Bayer Corporation

Other

Thomas C Collins

Rudolf E Slovacek

Kevin J Sullivan

Christiane Munkholm

Joseph Berger

Richard W Mason

Steven M Barnard

Susan L Cudmore

A liquid permeable metallic coating is utilized in conjunction with a fluorescence based optical sensor. The metallic coating is deposited directly on, and is in physical contact with, the sensing membrane. The metallic coating does not require an intervening substrate layer or other components. When light from a light source is shone through the substantially light transmissive substrate onto the sensing membrane, the metallic overcoating reflects back the excitation light as well as the fluorescence light generated by the sensor such that substantially no light reaches the sample where the light may be scattered and/or absorbed by the sample. Accordingly, the accuracy and repeatability of the sensor is improved while the cost and production times associated with manufacturing the sensor are minimized.

Metallic overcoating as a light attenuating layer for optical sensors

Optical sensors with reflective materials

Optical sensor formulations comprising polymeric sensing formulations and methods of predictably making optical sensor formulations, for, e.g., measuring O,levels in patient blood samples. These formulations may be, e.g., deposited as a membrane on light-transmissive substrates. In an embodiment, O,-sensing formulations may be made by a process including selecting a first homopolymer comprised of first monomeric units, the first homopolymer having a first Perm,value; selecting a second homopolymer comprised of second monomeric units, the second homopolymer having a second Perm,value that is different from the first Perm,value; and copolymerizing the first and second monomeric units to obtain a copolymer having an intermediate Perm,value, i.e., between the two Perm,values, the intermediate Perm,providing the desired Perm,for the desired oxygen sensing formulation. By adjusting the relative amounts of the first and second monomeric units, a series of polymers having a desired range of intermediate permeability values (and hence Stem-Volmer characteristic k,values) may be obtained.

Oxygen sensing membranes and methods of making same

The invention discloses enzyme-based optical sensors for detecting blood components which are substrates for oxidative enzymes, the sensors advantageously employing a multiple-layer structure featuring a thin, rapidly responding, optical, oxygen sensing layer. The sensors comprise, in order, a) an enzymatic layer containing an oxidative enzyme or enzyme cascade in a water and oxygen-permeable matrix; b) an oxygen sensing layer containing luminescent dye in a light-transmissive, oxygen-permeable matrix; and which is preferably deposited onto c) a light-transmissive substrate. Embodiments of the invention may further include a rapidly hydrating gas-permeable cover, or spacer, layer deposited over the enzymatic layer. A particulate filler material may be included in an effective amount in the oxygen sensing layer to reduce sample light scattering effects. The sensors of the disclosure may be used to detect creatinine and other enzyme-oxidizable analytes such as glucose, lactate or cholesterol, and may be made easily using standard coating techniques known in the art. These sensors are suitable for multiple analyses, but the materials and methods used allow the sensors to be disposable as well, allowing their wide use in medical and analytical applications.

Optical oxidative enzyme-based sensors

Growing community of inventors

Linwood, MI, United States of America

Thomas C Collins