title: Experimental investigation of the effect of polymer matrices on polymer fibre optic oxygen sensors and their time response characteristics using a vacuum testing chamber and a liquid flow apparatus.
abstract: Very fast sensors that are able to track rapid changes in oxygen partial pressure (PO2) in the gas and liquid phases are increasingly required in scientific research - particularly in the life sciences. Recent interest in monitoring very fast changes in the PO2of arterial blood in some respiratory failure conditions is one such example. Previous attempts to design fast intravascular electrochemical oxygen sensors for use in physiology and medicine have failed to meet the criteria that are now required in modern investigations. However, miniature photonic devices are capable of meeting this need. In this article, we present an inexpensive polymer type fibre-optic, oxygen sensor that is two orders of magnitude faster than conventional electrochemical oxygen sensors. It is constructed with biologically inert polymer materials and is both sufficiently small and robust for direct insertion in to a human artery. The sensors were tested and evaluated in both a gas testing chamber and in a flowing liquid test system. The results showed a very fastT90response time, typically circa 20 ms when tested in the gas phase, and circa 100 ms in flowing liquid.
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Division of Anaesthetics, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
authors.forename: Rongsheng
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Division of Anaesthetics, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Formenti
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Division of Anaesthetics, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
authors.forename: Hanne
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: McPeak
authors.affiliation: Oxford Optronix Ltd, 19-21, Central 127, Olympic Avenue, Milton Park, Oxford OX14 4SA, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Obeid
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Division of Anaesthetics, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
authors.forename: Clive
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Division of Anaesthetics, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farmery
keywords: Intravascular sensor; Optical oxygen sensors; Polymer optical fibres; Time response testing