR CATHETER PROBE FOR CLINICAL OXYGEN, pH AND CO2 MEASUREMENT

摘要

Methods and apparatus for the measurement of oxygen, pH and CO2 in human and animal tissue is provided in which the compounds preferably comprise a chromophore and/or fluorphor capable of absorbing an amount of energy and subsequently releasing the energy as phosphorescent and/or fluorescent light, and wherein the phosphorescence is quenched by molecular oxygen according to the Stern-Volmer relationship. CO2 is measured by a fluorphor which alters fluorescence with pH. The apparatus includes an optical fiber (2) for transmitting light to a probe (70) that includes a gas permeable film (10) enclosing a portion (12) of the distal end of the optical fiber to form a reservoir (14) of a solution of the oxygen quenchable phosphorescent compound and/or the fluorescence emitting compound. The apparatus also includes a light source (36) and a light detector (34).